What breeds start laying the soonest?

[mikeksfarmer]

If I wanted eggs fast what varieties would I order to get eggs as soon as possible?
What birds are the best egg layers of all? Numbers and duration

 

[silkiechicken]

Don't have numbers or duration but just look at what they use in commercial operations where money is bottom line. White leghorns for white eggs, sexlinks or production reds for brown eggs.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Out of all my chickens the sex links laid first at 20 weeks. Some start as early as 16. I don't have leghorns but my dad raised them when he was young and he said they started laying between 16 and 20 weeks.

ETA I think if I were you I would go for the sex links if you want a friendlier bird. My sex links are sweet birds who don't mind you petting them. Leghorns stay FAR away from humans from my dads experience.

 

[dospuercos]

I purchased an assortment of chickens to see which ones I liked the best. I have the following 2 RIR's, 1 Buff Orpington, 1 Golden-Laced Wyandotte, 1 Barred Rock. Of all of them, my RIR's started laying first. One started at 18 weeks & the other at 20 weeks. And of all of them, they lay the largest eggs. My one RIR lays double-yoked eggs all the time & even laid a triple-yoked egg. I don't know much about the sex-linked chickens. But from what I have, I would recommend my RIR's. And they are huge so if you want a dual purpose bird (one that will be good as a stewing hen later on), they are a great choie.

 

[jossanne]

My one leghorn who is laying started at 16 weeks, 3 days, and laid an egg every day for 15 days before getting an impacted crop (kids fed her too many long, fibrous weeds). We fixed her, and she's back to a nice, large egg every day. I've got 4 more who are now 16 weeks, 2 days, and are showing signs of maturity. I'm hoping they start laying this week.

My leghorns are some of my favorite birds. We handle our chicks a lot, and spend a lot of time in the hen house with treats, etc., and those pretty white leghorns are as friendly as any of the rest of them.

The only thing about leghorns that is negative is that they don't lay for as many years as some of the other birds. But I haven't had any long enough to know that for sure.

 

[mikeksfarmer]

Thank you all very much I am trying to figure out next years spring crop of chicks. By the way my cinnamon Queens (which are sort of a sex link) laid at 4.5 months. daily and lots of double yokers. Also very sweet birds. I am thinking I will get some RIR's , Leghors, and Sex links next year.

 

[setter4]

My Golden Comet sex links started at 16 weeks and have laid regularly since.

 

[ebonykawai]

If you want eggs soon, don't get them from a breeder. Mine are taking forever to ripen, lol.

 

[All about the EGG]

sexlinks are egg laying machines!!!!