What Chickens lay extra large eggs?

[IAMADOL]

I have RIR, Australorpe, Americauna, Barred Rock, Golden Sexlink, Wyendotte, Buff Orpington's They are on average about 26 weeks old. For feed I use a combination of ground grain meals (custom crumble) with veggie/garden scraps and occasional treats of oats. Thanks for the information!

 

[JadedPhoenix]

The Sexlinks may not slow as much as the other ones. The heritage breeds slow in their production more than the others so you'll see more of a slack from them. I have had my Ameracanas lay through the winter an egg every two days while my other Easter Eggers (sometimes called Americaunas) were more unpredictable. Some would lay daily, some once every two weeks. So with your Americauna, I'd plan on the more sporatic schedule but be please if she lays more regularly.

 

[Celtic Chick]

My hens have only been laying for a few weeks. At what age is the maximum egg size reached? Also can anyone tell me what to expect reguarding the winter egg slow down. I have twelve hens and don't plan on light supplementation. Will it go down to none per day or three per day? Best guesses please!

It takes different breeds differing amounts of time to reach maturity, then they will all reach full egg size laying maturity differently also. A lot of outside factors can come into play also. What part of the country you are in, how fast it gets cold by you, how early the sun sets (hours of daylight per day), etc. I have a couple bantams that are only "fair weather" layers. If it gets too hot or too cold, they don't lay at all. But my girls are older too.

A lot of POL hens, again depending on breed, will usually lay pretty good through their first winter because they are so young. Then come spring, they will really start laying. The following year you might consider adding light if you want/need wintertime eggs. A lot of people who have chickens for egg production will hatch chicks every year so they have layers through the wintertime. But as a hen ages, her egg laying cycle slowly winds down so that she produces fewer & fewer every year.

Without specifing a breed, I would just guess that a breed that started laying at 20 to 24 months of age might reach egg size maturity at 10-12 months, maybe sooner depending on breed. Orps, Aussies, Rocks, RIR would all pretty much fall under this category. Sexlinks can mature at 16+ weeks and will be your strongest layer until she burns out at 2 to 3 years old. She will be your largest egg layer too, although any young hen has the ability to lay some pretty extra jumbo double yolkers every now & again.

In any case, I hope you enjoy your new girls and chicken adventure.

 

[Toddrick]

My experience is limited, but I know white grocery store eggs come mostly from white leghorns. Those come mostly in Large and XL I think. But Leghorns arent as popular for backyards because of their wild and noisy behavior.

The most popular BYC layers seem to be Production Reds and RSL's. My experience has been PR's lay mostly Large eggs, and RSL'S lay more XL'S (but also burn out after 2yrs).

Someone always claims their Buff Orpingtons lay big eggs, but I suspect these are outliers, since mine lay Mediums consistently. Australorps on the other hand are supposed to lay biggens.

 

[IAMADOL]

It will be an adventure for sure! I love the relationships I have with the girls. (Picture me shaking my head) I never thought I could have a chicken for a pet...Well it's clear that I am a favorite fount of food and affection.

 

[FlomatonsFlocks]

Some of my production reds lay jumbo-size eggs, others are large-X-large. I have had quite a few eggs that would not even fit into an egg carton because they were so large. And out of 6 of them, I got 6 eggs a day for over a year.
But production hybrids aren't very productive past 2 years old.

Was that due to the breed? What did you feed them? Where did you purchase them?

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

I would say from my experience RIR and Australorp breeds lay the most and the largest eggs.

 

[TAM Farm]

Swedish flower hens, Black Jersey Jiant, and German Bielfielder lay typically x-large and Jumbo.