What is the best egg laying breed for a begginer?

[Dora'smom]

It would probably be helpful to you to consult the breed index on this site. There is also a directory that will ask what you look for in a chicken---size, heat or cold tolerant, laying frequency, etc. to help you along. Most people start off with a couple of each of several breeds, but then branch out into different colors and breeds, laying different colored eggs. It's just fun to have variety.
I started off with a mixed flock of two Buff Orpingtons, two Barred Rocks, and two Rhode Island Reds. We had to rehome the buff rooster, but otherwise just added two Easter Eggers, a Welsummer, and a Black Australorp to the mix. All are good egg layers. Most days we get nine eggs out of nine birds, but the RIR's are not friendly, and tend to pick on everyone else. The EE's are so docile that they take the brunt of the abuse. I love them so much that I have three more in my new flock this year. (Along with two Delawares, a Gold-Laced Wyandotte, a Silver-Laced Wyandotte, two Cuckoo Marans, and a Silkie who was named Sissy when we thought it was a girl, but is now Zeus the soon to be relocated.) This is what we refer to as chicken math---usually it involves addition or multiplication, but not so much subtraction.

 

[Cowgirl71]

My favorites are the Red, Gold, and Black Sex-Links for docile, pretty, highly productive layers of brown eggs. And I also really like Easter Eggers for their very good production of blue and green eggs, cute "beard" and their beautiful unique colors.

 

[goosemama]

What a great question - everyone has their own favorites. Although I sell my extra eggs (pays for the feed for the chickens, ducks, geese & peacocks) I love a variety of different colored hens especially as I enjoy watching them all together scratching in the backyard. I have to agree with several who said they love the Barred Rocks - they produce consistently and are very calm and gentle (mine are 4 years old and still laying well). I also have 6 brown sex-links I bought as pullets at a farm auction last Fall and liked them so well I ordered l0 baby chicks this Spring from the hatchery to add to the flock as I was so impressed with the size and quantity of their eggs - they are super layers of jumbo eggs. Have 2 leghorns which I bought as "unknown" chicks from our local Tractor Supply - they are l year old and lay an egg every day and 3 Welsummers which I ordered as chicks for their dark brown eggs. They have been disappointing as they lay a smaller sized egg and not as dark as I thought they would be, so I sold the Welsummer roosters I had and will forget about continuing that breed. However, one of the hens has gone broody which to me is a good trait as I would rather my hens hatched the chicks rather than order them in the mail. I have had Easter Eggers and sold them to an EE enthusiast. I was not impressed with their productivity - their eggs were on the small size and they were very flighty. Its fun to try a few different breeds to see what YOU personally like best - we are all different. I'm pleased with my mix as they all produce well - even in the winter time. I have just started to raise Dorkings, a heritage breed. this Spring and had all kinds of trouble with chicks dying from the hatchery, but about 12 survived and there looks like a good mix of hens which are now 2 months old and I'll keep a couple of roosters to keep the breed going. If they want to breed my other hens and they will hatch their own chicks, that's all the better. I'd love not to have to order chicks via mail ever again!

 

[T.E.R.]

The EE's are greatt layers and the green eggs are a huge hit. People love to buy them. The Silver Laced Wyandottes standards are good layers and do well up north. The austrolorps are excellent layers too.