What is your favorite heavy, good egg laying, cold tolerant breed?

[lockedhearts]

Gotta go with Robin and Cyn on this.
Orps, Barreds and Wyandottes.
While my Barreds are a ways off from Laying my Wyandottes are good and so are my Orps.
Cochins quit on me with molting and my RIRs are on again off again right now, even my young Orp pullet, Elaine gives me a nice egg everyday.

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

Sexlinks They are good layers but a bit on the ligher side (sometimes) They are very good at being cold tollerant also. A lot better than the ligher breeds.

 

[Ivagrovegirl]

JERSEY GIANTS !!!!

 

[ginasmarans]

I'd have to say barred rocks

 

[Montana-Hens]

You don't say where you are so I am not sure what you mean by Cold tolerant. Where I am, I mean can deal with a few days of sub zero, and it won't bother them that Dec and Jan average highs aren't even freezing, or that 5 months of the year the night time average lows are subfreezing.

I have 4 heavy ladies I picked for what I felt would be Montana winter hearty, good foragers, and good winter egg laying.

I have a Welsummer who stopped laying at 10.5 hour days and isn't always the nices to her fellow flock. Her comb and waddle are big. I should have thought about that little more. I love her terracotta eggs but don't know that I would do another welsummer.

My Chantelcer is the slowest maturing girl, and at 30 weeks she isn't laying. It may be that she just wasn't mature enough when the days started getting shorter and I may have to wait until next year. The jury is out on her.

My buff brahma is still laying about 4 eggs a week. I worry sometimes about feather feet and snow but so far no problems.

My barred plymouth rock is still laying about 6 eggs a week. Her waddle and comb are bigger than I probably should have allowed myself.

My coop is insulated and has no supplmental heat or light other than what the ladies make (NO electricity) I break out ice bowls in cold weather. They have free range and would much rather be outside that almost any day. They are people friendly, great foragers and would definately recommend the brahama and BPR, for my winters. The jury is still out on the chantecler, and would skip the Welsummer and pick another hopefully Montana winter hearty bird.

I think the folks here will share their insights, read all the old posts you can and then you just go with your best gut and it will be ok.

 

[digitS']

I've had Buff Orpingtons, Light Brahmas, Australorps, and Barred Rocks. Plus several others

but almost never more than 1 breed at a time. I didn't realize until this year that it is difficult for me to compare by having done that

.

Until recently, my vote would have been on the Australorps which I've had a few times and they are always quiet, resourceful, and curious birds. This time, I've got them with Barred Rocks, which I've also had before. The Barred Rocks are probably even more gentle and they started laying earlier .

I like the Brahmas' personality but they seem to be such independent birds. Who was it who called the Buff Orpingtons the Golden Retrievers of the chicken world? That's about right

. But, for eggs - I'd go with the Australorps instead. I guess that's about 4 points for the Aussies and 2 or 3 for the others but - that's just me

.

Steve

 

[mylilchix]

I love my RIRs!! The girls started laying at 19 weeks. We also love our australorp, cochins, EE, and brahmas. Our white cochins have just started laying at 22 weeks! I'm waiting for the rest of the girls to get going.
Sonja

 

[lizard7]

I have a barred rock and 2 golden laced wyandotes. Both are good layers and docile birds.

 

[LocoPollo]

sussex. I love them. not sure why more people don't have them in the us.

 

[77horses]

Red stars/red sex links. awesome breed! LAYS GREAT TASTY EGGS! cold tolerant, and very gentle. love them! and Opringtons are awesome!