what kind of chicks should i get for laying?

[Cpntherfan]

i just found out 8 of my 10 chicks are Cornish Crosses. now i want to make sure i get Egg chics and i want pretty chickens and eggs

 

[Lynette]

I have Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rock, Wyandotte, Black Australorp, Buff Orpington, Leghorn, Plymouth Rock just to name a few of the best egg layers.

 

[pixiedouglas]

One of my red sex links is turning out to be a VERY pretty bird, and I've read they lay very well and start laying earlier than some other breeds. Plus by getting a sex linked bird you're guaranteed a hen.

My Salmon Faverolles are gorgeous and those also can be feather sexed.

I have to say though, I never meant when I started out to get Delawares. They just happened to have some when I got my other chicks and my daughter REALLY wanted a white chick. I have two now and they are turning into my favorites for personality.

My Buff Orps are pretty girls too and that's a popular breed you might have an easier time finding. Good personality too.

 

[sfw2]

Do you want white eggs, or brown? Any particular colors? For lots of white eggs, you can't go wrong with Leghorns. Buff Orpingtons lay nice brown eggs, and are attractive birds.

I like to have a mixture of breeds and colors in my flock. I currently have a White Leghorn, a Buff Orpington and a Black Cochin hen, along with a pretty EE rooster. I also have red Sexlink and Barred Plymouth Rock chicks in the grow-out brooder. Both of them will lay brown eggs.

If you haven't already, take a look at the Henderson's Breed Chart:

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

It's a great resource for narrowing down what breeds will meet your needs.

Good luck!

 

[Cpntherfan]

awesome thanks for all the help so far. Im taking notes. I had no ideal TSC sold meat birds

 

[Cpntherfan]

Quote:
any collor eggs are fine

 

[Wildflower_VA]

Boy, you're gonna get a bunch of different answers! I picked three different breeds based on how soon they start to lay and how they are judged on egg size, color and how productive they are over time. Chicken beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think they are all beautiful. I want large brown eggs, so I picked Black Australorp to start with, because they mature faster and start laying sooner than my second and third choices. They are a calm and friendly breed and lay close to an egg a day. My next chicks will be Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. They fit the description above, they just mature a little later. I don't think they get much prettier than a pair of Rhode Island Reds.

There are soooooo many good choices to make when it comes to laying hens. If you go online to McMurray Hatchery, they give a good description of each bird and their egg laying or meat bird qualities. As long as you stay away from the Cornish Crosses, you should be okay. I'm so sorry that your first chicks turned out to be meat birds.

 

[macadam8157]

If your TSC carries the Red Pullets they are very good egg layers!

Or at least thats what I was told by numerous people!

 

[Cpntherfan]

Quote:
thanks ill look into them

 

[cadobbertien]

I am new to BYC. I went to my local library and Amazon for books on chickens and building coops. I ordered 10 chicks today. I looked for egg laying ability along with the color of the egg, temperament and ability to tolerate cold temps as I love in Michigan. I'm very excited about my new adventure with chickens.