What would be your choice for best overall layer breed...longevity, hardiness, egg size, winter layi

[Michael Apple]

i think you should try adding australorps to your flock. they are sweet sweet birds who lay large eggs and are very good producers. i have tree of these wonderful birds and I love them. They are on the larger side, though.

Australorps are great. I've had one for seven years that is still laying, just not as often. The first couple years was an egg every day.

 

[albchickenfarm]

Australorps are great. I've had one for seven years that is still laying, just not as often. The first couple years was an egg every day.

yes, they are great birds, I got mine a year ago so they are still little, but they are great layers!

 

[newbie32]

The main reason I choose my Buff Orpingtons as my main breed is because of steady egg production that lasts more than 2 years. They are hardy, dual purpose birds that are big enough to eat. AND they are beautiful.

Orpingtons come in Buff, white-rare, chocolate-expensive, and lavender. The oldest recorded laying hen ever was a Buff Orpington at 17 years old. They lay large brown eggs.

I have children so I also needed a docile bird and they have a great reputation for being docile. AND they are great for going broody and raising offspring for you. They were breed to do well in cold climates.


These are the heritage bird for you if you want ALL your requirements plus more!

 

[slfg]

Okay...not to start "breed wars" here as everyone has their favorites...But I am curious. I'm thinking about adding more heritage breeds to my flock. Why? Because I would like to get my flock to where I've got the best all around consistent layers of large eggs that lay productively for the longest and have general hardiness. I know the commercial market has been chasing that rainbow and has come up with the commercial breeds :EDITED: yes I know I should have said hybrids: (Gold Stars, Black Stars, White Leghorns, Production Reds, etc.)....but those tend to lay really, really well for 2 years and then abruptly curtail...and they aren't really breeding for strength and health...just productivity for 2 years as the commercial growers cull them at that point. I'd like to look more long term. Less turn over, better birds. What breed would be not so crazy prolific perhaps, but overall lay well and longer and be hardy? Your thoughts? Thanks Lady of McCamley

OK, after everyone's input and opinions, I'm curious what you chose, or are you like me? Unable to make a decision and get 5 of each breed I like?

 

[newbie32]

OK, after everyone's input and opinions, I'm curious what you chose, or are you like me? Unable to make a decision and get 5 of each breed I like?

Chicken math!!!!!

 

[Owingsia]

Rhode Island Reds are a personal favorite and I also like Ameraucana. Reds are wonderful layers, sweet as can be, even the roo is friendly. Ameraucana dont always lay the biggest eggs but they lay consistently and having green eggs for guests and customers is always fun.

My personal favorite breed of them all is Japanese Bantams but I would not recommend them for egg production. I have about a few and making deviled eggs from their eggs for parties is fun. People are always like "were did you get such small eggs" or "are these from chickens"

 

[Owingsia]

Chicken math!!!!!

We have a bunch of everything too.

 

[newbie32]

If I had the land and the money I would have hundreds. I love my little flock! We only have 8 right now-3 different breeds-but I would get at LEAST 3 other varieties. I want Bared Plymouth Rocks for their coloring, Easter Eggers for their egg color, and production reds for their-well-production LOL. Buff Orpingtons would stay my main birds, I would keep a few pairs of my polish and silkies like I have now and then make small flocks of the rest. Ahhhh it would be great!!!

 

[write2caroline]

I ordered a brown egg laying variety pack and got 25 chicks. I had rir, barred rocks, welsummers, new hampshire reds, comets, astrolopes, buff orps, GLW and SLW. And I had cream leg bars, Marans and a spanish one that was really pretty.

Not necessarily my favorite but from my experience best over all were the New Hampshire Reds. Many of them were laying double yolkers, didn't miss a day laying once started. They were a good breed. I would not have chosen them had they not been in the variety pack but I really liked them. They were curious and friendly and had not problem scaring the cats away to get to the cat food!

Caroline

 

[write2caroline]

My favorite looking chickens plus blue green eggs are the cream leg bars plus I love they are auto sexing. I want to have a flock of just them but I love the Orpingtons. They are the sweetest girls in my opinion.

Caroline