What's the best breed for long term laying

[Kimon Mitchell]

Looking for a good breed for meat and eggs

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us! The best breed for meat and eggs are dual purpose breeds, my favorites being: Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, Houdans, and Naked Necks (Turkens).

 

[mymilliefleur]

Glad you joined us!

Feel free to ask any questions you may have! Here is a helpful article that will help you pick a good duel purpose breed breed(s) > https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...cken-guide-to-picking-backyard-chicken-breeds
Also, if you want birds that lay for a long period of time, do not buy hatchery quality, but find a good breeder with standard bred stock. I have found that hatchery birds tend to lay really well for the first couple of years, than slack off. Do you currently have any chickens?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Stay away from production reds (hatchery RIR and New Hampshire) and sex links if you want long term laying. A chicken has a predetermined number of eggs to lay, with high production birds you get them up front. This is great for eggs but the birds tend to have a higher than usual propensity to reproductive problems like internal laying. As for dual purpose birds the hatchery stock tend to be much smaller than standard bred birds from breeders. Regardless, some good choices for dual purpose are Plymouth Rocks, Orpington, Australorps, Wyandotte. If you think you'll be getting into chickens more than a phase or more than a few birds for eggs I suggest skipping the intro flock of hatchery birds and get a standard bred breed from a reputable breeder. There is bound to be poultry fancier clubs in your area that would be a good resource to obtaining stock or browse through the Buy Sell section looking for people in your area or doable driving distance. Purchasing mailed eggs is a gamble due to poor handling in mail. A few breeders will do shipped day olds and that's the best way to start out or pick up birds of any age if local.

 

[gander007]

The RIR you can never go wrong with

 

[Egghead_Jr]

The RIR you can never go wrong with

I'd only agree with that if breeder stock. Rose Comb Rhode Island Whites are nice birds too.

 

[gander007]

Quote:
Yes the RIW's are a great chicken and the good breeders do put out the best RIR or RIW's but even a $ 2 dollar feed store RIR will produce an egg eventually and for the beginner is easy to take care of is all I was trying to say

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. Out of all the dozens of breeds I've had over the years, my Australorps and Orpingtons have probably layed for the most years. I'd give the nod to the Australorps, not because they lay any longer than Orpingtons, but because they lay more eggs per week when they are laying. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Cheers.

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[Birdrain92]

Looking for a good breed for meat and eggs

Welcome To BYC! If those are the purposes you're looking for along with long egg layers I suggest the Black Australorp. Their my favorite breed as well and mainly what I raise. 24 pullets and 1 cockerel. Beautiful, friendly, roosters get really big, hens lay for a long time and a good amount at a time, and can deal with the heat and cold.