Which breed layes largest brown eggs?

[Alaskan]

If you dont mind replacing your hens every 1-2 years then a Red Sex-Link is your best bet...if you want to keep your hens for 2+ year and still have them be productive a dual purpose breed you be your best choice. Wyandotte, Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks ect. 


PS: I would highly recommend if you do want to keep them as pets but would still like them to lay even in their last months to get Heritage breeds from reputable breeders instead of hatcheries! 


I raise Heritage Orpingtons. they begin laying at 6 months and will continue to lay for 4+ years and if they stay healthy/ not eaten by a predator they will live for 8+ years! 

That is why for your first set of chickens you might want a mix. Some high production breeds that will give you tons of eggs but also a couple sweet breeds that will start laying at an older age, and not lay as much per week, but will keep production at a slow steady pace for a longer number of years.

 

[SFBayArea]

The total number of eggs to me not as important as the size. If have 4 hens and they give me 10 eggs per week, but XL size I will be more then happy.
I plan to have 4 hens, maybe 5. No, I don't want to buy new hens every year. I would prefer to have them around for 3-5 years.

 

[Alaskan]

I love puzzles!

So.....i looked about, and this is what I found.

On the Henderson Chicken Chart, the Delaware is the only breed to rate a " well above average" egg size rating. (The largest size on his chart)

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

I would buy from Whitmore farms if you live close, and don't mind butchering the roosters (they only sell straight run). They do ship, but only in lots of 25. They are in Maryland.

http://www.whitmorefarm.com/content/5089

You could also see if any breeders are in your area. It is nice if you buy from a small breeder since you can then actually look at the eggs that their hens produce, and see if you like them.

If you don't like that option, then go ahead and buy from a hatchery. If egg size is your goal, and you want 4 hens, I would pick two Delaware, and two Rhode Island Reds. That might be too small an order for most places, you might have to up the order to 6.

The Rhode Island Reds that the hatcheries produce DO produce very large eggs. They might not produce for a full four years, but then again, they might do just fine for that long.

If longevity is very important to you, I would look harder for a small breeder in your area.

Good Luck!

 

[Triple Willow]

Keep in mind that birds that lay really big eggs are more likely to have problems such as prolaps and egg binding which quite often equals death for the bird. Think about having a 12 pound baby....? Also, birds that lay double yolk eggs are not "normal". A double yolk means something went wrong in the bird's reproductive cycle, which is not a good thing. If you want healthier, longer living birds and birds that will lay longer go with a good proven breed and not a hybrid. I would suggest Black Australorps, White Rock, NH Reds and Buckeyes to name a few good ones.

 

[donrae]

It's more of an individual bird thing than a breed thing overall. If you're really going for size, get ducks or turkeys instead of chickens.

 

[Alaskan]

It's more of an individual bird thing than a breed thing overall. If you're really going for size, get ducks or turkeys instead of chickens.

I don't agree.

It is true that there will always be individuals that will go against the average for a breed. However, some breeds are known to lay larger eggs than others.

My duck eggs are only slightly larger than my Leghorn and Rhode Island Red eggs.

 

[SFBayArea]

I don't agree.

It is true that there will always be individuals that will go against the average for a breed. However, some breeds are known to lay larger eggs than others.

My duck eggs are only slightly larger than my Leghorn and Rhode Island Red eggs.

Leghorn, are these Production too?

 

[Alaskan]

Yes, they are white single combed Leghorn, so definitely a high production breed, bred to lay like a machine but not last long term. I will probably cull mine at 2 years of age.

I have never had a breed lay as much as these do.


This spring I am getting rose comb Brown Leghorns. I don't expect them to lay as much, but I expect them to lay for many years. (And not get frostbite )

 

[enola]

Keep in mind that hens lay their biggest eggs in their second season of laying.