Which breed produces lots of med-xlg egg for a long time?

[Arielle]

Raising a pullet until POL is an expensive investment. I would think that the number of eggs produced over her lifetime would be instrumental in a hen paying for herself. SO . . . . which breeds of egg producing chickens produces for a very long time, with a good rate of lay ? Sort of like a life-time production record in milking cows .. . .ANy one track this by breed or strain???

 

[Fred's Hens]

Here's the issue, that I too have struggled with in examining this question. The average laying strain of hen can potentially ovulate 600-700 times in their life span. There is some conflicting evidence on that, but for the sake of discussion, let's just agree.

Yes, it costs money to get a chick to POL. However, the super-efficient hybrids from I.S.A./DeKalb/Hendrix/Bovan get to POL weeks and weeks ahead of slower developing, older strains of pure poultry, and get there on far less feed. During the first two years, the commercial hybrid while consuming far less feed, but will have laid almost 650 eggs. The older styled hens? Often less than 400 and will have eaten 20% more feed over those two years.

It is at this point that the commercial hen houses rotate out their hens (if not before). It will statistically take the older strain yet another full year of laying to catch up, maybe, all the while continuing to consume feed. After 3 years, the laying rate of most hens, regardless of breeding, declines. So, while the older, true, breeds will eventually ovulate approximately as often, over time, the numbers don't crunch economically, due to feed costs.

I keep hybrids because I need consistent egg production with low feed costs, to supply my customers. Still, a flock of hybrids alone is unpleasing to my eye and hybrids have no inclination to brood and don't breed true in any case. So, I have other hens that simply are not as economical, but please me. I have RIR and Barred Rocks and have had Spotted Sussex.

Hopefully, this gives you something for your consideration.

 

[danhonour]

This is an interesting post with lots to think about.I know feed costs can be very high in many places making it a very real cost factor.Breeds producing meat and those Breeds producing eggs,as well as those Breeds producing both; should be kept separate for comparisons.(note hybrid crosses can be used in place of the word breed)The size of the bird and the size of its feed bill are important.Cheaper feed incredients and free range can definitly be things of importance with the accounting,to prevent the balnce figures from running in the red.

 

[Arielle]

Thanks Fred's Hens and danhonor.

 

[Jake Levi]

There are half a dozen heritage breeds that fill this easily, that is why they have survived this long,

my two favorites of them are the RIR, mine are RCs, and the Wyandottes which come in a number of beautiful color varieties.

Add to them the Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, Buckeyes, New Hampshires, and you have living American history in chickens that produce both eggs and meat. Of course the meat from an old rooster needs to be in the chicken and dumplings pot, but these breeds are the old standbys because they keep on producing.