Which breed(s) is(are) best when you DON'T want a lot of eggs?

[karmical]

We are down to just 2 hens at the moment…an 8-year-old Partridge Rock and 2-year-old Red Sex Link..and are considering increasing the flock this Spring. HOWEVER…my daughter is allergic to eggs, so we don't eat or keep eggs in the house. She isn't allergic to the chickens and we love them as pets, so would love to find a breed that doesn't lay many eggs so we aren't overrun with eggs that we'll just need to keep giving away.

Would love to hear any ideas! Thanks!!

 

[lazy gardener]

I'd suggest that you get a couple of cull roos (Oops roos) and have them caponized. You'll have friendly, expressive,and pretty birds, that will be nice yard eye candy, won't fight, and you won't have ANY eggs to deal with. Or you could get someone's older cull hens. You'll keep the older birds out of the stew pot, and give them a nice retirement home.

 

[karmical]

What a great idea, @lazy gardener ! Never thought about Roos or caponizing. Not sure where I'd get that done…is that something any avian vet would do?

 

[dheltzel]

There are lots of breeds that are poor layers, and lots of charts on the internet showing that. Just find a breed you like as a pet and get it. It seems like giving away any eggs should be easy. Take them to work, leave for the ail carrier, etc.

Bantams are very nice pet chickens and some are poor layers. Silkies and Sultans come to mind.

 

[enola]

Or you could feed the eggs back to the hens. Chickens love hard boiled and scrambled eggs! Free protein.

 

[lazy gardener]

I don't know about vets doing caponizing. You could certainly ask around. Is there's a school of Veterinarian medicine near you?

 

[appps]

My silkie seems to spend more time broody than laying and they can make good lap chickens.

 

[appps]

What a great idea, @lazy gardener
 ! Never thought about Roos or caponizing. Not sure where I'd get that done…is that something any avian vet would do?

No generally it's done in the backyard by anyone feels they want to give it a go, roosters being disposable it's okay to loose a few while learning. Vets don't generally do it as it's done to make them nicer to eat and that wouldn't be very cost effective. (Not a fan of it myself)

If you only keep roosters without any hens they apparently coexist quite well. Perhaps wait till your last ones are gone and then get roosters. Or I actually like the idea to give ex-laying or battery hens a better life too. They will be past their best laying days.

 

[littleboots]

You could have a lot of fun with this as a lot of the chickens that don't lay well are very interesting looking! Here's the Silkie for example. They only lay an egg a week.


Others that lay 1 egg a week include the Sultan, Yokahama, Polish, Phoenix, Asil, Sabelpoot, Cornish, Cubalaya, Malay, Modern Game, Old English game.

For an amazing chart on chicken breeds:
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/hendersonschickenchart.pdf


Justin Rhodes
Read more of my stuff: http://www.abundantpermaculture.com

To learn how to raise chickens naturally, see my movie: http://www.permaculturechickens.com

 

[karmical]

Thinking the caponizing might be beyond my scope!

Thank you, @littleboots for that list! I will check it out…

All very helpful ideas!!