Which breeds have you had good egg production from?

[Irmasmom]

Leghorns, Isa Browns and Black sex links are my top 3 for allaying. I have a variety of breeds but these are the top layers for sure

 

[JoCoKS]

Hello! So, I LOVE the friendliness and high egg production #'s coming from my Golden Comets (6-7 per week), however I don't like the reproductive issues that have started happening (egg bound, etc....) So, I'm needing some advice as to which chickens you've had the best egg output from..... I'll be adding close to 20 hens with the sole purpose of selling eggs and want breeds that can give me 5-6-7 eggs per week and is not a production hybrid. Any breeds you've had luck with??? Thanks!

I had excellent egg production from my Rhode Island Reds. At three years of age plus they were still laying like when they started. I cannot tell you if they are still laying eggs like crazy since they were stolen last fall.

 

[StaffordshireLady]

I had excellent egg production from my Rhode Island Reds. At three years of age plus they were still laying like when they started. I cannot tell you if they are still laying eggs like crazy since they were stolen last fall.

Thats awful! So sorry this has happened to you. I too would be devastated.

 

[tamdeva]

Hello! So, I LOVE the friendliness and high egg production #'s coming from my Golden Comets (6-7 per week), however I don't like the reproductive issues that have started happening (egg bound, etc....) So, I'm needing some advice as to which chickens you've had the best egg output from..... I'll be adding close to 20 hens with the sole purpose of selling eggs and want breeds that can give me 5-6-7 eggs per week and is not a production hybrid. Any breeds you've had luck with??? Thanks!

I sell eggs and usually have about 12 -15 hens, I have had many different breeds, Love the RIR eggs, but not their mean manners, to me and the other girls. So then, I really like the Plymouth Barred Rock hens. A sweet bird, with a nice light brown big egg! Sometime go broody.

 

[birdsrfun]

I’ve only had Buff Orpingtons, Barred Plymouth Rocks, and Black Australorps. These three breeds lay very well, nearly daily, even in the winter, but my best has been my Black Star sex link. She’s a power layer! I’m in CA, so our winters are pretty mild.

 

[Red Runner]

Hello! So, I LOVE the friendliness and high egg production #'s coming from my Golden Comets (6-7 per week), however I don't like the reproductive issues that have started happening (egg bound, etc....) So, I'm needing some advice as to which chickens you've had the best egg output from..... I'll be adding close to 20 hens with the sole purpose of selling eggs and want breeds that can give me 5-6-7 eggs per week and is not a production hybrid. Any breeds you've had luck with??? Thanks!

My Swedish Flower Hens layer 5 to 6 a week. Very easy keeper. Heat and Cold tolerant. Almost never go broody. Also come in lots of colors and friendly.

 

[LONDON HENS]

Thank you for your reply! Did you find that the Leghorns are skittish, unfriendly, etc...???
How many eggs are you getting per week? Thanks!

I have one amazing white leghorn who lays huge eggs daily for us, must get over 300 a year... but she is totally skittish and unfriendly to an extent, like shes never seen a human before.

 

[ArcherChaos]

I have leghorns they are actually really nice once you catch them.

 

[pnelms]

I've had Cochins, Brahmas, Australorps, and Orpingtons in my older flock. The best egg layers were the Australorps and Orpingtons. They also were friendly, intelligent hens who ran the flock including the rooster (a Brahma). When I realized I had to start again, I did a little research to find out which breeds were friendly and reliable egg layers. We have chickens for eggs. We don't eat our chickens. So the first thing we had to define was why do we have chickens. And based on why we have chickens, which breeds suit our purpose and have the attitudes that work for us.

I have two new groups Sussex--because of all the write-ups on their friendliness, and a new project breed of Australorp--self blue/lavender. I hatched the chicks and now they range in age from 2 weeks to 7 months. So far only one of my Light Sussex hens is laying. The others are too young. She is producing 3 to 4 eggs a week as a 7 month old. I have high hopes for the Australorps productivity as they are a combination of black Australorps and Lavender Orpingtons. The two breeds are definitely different--like Brits and Aussies. The Sussex are a little more conservative; while the Australorps are the life of the party. I would not characterize my 3 7-month Sussex roos as particularly laid back. One is pretty easy going while the other two are definitely trying to figure out who they are and attain the top spot in the pecking order. They are huge roos, but I wouldn't call them gentle giants at this point as they are still figuring out who they are. The Sussex hen is a sweetheart. She is also quite a bit larger than my other hens even at 7 months. The younger Sussex group is 11 weeks old. They are friendly, not aggressive, and run out to greet you when you go into their coop area.

The first group of Australorps is also 11 weeks. They are very friendly and really enjoy being around people. They love to help you do everything and they are always looking for the next adventure. The second group of Australorps is now almost 3 weeks. As with the first group, they are very friendly and want to be involved with everything you do.

I'm sure there are some breeds of chickens that tend to be less friendly than others, but the Cochins, Brahmas, Australorps, and Orpingtons were all really pleasant backyard chickens over the years. The Cochins and Brahmas do not produce as many or as large an egg as the Australorps and Orpingtons, nor are any of the eggs other than shades of tan/brown. Based on the hatching eggs I received, I think the Australorps are going to produce larger eggs than the Sussex, but we'll see. My champion layer of all time--and who still produces a perfect, large egg every other day--is a Buff Orpington who is now 7+ years old.

Good luck in making your choices. You seem to have gotten a lot of good input from your fellow chicken keepers.

 

[Molly Bee]

I have Easter Eggers, NH Reds and Buff Orpingtons. They are all great layers.