Which....Brown egger

[SamG347]

This spring I plan to add around 6-8 more birds to my flock. I will be getting them from the local feedstore. I want to get a breed that lays LOTS of brown eggs without eating me out of house and home like my girls I got now. The breeds I have currently include....

RIR
Light Brahma
Buff Orpington
Golden Laced Wyandotte
Silver Laced Wyandotte
Easter Egger
Brown Leghorn

And I would like to get something different...Here is what I had in mind but still not sure.

3 Barred Rocks
3 Gold/Red Sexlinks
and will probably also get 2 white leghorns.

Do you all find that sexlinks are better than just regular old Rhode Island Reds?
Thanks

 

[Yogiman]

SAMGE47
If it is lots of brown eggs you want with a good feed to egg conversion ratio then you probably can't beat the sex links no matter the color. They are literally egg laying machines as opposed to the standard breed brown egg layers.

While they are not my favorite, I do have to pay them their due. I normally stay with the heavy standard breed for a different reason.

Good luck with your choice.

 

[SamG347]

Thanks Yogi, I have heard that sexlinks almost dont lay after their second year of life. Is that true? Because if it is I will probably just stick with Barred Rocks and Rhode Islands.
Thanks again yall

 

[Yogiman]

Oh, they continue to lay after 2 years. Mabey not quite as productive but they do lay. You do know that a sex link is a cross between 2 standard breeds, do you not?

I rotate my flock every 2 years which gives me an opportunity to try a new breed. I have kept numerous breeds through the years. If it grows feathers and lays eggs I probably have raised some to them. lol

 

[SamG347]

Yes I know that sexlinks are cross birds. I feel like a newbie asking questions like these but I have actually raised poultry for 4-5 years.
Sounds like sexlinks are the way to go then!
Thanks

 

[roosters97]

you should try partridge rocks they lay good

 

[speckledhen]

I like my Barred Rocks for everything. My only real piglet is my Speckled Sussex, Nelda. Biggest eater I've ever seen. She'll follow me to the ends of the earth and maybe even stand on her head for food. On the upside, she's quite the industrious little forager, so maybe when there are green things to eat in the spring, she'll be better.

 

[SamG347]

It will depend on what the feedstore has when I go but barred rocks are my first choice right now. If they have partridge I might get acouple of them as well. I love the color! Are yours good layers?

 

[roosters97]

Quote:
oh yes and they are not pigs either

 

[Yogiman]

I can agree in full with the part about the "pigs". My feed bill is stagering just for that reason. But I do enjoy them and it's not about the money for me at all.

If I could only have one breed I suppose I would have to have the orps. I just love their disposition and their looks. Talk about fluffy butts! I currently have 12 Buffs that are 11 months old and are laying real good. This is probably my 5th. flock of buffs. But it is each to their own as far as choices go. That is why they make so many different flavors of ice cream, I guess.

The RIR is often touted as being the most prolific layer of brown egg layers in standard breeds and I can't dispute that. They are a fine bird, just not a colorful as other breeds.

I have two orders for chicks coming in 2 weeks for 6 different breeds.
White Orps
White Rocks
Delawares
Rhode Island Whites
Speckled Sussex
Gray Dorkin

I like to try different breeds just to see for myself how they perform. Some work real good and others not so good.