Which hens to get?

[sfisher]

My local feed store will be carring these chickens in March, Black sex links, Warrens, and Rhode Island reds. All I want is a good feed to egg ratio. What do you suggest?

 

[greyfields]

Black sex links will be optimum if all you care about is FCR. The RIR's are prettier (I think). I've never heard of a Warren, though. Did they mean "Maran" maybe?

 

[Stormhorse23]

rirs. great layers, beautiful, but they do eat a bunch

 

[sfisher]

I have never heard of Warrens either.

 

[sfisher]

I found Warrens on the net. All it says is that they are a RIR cross, originally bred for battery farms. Type is Hybrid, weight medium, egg color beige, eggs per year 300. Also known as Calder Ranger. Sounds like a good hen to me. The Maran was on the same page it is a RIR crossed with a Plymouth Rock.

 

[LinckHillPoultry]

RIR's. I have a bunch. They supply me with TONS of beautiful HUGE brown eggs. I suggest them.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
A Maran is a dark- eggs laying breed. It is not a cross. For information on Marans, here is the link:

http://featherside.com/Poultry/CGK/Marans/BRKMarans.html

 

[silkiechicken]

Sounds like if a warren is a mix, it would be another priporty name for a red sexlink. I bet the RIR's are really production reds. Any of the three will do well for you. The main advantage of sexlinks is you will have 100% pullets for sure, instead of just 90%.

 

[ksacres]

Sexlinks will be more economical as far a feed to egg. And I think the red sexlinks are really pretty with their "white underwear".