Category: Chicken Breeds

Choosing a Good Laying Hen

A Few Breed Choices for High Yield and Excellent Egg Quality

Leghorn / Hen: 4 pounds

The best egg layer and the feed-to-egg conversion ratio are excellent, holding down the cost of egg production. These birds start laying earlier than most at 41/2 – 5 months and on average lay 10 -12 weeks longer than most good laying hens. If you’re looking for the breed that’ll give you the most eggs of superior quality in the smallest amount of space, consider the Leghorn.  They are a white egg layer of top-grade eggs with good size.
Although these birds aren’t usually found in your local feed store, you can ask a feed store to order them for you when THEY buy chicks, they’re often willing to oblige.

Rhode Island Red / Hen: 6 lbs.

Martha & Michelle 2010

R.I. chicks are readily available in almost all feed stores. They are excellent layers of sizable brown eggs. They do quite well in confinement but can be a bit bossy.  These dual-purpose heavy birds are a dark mahogany color and have earned their reputation as a favorite among chicken keepers for years.
No other heavy breed lays more or better eggs than the Rhode Island Red.

The Dominique / Hen: 5 1/2 pounds

Mamma, Dominique

This is one of my favorite breeds on the farm. They are hardy in extreme heat, confine well, are extremely docile, friendly, and brown egg layers. You can expect the Dominique to lay every other day, and here in Arizona mine lay most all winter.
My Dominique hens are non-aggressive to other members of the flock, and I’ve introduced new birds with only minor confrontations.
This particular hen is now three years old and still laying quality eggs every other day.
More Options…
You can also buy pullets (hens at their point of lay) if you want to skip raising chicks altogether. Check your local Craigslist under Farm & Garden, you may find just the breeds you’re looking for right in your neighborhood. Expect to pay $15 to $25 each. Beware of buying chicks though… they’re usually not sexed and you might end up with a rooster, finding yourself in violation of most local city codes.

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Chicken Breeds with Broody Tendencies

12 Breeds That Tend to Be Broody

If you are only interested in egg production then you may not want to purchase chicks that have broody tendencies.  Broody hens can be troublesome, so if you’re not looking for a mother hen, here are the breeds you may want to avoid.
Buff Rocks
Cochins
Orpingtons
Dark Cornish
Sussex
Cuckoo Marans
Plymouth Rock
Brahmas
Silkies
Cochin Bantams
Cornish Bantams
Serama

Orpington
Silkie

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Naked Neck Turken

Turken

The Turken is a light brown egg layer and is considered a dual-purpose utility chicken. It is especially suitable for meat production as the breed has approximately half the feathers of other chickens, making them easier to pluck.
These birds are cold hardy and heat tolerant, excellent foragers, and immune to most diseases.
Their appearance is rather odd and not particularly appealing to some. Perhaps this explains why they’re not usually known to be an exhibition bird.
About
Size: 6.5 to 8 pounds
Type: Large Fowl & Bantam
Varieties: Black, Buff, Red, White
Egg Laying: 2-3 per week
Egg Size: Medium
Egg Color: Light Brown
Comb Type: Single
Personality: Docile & Friendly
Broody/Setters: Yes

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