Advice on chicken breeds.

[Andkingquail]

Hi, I might expand my chicken flock. I'm looking for chicken breeds that are very productive and preferably lay more often than other breeds in the winter. But I don't want to get any production breeds. I also preferably want the eggs to be interesting in color not just plain brown. Thank you for any advice.

 

[Chicken poppy]

I find my black sex link chicken to lay fairly well throughout the winter. Her eggs are brown and sometimes have a pinkish hue.

 

[Andkingquail]

I find my black sex link chicken to lay fairly well throughout the winter. Her eggs are brown and sometimes have a pinkish hue.

Do they lay consistently through out the year?

 

[Chicken poppy]

Do they lay consistently through out the year?

Mine is a few years old and she still lays pretty consistently, she has slowed a little in production but was very consistent a few years ago.

 

[SourRoses]

Umm, but, the breeds that are considered productive are called "production breeds"...

So assuming you mean no "production hybrids prone to reproductive health issues"... then the best answer is Leghorns.
Leghorns are healthy, productive, and not as affected by low light levels in winter, and they lay white not brown.

Barring that, there are some European breeds that have been selectively bred for winter laying. One such is Deathlayers. My brain won't yield the name of the other European one I was thinking of...

And then you can look to Canada, where the Chantecler is known to lay well in winter.

Hope that helps!

 

[Amer]

I haven't found specific breeds to lay more in the winter than others. I just put out artificial lights and I get plenty of eggs. But I find my Welsummers from Deer Run Farm lay more than most.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

My Rhode Island Reds are laying throughout the winter without any artificial lightning

 

[Amer]

My Rhode Island Reds are laying throughout the winter without any artificial lightning

You are from Alabama..

 

[No Coop No Problem]

You are from Alabama..

Fair, but given that they're the one breed laying in winter goes to show the difference in production between breeds still

 

[FrostRanger]

Hi, I might expand my chicken flock. I'm looking for chicken breeds that are very productive and preferably lay more often than other breeds in the winter. But I don't want to get any production breeds. I also preferably want the eggs to be interesting in color not just plain brown. Thank you for any advice.

Hmm, if you want color you can't go wrong with easter eggers