Best layer

[chickndays]

Which chicken breed would you rate as your top layer?
Rhode Island Red for me

 

[Ecarroll]

My golden sexlinks are my best layers

 

[fluffycrow]

Now, this is a tricky question. There are quite a lot of factors to consider. The best layer breed while still managing to keep themselves healthy? The best layer breed for the first one to two years of their life? The best layer over the course of a lifetime? IMO, all those have slightly different answers.

To get the obvious out of the way, if I was asked what the best layer breed is without any more explanation, I'd say leghorns, and to be fair, most Mediterranean breeds. IMO, they do a pretty good job at all of the above, but not necessarily the best at everything.

I'd say a hen that has regular broody cycles would be who I'd nominate for having the most healthy laying habits. Giving herself enough breaks between each laying cycle to keep herself healthy, and laying for longer. My answer would be similar for the "which breed is best for a long life of egg laying".

If I was asked the second question (which breed lays the most in the first one to two years of their life), I'd say the ISA brown/Red Sex Link. They lay a horrendous amount of eggs, at the expense of their own bodies failing them. I can't recall one of my own making it past 5, maybe five and a half years of age

 

[Ecarroll]

Now, this is a tricky question. There are quite a lot of factors to consider. The best layer breed while still managing to keep themselves healthy? The best layer breed for the first one to two years of their life? The best layer over the course of a lifetime? IMO, all those have slightly different answers.

To get the obvious out of the way, if I was asked what the best layer breed is without any more explanation, I'd say leghorns, and to be fair, most Mediterranean breeds. IMO, they do a pretty good job at all of the above, but not necessarily the best at everything.

I'd say a hen that has regular broody cycles would be who I'd nominate for having the most healthy laying habits. Giving herself enough breaks between each laying cycle to keep herself healthy, and laying for longer. My answer would be similar for the "which breed is best for a long life of egg laying".

If I was asked the second question (which breed lays the most in the first one to two years of their life), I'd say the ISA brown/Red Sex Link. They lay a horrendous amount of eggs, at the expense of their own bodies failing them. I can't recall one of my own making it past 5, maybe five and a half years of age

This is good to consider, I just assumed they meant which of your chickens lays the most currently.

 

[fluffycrow]

This is good to consider, I just assumed they meant which of your chickens lays the most currently.

That might be it . In that case, not sure. Probably a mixed breed bantam hen, or an aseel×brahma hen I have. Fantastic bird. Both the birds have what I'd call healthy laying cycles, stopping often enough for their body to replenish what they lost while laying

 

[chickndays]

Now, this is a tricky question. There are quite a lot of factors to consider. The best layer breed while still managing to keep themselves healthy? The best layer breed for the first one to two years of their life? The best layer over the course of a lifetime? IMO, all those have slightly different answers.

To get the obvious out of the way, if I was asked what the best layer breed is without any more explanation, I'd say leghorns, and to be fair, most Mediterranean breeds. IMO, they do a pretty good job at all of the above, but not necessarily the best at everything.

I'd say a hen that has regular broody cycles would be who I'd nominate for having the most healthy laying habits. Giving herself enough breaks between each laying cycle to keep herself healthy, and laying for longer. My answer would be similar for the "which breed is best for a long life of egg laying".

If I was asked the second question (which breed lays the most in the first one to two years of their life), I'd say the ISA brown/Red Sex Link. They lay a horrendous amount of eggs, at the expense of their own bodies failing them. I can't recall one of my own making it past 5, maybe five and a half years of age

I clearly didn't think out my question enough. Good points!

 

[The Moonshiner]

My best layers are Leghorns

 

[SourRoses]

For the long haul or lifetime of laying I would actually say pure Ameraucana. They are the only breed I've had some still lay 3 eggs a week at 4 years old.
The production ability can be inconsistent between individuals, but some of ours have been every day layers. Those are the same ones that lay better in the winter than many other breeds I've kept.

For shorter term production and consistency among individuals, definitely Leghorn.
They have better reproductive health than the laying hybrids while churning out at least as many eggs.

 

[AinaWGSD]

In my little flock, so far with 4 weeks of laying, I'd say my sapphire jewel, Lady Amalthea

My RIR and olive egger lay the same amount of eggs, but hers have been large from the start.

Which makes sense, since I'm pretty sure sapphire jewels are a cross between ameraucanas and white leghorns.