AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

What do you think of the choice between a hibrid layer hen and a true bred layer hen like the isa brown hen. Looking at an ad on farmstock I have seen a few advertise the hibrid and say it is best for laying eggs so I am confused and to which I should buy?

Hi Keby, and welcome,
I am fairly new to chickens, my girls haven't started to lay yet but I think it's personal preference. From what I can understand the hybrids dont live as long as the purebreds, so if the hybrids are your pets also, then it can be heart breaking . I have gone for a selection of purebreeds with a hybrid. One of my purebred main egg layers passed away 2 weeks ago so that leaves me with just one hybrid main layer. This gives me the chance to increases my flock later in the year to 9.

Hi Keby

I have gone for a mix with the majority as commercial (IsaBrowns) egg layers so we get a continual source of eggs, & heritage (Soeckled Sussex & Plymouth Rock) so we get ones that will go broody & hatch eggs if we want.

I love all my girls, but my no.1 as a pet is my baby Clara, who is the Specked Sussex. I have a photo of her in another thread.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17639&start=10

I really don't think it matters which ones you go for, because they all become part of the family, so all that is left to ask is; how many eggs per day do you want?

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

you get whatever you want ...


If you want lots of eggs or chicken meat. or if you want some eggs . or if you want a pretty bird and different coloured birds. or if you want to have a mix of different breeds for variation.


Chickens are chickens. you will love them no matter what breed you get. They all go BWARK and they all lay EGGS and pretty sure all the boys go COCKADOODLE DOOOOO. Only difference is how many eggs you get and what size they will be and what colour depending on the breed of chicken.

I have all Isa Brown hens.... but they haven't started laying yet. Awesome temperament and are wonderful pets.


Also Welcome to the Forum

There are more chickens in the world than people. Some people think chickens are just unintelligent, fat, brown fluffy birds that don’t fly and just lay eggs . Naturally, we all know that is all myth because in reality there are many different breeds with an array of beautiful plumages, and that chickens are very useful, friendly and actually quite clever! Smarter than some people I know in fact!

The humble chook also possess mystical healing powers. Chooks help you feel better and provide you with great company when you really don’t feel like talking to people. They help you alleviate anxiety, depression and loneliness and bring you great comfort. Chooks love you unconditionally and are non judgemental accepting you for who you are. They listen to all your troubles when you are feeling sad and lonely and by patting their soft feathers you feel warm and fuzzy inside and all your stress and anxiety melts away...Chooks make great companions for the elderly and people with disabilities, as socialising for these people can be very difficult and lead to them feeling isolated. Chooks can also help you make friends and give you opportunities to socialise with other people with the same interest. Chooks get you active and out of the house for fresh air and exercise and chooks make great pets for children too! Interacting with chooks are much better for children than video games, television and the even the internet(not including this Forum of course!). They help children develop their social skills and increase their self esteem. They teach children responsibility and empathy, as they have to care for them. They depend on you for food, fresh water, clean shelter and safety from predators every day. It is a great job for children to collect fresh eggs everyday and you can also spend time and teach your children to cook with those yummy eggs! When they grow up, it will be something that they will always remember and maybe they will also keep chooks with their families too!

Chickens are very entertaining, fascinating creatures to watch because of their social structure, they are very community minded birds and provide hours of entertainment just by watching them, especially when they are luxuriating in a dust bath. They make you laugh with their antics, share their eggs with you, they also help with the garden by randomly pooping around while they free range and fertilising it! You can collect their droppings and add it to enrich your compost and then use it on your veggie patch! Chooks provide natural pest control too by eating bugs and weeds!

If you have a bad day,you can go out to see your chooks when you come home. They run to greet you,and are happy to see you and cluck away to you. They are a pleasure to watch and listen to and you soon try and forget what had happened. Whenever you see your chooks you feel happy inside knowing that they’re happy too. That makes everything better!

I have rare breeds, Araucanas and one French Wheaten Marans with the softest of feathers. The reason why I have rare breeds is that as by keeping them you are preserving them and ensuring their existence for future generations.

I have both Isa browns and road island reds and both are wonderful egg layers and like has been mentioned really good temperament with all the family even the dog