Breeds for backyard layers

shaun · **Joined:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:45 pm **Posts:** 21

Due to a bit of bad luck I'm down to 3 austrlorp bantams in the yard as laying hens. I'm trying to work out which breed of hen would be good to use as backyard layers. We want to get bigger eggs & a few more in winter would be good. We also have a 3 year old child so a placid nature is important to us. So far from what I've read on the net rhode island reds, plymouth rocks & wyandottes would all be good choices. I know it's not very smart to believe everything you read on the net so does anyone have any experience either positive or negative with these breeds or would I be better off to go for a commercial layer either isa brown or hy line. Thanks shaun.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Sorry to read about your chookies.

How about Barnevelders? From what I have read they are good layers and have a docile temperament.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20163

gabby · **Joined:** Sat Jul 28, 2012 5:10 pm **Posts:** 21

I took the commercials off my list because of their short laying life at least with the pure breds you get eggs form them for a lot longer

BigFishLittleFish · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2012 8:11 am

My isa browns are fantastic ! huge personalities and super friendly. Tolerate all the kid attention here and are pretty darn hardy.
I wouldnt trade in my girls for any other breed. They are really friendly... it is like having a bunch of dogs that want to come inside and hang in the lounge room with you watching t.v. (they have tried MANY times to come inside and always wait at the back door if they see me walk in)
They are always happy to see me... well i pretend they are happy to see me. really they are happy to see i am bringing food to them... LOL
But even without food they will come over and just hang around where ever you are sitting and peck around you and climb all over you.

They do eat a LOT and poop just as much and love to do what chickens do. scratching up the garden and big dust baths all over the pen. But it means they are happy :-D

Maybe they dont live as long as other chickens. But hey while you have them you wont be sorry !

shaun · **Joined:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:45 pm **Posts:** 21

Thanks everyone for your comments. I'm still not sure which way we're going to fly but at the moment the commercials seem to have a bit of an edge. How long do they usually live for in a backyard enviroment? Do they continue to lay in winter?

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Commercial hybrids such as Isa Browns are at their peak laying from POL to 18 months old laying well over 300 eggs on average, that's when the egg farmers make them redundant as they are past their peak and therefore use by and end up in pet food

or for some kind person rescues their ravaged bodies and nurse and rehabilitate them. They do need extra calcium supplements as do lay an egg nearly every day in rain, hail or shine.

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/2003/a ... red_chooks

Chooks are very personal like any other animal/pet, it depends on their owner and what their owner is looking for in a chook or dog or cat or goldfish or phasmid.

gabby · **Joined:** Sat Jul 28, 2012 5:10 pm **Posts:** 21

I think they are a terrific chook I only meant they have a shorter egg laying life than the pure breeds so for me I go with the pure breeds but I can see why lots have the isa brown all the same

Bells · **Joined:** Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:29 am **Posts:** 37

Mine are Hylines - white leghorn x new hampshire. At age two they've been laying almost daily for the whole 18 months we've had them, until this month when we lost one to a fox and the others have gone into a kind of shock. But I expect that to settle down soon and we'll go back to normal. They've been friendly, happy and so much fun, as well as prolific layers.

Hillbilly · **Posted:** Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:47 pm

Faverolles are very placid and still good layers. Most friendly chickens i ever had

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