Doing some research

HenYoga · **Joined:** Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:13 am **Posts:** 2

New to backyard chickens so out doing some research first and read [not here] that the crossed bred chicken is better for egg production than the true bred chickens which I hope is not correct as I have taken a liking to the australorp chicken but its all about the eggs for this family at least until we fall in love with them

TheGongMan · **Joined:** Mon Jun 18, 2012 11:06 am **Posts:** 10

Australorps are as good layers as any cross breed and they fetch good money if you breed a few. I think if your going to feed chickens then feed the pure breeds

julie at serenity · **Posted:** Mon Oct 01, 2012 4:36 pm

It all depends on what the breed of chook was used to create the cross breed.......many crossbreeds make very good layers...but they have parents who were good layers....

But...many folk will prefer to keep purebred chooks.....many purebreeds will lay very well.....whilst others lay not so well.....but...at least by keeping a purebreed the owner is helping maintain a breed...many purebreeds are reducing in numbers......many folk are very happy to go and purchase some Isa Brown chooks.....if you just want a red egg laying machine...this cross bred chook may be the one for you (Isa Browns are not a recognised pure breed)......the main problem I see with them is that as they have been bred to be good egg laying machines, their laying rate can markedly reduce after about 18 months.......many folk who keep purebreds that are a good laying strain find that although the chook is not an egg laying machine, the chook will actually continue to lay eggs for a lot longer than the Isa Browns.....

There is alot more to keeping a chook than just it's egg production..... many folk with families would like chooks that are more placid and friendly....be wary...not all of the really good egg laying breeds are placid.....some can be quite flighty.....

Australorps are great...I have Aussie bantams (along with other breeds)......but there are many other breeds to choose from as well...

Enjoy your research.....but be warned...many folk have a tendancy to be biased conf665

Bobkat · **Posted:** Tue Oct 02, 2012 10:58 am

Hi there, I did similar research through the winter months and found a clear view (albeit a generalisation) that hybrids like Isa Browns will pump an egg a day out for 12-18 months then either stop or die. So, fine if you only want eggs and no one in the family gets so attached (do you have kids???) that you mind dispatching them as they stop laying.

On the other hand, purebreeds like the Australorp consistently lay well (just not necessarily every single day) and if healthy can keep this up for several years. I knew I would get attached and would not want non-layers killed so, we have settled on one each of four breeds - Australorp, Rhode Island Red, Silver Campine and a Barnevelder. They are too young to lay yet, but are a delight in the garden and very pretty. Especially the Australorp with the beautiful beetle-green sheen.

Work out how many eggs you might consume in a week, then get enough plus one or two more to produce that. Hendersen's chart on chicken breeds gives lots of useful data (just google it). The other thing I will do is freeze egss during the summer months for the winter when they will stop laying. That way, we should have enough eggs for us (plus more to give away) for at least 2-3 years before we need to think about getting any more chickens.

Good luck with all the decisions ahead!

HenYoga · **Joined:** Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:13 am **Posts:** 2

Thank you so much for the help I think the australops are the clear favorite for me and what you both wrote make so much good sense

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Doing some research

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