Are you investing in some chickens this 12 months? In the present day I’m sharing with you among the Greatest Egg Laying Chickens for the Yard that you just may need to take into account as you construct your flock!
The Greatest Egg Laying Chickens for the Yard
If you’re new to chickens this 12 months or are simply making an attempt to broaden your flock so that you’ve got extra laying hens, this publish is for you. Generally it’s exhausting to take a look at all of the fuzzy peepers on the farm and feed retailer and attempt to determine which of them to take dwelling. All the tags on the tanks say they’re layers, however which of them would be the finest in your hen coop?
This information is just not exhaustive however will show you how to determine which breeds will probably be a very good match primarily based on their temperament, egg manufacturing, cold-hardiness, foraging functionality, and extra. This checklist relies on my expertise in over 20 years of elevating chickens and never some randomly generated checklist from the web.
Let’s dive in!
The Best Egg Laying Chickens to Increase
Some breeds are simply simpler to boost than others. They’ve an easy-going personalities and are nice for having round youngsters, different animals, and for free-ranging. Listed below are just a few that I believe are the most effective:
Wyandotte
There are lots of totally different sorts of the wyandottes such because the Golden Laced Wyandottes, Blue Laced, Columbian, and Silver Laced. Every of those will lay between 200-245 brown eggs per 12 months, which is fairly good.
One of the best out of those (and my favourite) is the Silver Laced Wyandotte. They may lay as much as 245 eggs per 12 months and have a relaxed and easy-going temperament. The can go broody if that’s one thing you need and they’re very winter hardy.
Australorps
Australorps are a big, hearty dual-purpose breed that can be utilized for meat or for eggs. They sometimes lay round 250 brown eggs per 12 months.
Australorps are calm, light giants which can be nice to have round as a yard breed. They’re additionally good at foraging, making them a more sensible choice for a free-range fowl.
Calico Princess
This breed is newer to me, however I’ve been very pleased with them to date. Calico Princess. The Calico Princess lays a median of 290 gentle brown eggs per 12 months and is a superb forager. They’ll adapt to many various climates.
I at the moment have 5 of those in my flock and they’re the most effective layers I’ve concerning each day consistency.
Speckled Sussex
Speckled Sussex aren’t a breed that I at the moment have, however my mother does and has had for years. This heritage breed will lay as much as 220 brown eggs per 12 months.
Speckled Sussex are one other good multipurpose breed that’s good for laying and good for meat. They’re calm and will be superb setters.
Prairie Bluebell
I used to all the time get Ameraucanas (or Easter Eggers) for a blue egg layer till I found the Prairie Bluebell chickens. Whereas I’ve nothing towards these breeds, I’ve discovered the Prairie Bluebell Egger to be a greater layer and the eggs are a stupendous vibrant blue.
Prairie Bluebells are a cross between an Ameraucana and a Leghorn. They may lay a median of 240 eggs per 12 months. They’re lively and good foragers and good for quite a lot of climates.
Sapphire Gem
That is one other fowl that I like conserving in my flock. The Sapphire Gems are candy, light women which can be more than pleased to offer you an abundance of eggs as they lay a median of 290 brown eggs per 12 months.
Sapphire Gems are nice foragers and they’re very straightforward going. Ours are all the time the primary to run over to us after we carry out the bucket of kitchen scraps.
Greatest Yard Chickens for Chilly Climates
If you happen to stay in a chilly local weather as I do, it’s useful to know the most effective hen breeds for chilly climates. Along with the breeds that I listed above, listed here are another good breeds of chickens you may need to take into account.
- Buff Orpingtons (Or any of the Orpingtons)
- Brahmas
- Barred Rocks
- Salmon Favorelles
- Australorps
All of those birds have a superb disposition and whereas they gained’t all fill your egg basket as full as those on my checklist above, they may all lay nicely and may lay by means of the winter.
These are all additionally dual-purpose chickens and can present a good supply of meat in addition to recent eggs since they are usually on the bigger facet.
Different Good Hen Breeds
Whereas these breeds aren’t in my private flock or don’t fairly hit the mark for the most effective yard egg laying chickens, they’re nonetheless good and nonetheless price researching in case you are making an attempt to diversify your flock.
- Plymouth Rock
- New Hampshire Pink
- Americana
- Delaware
- Marans
- Jersey Giants
- Black Giants
- Cinnamon Queen
- Easter Egger
- Olive Egger
What Chickens Lays 300 Eggs a Yr?
Rhode Island Pink chickens, Isa Browns, Leghorn, Pink Star, Black Star, Pink-Intercourse Hyperlink, Golden Comet, and Amberlinks are all breeds which have the potential to put 300 eggs per 12 months. There are additionally others that lay white eggs (just like the White Leghorns) which can be hybrid chickens made for full time manufacturing that might lay this quantity of eggs per 12 months.
I’d warning nonetheless, that not all of those breeds could have the most effective temperament or be finest for foraging. Out of all of those, I’d advocate the Isa Browns or the Amberlinks if you would like chickens that may lay probably the most eggs.
I’ve beforehand had each of these breeds, and whereas I don’t have them proper now, I’d nonetheless advocate them in case you are searching for the best egg-laying chickens.
Which Chickens Lay Eggs the Longest?
Most heritage breed chickens will lay eggs for as much as 5 or 6 years. That’s a very long time in comparison with the hybrid breeds which is able to lay for 2-3 years.
Do not forget that hybrid breeds will lay extra eggs upfront whereas heritage breeds will lay extra eggs over time. You may need the most effective luck selecting one over the opposite relying in your finish objective.
Give it some thought this manner. Hybrid breeds are nice if you happen to don’t thoughts butchering and need to filter out your flock for broth each few years. If you’re simply seeking to begin a yard flock and don’t need to butcher, heritage breeds will probably be nice.
Tips on how to Get the Most Nutritious Eggs from Chickens
If you happen to feed your chickens nicely, you’re going to get probably the most nutritious eggs.
Whereas I nonetheless feed my women a layer feed, I additionally feed them just a few different issues to get probably the most out of my eggs. First, I combine dried kelp into their feed to spice up diet. Kelp incorporates many important nutritional vitamins and is a prebiotic for the hen’s digestive system. You’ll defniately discover while you feed your chickens kelp as a result of the yolks will probably be vibrant orange!
I additionally feed my chickens grit and oyster shell. Grit additionally helps with the hen’s digestive system. Oyster shell helps so as to add calcium to the hen’s food plan to harden their egg shells and make them much less more likely to get picked or cracked. These are two totally different dietary supplements, they usually do two various things in your chickens.
Feeding your chickens scraps and letting them free-range is one of the simplest ways to get nutritious eggs. Chickens needs to be consuming bugs, fruits, and veggies to take care of a nutritious diet. Chickens on a free vary food plan produce eggs which have double the Omega 3, extra Vitamin E, and extra beta-carotene than typical eggs. Additionally they comprise much less saturated fats and ldl cholesterol than sometimes raised eggs.
Do I Want a Rooster for My Chickens to Lay Eggs?
Fortunately, no, you don’t want a rooster in your hens to put eggs.
There are lots of rumors going round stating that you just want a rooster for hens to put eggs or that you just want a rooster in your hens to put extra eggs. Neither is true. Hens will lay eggs whether or not you will have a rooster or not.
The one time a rooster is important is if you happen to’d wish to hatch eggs from your personal chickens in some unspecified time in the future.
The place to Purchase Egg Laying Chickens
You should buy chicks that may ultimately lay eggs from most farm shops through the spring. Be sure to don’t buy them too early in your local weather and that it will likely be good out when you find yourself able to put them outdoor. (I order my chicks to return in someday in April. Our final frost date is just not till June 1st.)
You may as well buy chicks on-line. I’ve ordered from Murray McMurry, Hoover’s Hatchery, and Cackle Hatchery. There are lots of different on-line hatcheries to select from as nicely.
I’ve a full newbie’s information on Raising Baby Chicks right here.
Chickens are an effective way to spice up your self-sufficiency in quite a lot of totally different settings. Hopefully this publish gave you some concepts and a few recommendation on how finest to develop that yard laying flock!
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Merissa has been running a blog about and dwelling the easy life since 2009 and has internationally revealed 2 books on the subject. You may examine Merissa’s journey from penniless to the 100-acre farm and ministry on the About Page. You may ship her a message any time from the Contact Page.
This publish on the Greatest Egg Laying Chickens for the Yard was initially posted on Little Home Dwelling in February 2023.
