" Eight best egg laying breeds" from official study

[Kathie]

Unfortunately, the article doesn't say who did the study. But, thought I would pass along their results.

1. White Leghorn (no surprise there)

2. Black Sex Links
tied for second
3. Red/Gold/Buff Sex Links

4. Rhode Island Reds

5. Cuckoo Marans

6. Light Sussex

7. Barred Rock

8. Plymouth Rocks

The article went into a little more detail: While the Leghorn came out on top, it was only by 10 to 11 eggs over the Sex links. (The study was for one laying period, first lay, so young pullets. The RI Reds were 5 eggs down from the Sex-Links, and the rest were all equal with 3 eggs down from the RI Reds. The Leghorns took 12% less feed than the rest. The study was done on *all* egg-layer breeds, and meant to be a "top ten" but all other breeds fell so below the standard set by these eight, that they could not justify including them. Each breed was represented by a pen of 20 pullets, same weather conditions (pens inside a large building) exact same feed, (measured twice daily) hatched on same day, same water, lighting, etc.
The previous study was done in 2001, and the winners were the same with the exception of the Cuckoo Marans, which were not considered a "signifigant" breed at that time. That study went on for years apparently, and the finding remained the same through 3 laying periods, at which time it became spasmodic and unreliable (the egg laying, not the study.) The surprising result was that their Cochins (all known colors)although nowhere near the top ten in production, stayed in their full production for EIGHT laying cycles when their brooding tendencies were not permitted. They did not elaborate on how they managed to not "permit" brooding tendencies.

I found this quite interesting, and thought you would, too. I also found out that I have always WAY over-fed my hens, as they say that 20 hens should only be fed 4 cups of a complete layer ration daily. Water, oyster shell, grit and "garden greenery" were fed free choice. In extremely cold temperatures, they added 1 1/2 TEASPOONS of cracked corn per hen. If layer ration is fed in higher amounts, the hens become fat and unproductive, and become more apt to develop the habit of eating their eggs.

So can anyone tell me if the Cuckoo Marans have the beautiful dark dark eggs? I haven't placed my order yet, though I have to soon...

Kathie

[boondocks]

Thanks for posting that! I need to add some younger hens to my flock... I like the sex links. Might keep eye out for the marans also...
Annie

[simplynaturalfarm]

cuckoo maran do NOT lay a lot of eggs - every hatchery and breeder I've spoken to says they lay lovely eggs but only 160 ish per year. I'd love to have seen th estudy because 4 cups of ration per day for 20 hens would starve them out. For 30 hens I count on feeding 15lbs per day in winter (1/2 lb per bird) The layer rations are intended to be fed at approximately 1/4lb per bird per day. Which is a minimum of 1 cup per bird as a rule.

[Jenny at Sagehill]

I've had the cuckoo marans and didn't notice an overabundance of eggs, either... maybe it depends on the line of breed?

While I agree that most people overfeed their hens, four cups per 20 birds sounds pretty low, especially in winter.  Wonder where the study was run?

[Kathie]

Okay, this article came in the mail in my county's "Spring Newsletter." It was four pages...the newsletter, not the article. It's a little thing, and mostly is about recycling--why, how and where. I read it because it tells where you can buy worms for composting (YAY! I was top of the list.) I just told you what it said. It gave no references at all. I, too, thought the feed requirements were too low, but it's been years since I had chickens, and when I did it was hundreds. We used to just dump 50 pound bags into all the feeders whenever they were low. I didn't give the article a lot of value, as I said, I just thought it was interesting. After I posted this, I tried to find out more, so I googled "Best egg laying chicken breeds"...which led to Youtube. There is one that is just "Top 8 breeds of egg layer chickens" and whoever posted it names the same 8 breedsas the article. Whether he read the same article, or the article saw his video, I don't know. There was a very interesting video with a woman with a British accent saying what the best breeds are, and most were not ones I am familiar with, but apparently in England there is a WhiteStar. There was another video where whoever made the video shows Blackstar, RedStar, Wellsummers and Americanas as the best egg layers. So I guess it's still anyone's guess, and your personal preference...just like it has always been. If the article in the recycling newsletter was a "fake" study, I would like to know, too. And actually, if there never has been a study on the subject, I think there should be. Even if it was done for Big Ag, the results should still help us small farmers.

Kathie

[Debbie Lincoln]

I've bought "production reds" from Tractor Supply for 2 years straight now (and hatched a few crosses). We have never had less than 4 eggs with a dozen hens. And the average is 6. Half my hens are 2 - 4 years old.

[Shawn]

if they were housed inside, that would account for needing somewhat less feed, since they probably don't deal with a lot of cold.
Well, Heather, you just have to face the fact you need some Leghorns! LOL

[sweetiepie]

Simplynaturalfarm you should try them again and then let me know what you think

[IdahoFarmer]

I agree with others.... Cuckoo Marans are a novelty bird, not a trusted egg layer.

[simplynaturalfarm]

HA! I don't need to try them, I have worked with them too much in the past to ever consider it. AND they have the largest combs of all the breeds I've ever known. Really bad when you have a chicken coop like mine.

But I appreciate the enthusiasm for me to try *G*

[twistedwillow]

We have quite an assortment of breeds- and my Cuckoo Maran is actually one of my best layers! The Partridge Rocks, Red Caps, the Maran, and my Wellsummer are my most reliable. But whose to say that will continue. I personally really like Rhode Island Reds- though I don't have any.

[haecklers]

Those are the breeds that lay the most eggs, maybe for the least amount of feed (universities like to look at feed conversion ratios), BUT - I've found many of them have personality problems, ie. they're mean, chick killers, or too stupid to avoid getting eaten. For free range, the all around best breed is (IMHO) the Easter Eggers, whatever you want to call them. Some of ours lay clear through the winter with no heat or lights. They rarely get eaten by predators, have really good survival skills. Their eggs are on the small side, compared to some of the other breeds, tho. They're nice enough to baby chicks, and mine at least are broody and can raise two broods a year each, which is why we have 50+ chickens running around the yard now. They also find a huge amount of their own food, even in winter, tho admittedly they're stealing quite a bit from the pigs at feeding time. On top of that they're smart and friendly.

We had a welsummer who laid lovely dark brown speckled eggs. She got eaten by the fox.

[Deleted]

I agree with haecklers about the Easter Eggers as the winner of the birds that free range best. I am always impressed with their smarts and survival skills. I had one I couldn't catch all summer that just hung around the house. Every now and then I'd find a huge stash of eggs. When a red star runs loose it is picked off by coyotes or owls in a matter of days if I don't catch her and place her in the safety of the electric netting.

[marseydoats]

Here's another of my dumb questions, is Easter Egger just another name for Americauna? Or are they a different breed?

[haecklers]

Easter Egger is any one that lays green eggs. Evidently there's some problems with the hatcheries not selling pure Ameraucanas or Araucana, and whenever you call a chicken one of those names someone pops up and says it's not pure because it should/shouldn't have a beard, etc. They're pretty closely related, tho.

[sweetiepie]

I only have three Easter Eggers as a treat to me to spice up the ordinary hen house of brown eggs. But out of 38 pullets that started laying last fall, they layed first and I get at least two if not three green eggs a day. So I am very happy with them as far as producing. Their eggs are medium to large sized though. Smaller then the other hens.

[michiganmilkaholic]

Easter Eggers are non pure Americauna, they have a lot of Americauna in them but they don't meet the breed standard requirements. They are usually wild colored with green or slate legs with pea combs and usually have muffs. They can lay blue, green, pink, tinted, and brown eggs (hence easter eggs).
I think the biggest problem is hatcheries breeding leghorn (or other production breeds) into them to increase their egg laying rate. I have about 10 EEs right now and most have a leghorn type body just a little bigger. I see a lot of white earlobes so I'm sure their is leghorn in their parentage, they should have red earlobes.
Mine don't lay as good as a Rhodie or a Rock but they can hold their own. They sure are eye candy though with their beautiful feather patterns, no two are exactly alike.

[simplynaturalfarm]

Well, that's so funny, because my Americana are the chickens that don't like to leave the coop though the door is usually open year round. I can be sure they are the ones that will be on the perch or looking out the window, but never free ranging.
And I only get about 2 eggs out of the 4 every week
SO I think maybe your hatchery source has better birds!

[acts3v6]

We actually got a white Americana in our batch a couple years ago. I hd never seen a white one before. I am not sure she is still around though. The white chickens here tend to become meals quicker. She was really cute though with her muffed face and all white. My u derstanding is the true Aracanas have no tail feathers and I read they are not great layers, but I have no experience with them.

[simplynaturalfarm]

Ameraucana are their own breed and not as common as easter eggers. They don't have ear tufts but a muff and beard. Some hatcheries call easter eggers, AMericana (note slightly different spelling) and EE or rainbow layers or Americana are just mixed breed hens.

Araucana are rare and purebreds also