Layer/Egg Breeds This presentation is sponsored by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
These are birds that usually grow slower than breeds for meat and reach a lower body weight, but are great at laying eggs (200-300 a year!)
Individual farmers have their preferences about the color of the eggs, the breed choices and the housing system that they want
The color of the shell has no effect on the nutritional content or taste of the egg The differences in color, comes from the nutrition that the hens received Consumers often assume that brown eggs are more natural or healthier Brown eggs can fetch a higher price Pastured or free-ranged eggs can have a lower amount of cholesterol, but the difference is really not significant for one s health
A hen is called broody when she wants to sit on the eggs and hatch them (also called maternal instinct) A hen lays only one egg every day or two, but she doesn t start naturally incubating until the whole clutch is laid This way, all the chicks will hatch at the same time Some breeds tend to show more broodiness than others, this is a sign of which hen will take care of the eggs, while others will not If you plan on selling eggs, it might be good to not have hens with high broodiness as they tend to lay less eggs and want to sit on, and incubate the eggs they lay Breeds like Leghorns and Minorcas don t get broody, so make sure you ve got an incubator to raise chicks if that s the end goal
Hens will usually be kept for a couple of years, so you need to consider the weather in your area If you have cold winters, you may choose a heavier bodied, well feathered bird, if you have hot and humid summers then you should choose smaller birds If you want to breed and raise your own replacements, then you probably want a broody breed that will sit on the eggs and hatch them, but if you only want the eggs then you don t want a broody breed
There is no real difference in the nutritional content of eggs of different colors (white, brown or even blue/green eggshells) The color of the shell is given by the breed of the hen, but the contents MAY depend on the diet of the hens Most people have an idea and a preference, so educate but don t argue, find out what kind of eggs your clients like and make sure to get hens that lay that color of egg
If there is a lot of interest for heritage breeds in your area, then that is probably the best way to go, but if your main concern is egg production then you would be better with a modern hybrid breed Heritage breeds Golden Campine hen Delaware (Indian River) Wheaten Old English Game Hen
http://www.backyardchickens.com/breeds/breed-search.php
EGG LAYER BREEDS Ameraucana Ancona Australorp Hamburg Houdan Leghorn Minorca Polish Sex Links
Early 1970 s these began to be developed from the Araucana imports from Chile Considered the Newest American Breed
Varieties: Color type Blue, Blue Wheaton Black, Silver White, Buff Brown Red, Wheaton Comb type Pea comb
Skin color: Varies with color variety Egg Shell color: Green to blue eggs Size: Roosters Hens 5.5 6.5 pounds 4.5 5.5 pounds
Commercial use Used primarily for egg production with some lines heavily selected for egg production Some people call them Easter egg chickens or Easter eggers because they lay blue eggs Some say that the cholesterol of the eggs is less than normal eggs of other breeds. This has not been proven and it is more likely dependent on the diet Characteristics Good general farm chicken Some lines will exhibit broodiness Good at foraging
First imported into the US in the 1930 s Mapuche Indian tribe in South America developed these from Collonca and Queteros breeds Collonca clean faced, rumpless, blue egg laying fowl Queteros ear tufts, tailed, lays a pinkish brown egg
Different from the Ameraucana The ear tuft gene carries a lethal gene which causes embryo mortality Blue egg trait is dominant so these birds have been cross bred with a number of American breeds to increase hatchability and are called Ameraucana s
Do better in open production systems Poor at foraging for feed Breeding can be a problem because of the lethal gene (associated with the ear tufts) that kills ~25% of chicks prior to hatch http://www.triplespringacres.com/rareandfancychickens.htm
Originated in the city of Ancona, Italy Original bloodlines from other Italian breeds and Leghorn type fowl Came to the United States in the late 1800 s
Varieties: Color: Black mottled Red mottled Comb type: Single Rose
Skin color: Yellow Egg shell color: White Size: Rooters Hens 5 6 pounds 4 4.5 pounds
Commercial use: Excellent egg producers Good mix of visual appeal and production Very leghorn like Characteristics: Can be flighty and high energy birds Great at foraging Rarely go broody
Developed in Australia primarily for egg production Foundation bloodline is only the Black Orpington. Basically, it is an Australian bred Orpington selected for egg production and not meat Smaller than the Orpington as a result of selection for egg production
Skin color: White Egg shell color: Light brown Size: Roosters Hens 7.5 8.5 pounds 5.5 6.5 pounds
Commercial use: Medium weight, active bird which lays a tinted egg Good egg producing bird that does not sacrifice too much meat quality Popular egg producing bird for backyard flocks Calm friendly birds
Origin is Dutch although the name is German Original breeders selected for pheasant fowl characteristics
Varieties: Color: Silver spangled, & penciled Golden spangled, & penciled White Black
Skin color: White Egg shell color: White Size: Rooster Hens 4 5 pounds 3.5 4 pounds
Commercial use: Egg production only An ornamental non-sitting fowl Exhibition quality Characteristics: High energy and flighty bird, good fliers Forage very well Good for free range egg production systems
Old French breed imported into England in the mid 1800 s Foundation breeds include the Dorking, Crevecoeur, and possibly Polish Possesses a fifth toe on each foot
Comb type: V shaped Skin color: White Egg shell color: White Size: Roosters Hens 7 8 pounds 5.5 6.5 pounds
Commercial use: A general purpose non-sitting fowl originally bred for both meat and egg production Not a good yard bird, due to visual impairment and predation Characteristics: Gentle and friendly bird Good foragers http://www.triplespringacres.com/rareandfancychickens.htm
Original breed came from Italy in the mid 1800 s Other varieties developed in England, Denmark, and America Production stock and show stock have very different characteristics
Varieties: Color: White, Black Buff, Red Silver, Columbian, Duckwing Light Brown, Dark Brown Comb types: Single Rose
Skin color: Yellow Egg shell color: White Size: Roosters Hens 5 6 pounds 4 4.5 pounds
Commercial use: Egg production only! Very prolific, efficient and economical producers of table eggs Characteristics: Very high energy, active Will forage over large areas Will not brood!
Breed developed in England from Spanish Castilian Fowl Largest and heaviest of Mediterranean breeds, very sturdy frames Large head, comb and wattles Similar to WF Black Spanish and Andalusians
Varieties: Color: Black White Buff Comb type: Single Rose
Skin color: White Egg shell color: Chalk white Size: Roosters Hens 7.5 9 pounds 6.5 7.5 pounds http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/4070-2082
Commercial use: Excellent producer of large white eggs Unique blend of large lean frame and egg production May not be as good in cold climates Characteristics: Somewhat flighty and full of energy Forage well
Developed in New Hampshire from Rhode Island Reds that were selected only for growth (not color or egg production), but now are considered more for egg production Comb type: Single comb Skin color: Yellow
Skin Color: Yellow Egg shell color: Brown Size: Roosters Hens 8.5 pounds 6.5 pounds
Commercial use: Great for meat production Mature early Fair egg production Characteristics: Fast growing Usually calm by can be aggressive Poor at foraging http://whatscookingwithkids.com/2009/03/29/meet-the-chickens/
Old breed from Holland Shown in paintings form the 1500 s They are a Crested breed Have a large knob on top of there head from which their head feathers grow http://www.triplespringacres.com/rareandfancychickens.htm
Comb type: Small V shaped Skin color: White Egg shell color: White Size: Roosters Hens 6 pounds 4.5 pounds http://www.triplespringacres.com/rareandfancychickens.htm
Commercial use: A general purpose non-sitting fowl originally Good egg production Not a good yard bird, due to visual impairment and predation Characteristics: Gentle and friendly bird but startle easily Not good at foragers Not broody
Not a breed of chicken Sex-links are a result of a predetermined cross that results in sexable male and female chicks at hatch http://www.countryhatchery.net/chickens.html http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=162760
Most often used in the commercial egg industry to produce brown egg laying strains Often called Red Stars, Cinnamon Queens, Bovans, Cherry Eggers, Production Reds
Resource APPPA American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Pastured Poultry Resources Pasture poultry yahoo group Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Website www.apppa.org pasturedpoultry.org http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/pasturepoultry attra.ncat.org www.sare.org
This presentation was prepared through a collaboration effort and funded by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program USDA-NIFA-BFRDP 2010 03143 USDA-NIFA-BFRDP 2014 07424 USDA-NIFA-BFRDP 2017 01804 The following institutions and agencies helped to develop and prepare this educational material This presentation is part of an educational modular program designed to provide new and beginning farmers and ranchers with relevant information to initiate, improve and run their agricultural operations.