The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Calvadnack on March 21, 2011, 02:29:00 pm
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Can anyone suggest a hardy breed of hen that lays Large size eggs?
Our small flock (Marans, legbars, RIR and buff sussex) lay small to medium sized eggs and I miss the huge eggs I used to get from our old Welsummers. I would consider Welsummers again but do they all lay large eggs, or is it dependent on the strain? I'll be looking for hatching eggs, so any contacts would be very welcome.
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We have always kept L/F Brown Leghorns……Instinctively aloof and very hardy. They are great foragers when free ranged finding much of their own daily intake………Best of all they lay the largest white eggs I’ve ever seen, I cant see past them for this reason, even the bantie version throws a big egg. Can be a bit flighty to start but they soon settle down……They come in a variety of colours and some strains lay more than others but even at the lower end you can expect 280 eggs a year ours all did and some around the 300 mark…………Actually I could kick myself as 2 years ago we decided to have a lifestyle change and go travel for a year or two. Sold the house and contents including my collection of many breeds of poultry. Now were starting up again regret not leaving some Leghorns with family as I just cant seem to get any around here :( ………..Good luck with your ultimate choice I’m sure others will be able to give similar advice with breeds
Dave
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I agree, I've just put some White Leghorn eggs in an incubator and some of them are as big as duck eggs.
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I've seen pictures of really cute Exchequer leghorn chicks, so it looks like they could be a definite contender ! Thank you
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I have a Rhode Rock which lays a very large egg.
JD
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I havetwo Wellsummer/Lightsussex crosses that lay eggs that average 100g
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If you want big eggs, have you thought of keeping geese! We get massive eggs from our embdens. Between keeping batches for incubating we eat the rest - they make fantastic omlettes, egg-fried rice and the baking....... victoria sponges to die for!
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Second the Leghorns, we've white ones and they do lay large white eggs and also have a long laying season.
We've crossed them with our Cream Crested Legbars and find the progeny lay a large bluey coloured egg. The legbars eggs are medium sized. So there's a project for the summer as well!!
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Looking now for Exchequer leghorn hatching eggs (only 6 as I've only a small incubator), as I like the idea of a cross with our cream legbars aswell. Anyone got 6 eggs for sale ?
We've thought about geese, but are also considering guinea fowl which is a whole new exciting project !
Thanks for all your advice.
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Ducks ;D :&>