Sooo much pooping

[Daphne]

Because I wanted to see if my own hype was correct (polands are good layers) and just how bad orpingtons are (they have a reputation as ornaments) I more or less counted the eggs this year. Allowing for times I was away/forgot (I've probably failed to count about 4 weeks) its far from accurate but more or less the same accuracy for both breeds! All birds counted were in lay for the full year, although two went broody. Anyway:

 

Bantam polands laid between start January and end Sept, on average 98 eggs per bird (one broody/off lay for 6 weeks)

LF orps started to lay between Feb/Mar and stopped early Sept, on average 58 eggs per bird

Sole bantam orp (with a bit of suspected dotte grandparentage) laid between Jan and end Sept and was broody/off lay for c12 weeks - 122 eggs She moulted at the speed of light which is a sign of a good layer.

 

So, I have to say the polands weren't as good as I thought, the orps were quite useless (the best is my oldest hen) and my little star is Buffy the bantam. Although the figures are inaccurate, the proportions between the breeds are probably OK. Overall, I am sure many other people with these pure breeds manage to get more eggs, but it was an interesting experiment for me. The LF orps stopped laying much earlier this year than usual, I wonder if it was because the cockeral came into moult in early September and turned into a right grumpy so and so with them....when he wasn't ignoring them! The jubilees were notably feeble at laying this year, after being much better last year, I don't know why. They also feathered up much faster this year. Freeloaders!

[Snowy]

It's fascinating monitoring eggs like that isn't it? My friends thought I was a real anorak!

But I noticed that my pure breed campine laid as many eggs in her first and second years as a hybrid gingernut. She laid less in her third year, but the quality was still consistently good, whereas the gingernuts egg quality really went downhill. I lost all my gingernuts in their third year, but the campine is heading into her fifth year and still laying well, albeit only between March and August!

[Daphne]

Yes, well...I didn't tell anybody what I've been doing, because I anticipated the glazed expressions However, my OH came across my egg spreadsheet so he knows, and he insists on telling everybody, so I still get the pitying looks!

 

I think in some ways it is useful. So far, I see a distinct positive relationship between my good egg layers and the amount they eat (ie the greediest eaters are the best layers) which helps me know my stock. Before I did this I hadn't a clue who was laying what! If I could be bothered, mating my little bantam would, I hope, give a purer colour in a few generations, which if she passed on her egg laying/mothering ability would be good.

 

Your results are very interesting - I have to say I was surprised at the hybrid/campine ratio. In general, people don't always realise what good layers the light pure breeds are; but your campine is particularly good, and so pretty as well