Sooo much pooping

[MissPug+Chooks]

Just wondered - hybrides v purebreeds?

 

Thinking of getting 2 pekins and a new hybrid to keep my remaining omlet girl company

 

X

[Redwing]

ita s bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question

 

In general hybrids lay well till their second year and then quite well for another year but as they get older will break over winter

 

Pure breeds lay well till they are at least 4 or so and often a couple of years beyond that but not as many per year overall and none over winter usually

[percy049]

As Redwing said, hybrids lay a lot of eggs over about 2-3 years, where as pure breeds lay fewer eggs over a longer period of time (usually about 4-5 years).

Pekin eggs are smaller than large fowl eggs, and they lay fewer than some pure breeds (e.g sussex, rhode island red).

[Purplemaniacs]

So far I only have experience of hybrids, both my groups have only laid in their first winter, they have all stopped laying during subsequent winters, although it is disappointing when you have to buy eggs but I feel it is good for them to have a rest.

 

My Merrydale Sussex still lays a few eggs and I have had her for over four years, the Merrydale Sweetie (Amberlink type I think) lays the occasional egg, same age as the M Sussex.

 

Neither of my Omlet girls one of each type lived very long lives sadly, but they did lay a lot of eggs duing their short lives.

 

Sorry I don't think I have helped you to come a decision In the future I plan to have pure breeds and a few ex batts plus some bantams when my Easter chicks grown up hopefully some will be girls

 

Chrissie

[sparkysmum]

I have a pekin who is 3yrs + and lays about 4 dys a week but over a short season. She started a couple of weeks back and I don't expect her to lay beyond september/october if I'm lucky. She does lay the most beautiful creamy coloured egg.

[Sue]

I know someone who had an English Cuckoo Marans which had lived to 12 years old and was laying the occasional egg a month or so before they lost her, but I think this is probably exceptional.

[Chooks Aloud]

My Speckaldy is just over 6 years old and is still laying 2-3 eggs per week. She has been a prolific layer all her life, only stopping when in moult.