Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
A RECOMMENDED FLOCK
For most people, I like to recommend a laying flock of several breeds — perhaps
some sex-links and some of the various pure breeds — which will produce eggs more
evenly throughout the year. However, if you are a purebred chicken person such as
myself, a variety of purebreds laying white eggs, brown eggs, and green/blue eggs
will provide you with a constant supply of delicious eggs year-round. A flock of vari-
ous pure breeds presents you with a diversity of genetics encompassing the differ-
ent regimens in which individual pure breeds do best. It allows for an overlapping of
ideal scenarios.
THEY ARE WHAT THEY EAT
Brown eggs always make people think of farms and the serenity of rural life. Many
myths exist about these eggs. Some people think brown eggs taste strong; others
think brown eggs are fresher. If the truth be known, it's what the chicken eats and
how the chicken is cared for that affects the quality and flavor of the egg.
Chickens raised in cages off the ground, never setting foot on soil, never having
green grass or scratch grains, garden scraps, or table scraps will never produce the
dark, rich, orange-colored yolk desired by foodies and egg connoisseurs internation-
ally. Whether or not you prefer white eggs, brown eggs, green eggs, or even spotted
eggs is a matter of personal choice and preference. Keep in mind, however, that the
shell color has nothing to do with the inside of the egg.
These brown-egg-laying hybrids are ideal for the person who wants to get chicks
early in the year and eggs later that same summer. If you use controlled lighting for 14
hours a day to keep them in full production mode, by the next fall you can replace them
with another batch of fresh layers. If you're in the market for selling eggs, this setup is
perfect. It requires more planning, energy, and time, but you will receive the maximum
number of eggs. If you time your replacements right, you can have a continuous supply
of eggs nearly year-round when using these breeds.
Heavy-Laying Purebreds
For those of you who want to try the more conventional purebred chickens, there are
several
white-egg-laying purebreds
to choose from. Along with having a reputation for
unmatched egg production over the years, Leghorns come in countless different color
versions, so you don't need to choose the White variety to have lots of eggs. Leghorns
