Purebred layer strains with the highest productivity levels are crossed to produce hybrid hens. Hybrid laying hens are specifically designed to be docile, not get broody, and produce lots of eggs in their first year, even though some traits of the original parent stock may still be present. Four chickens may provide you with two dozen eggs weekly at their peak. The best of them can lay an egg virtually every day.
Advantages of hybrid laying hens
- Usually very easy to manage
- High egg production during the first year of laying
- They mature early and lays any time of the year
- Compared to pure breeds, egg yield is highly predictable
- They are cheaper to buy compared to the pure breeds
- They are less likely to go broody
- Routinely vaccinated against several diseases
- They come in different types and colors
Disadvantages of hybrid layers
- They do not live as long as the pure breeds
- The laying of eggs is quite inconsistent during the first year
- They need careful feeding to meet the demands of intensive egg production
- They do not make reliable broodies
- Many conventional purebreds have disappeared as a result of the popularity of hybrids.
- Hybrids do not produce true breeds.
Characteristics of the different types of hybrid layers
Warren, ISA Brown, Goldline, Gold Star, Lohmann, Gingernut Ranger
- There are currently numerous varieties of these well-known hybrids. They were first developed from the Leghorn and Rhode Island Red for the egg industry.
- They provide light brown eggs, and in their first year of laying, they can produce about 300 eggs, which declines as they age.
- They are mostly bred for their docile.
- They are very friendly and mostly follow their owner around.
Amber Star Chicken and Silver Link
- They mostly have white with light-brown markings(sometimes in the feathers) and are considered pretty hens.
- Their eggs are light brown or cream
- Their productivity is quite close to that of Warren’s
- They are active foragers
White Star
- They produce good-sized white eggs.
- Quite aggressive compared to the other hybrids.
Rhode Rock, Bovans Nera, Black Star
- They are bred from Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock
- They are black hens with a ruffle of chestnut around their neck feathers
- They produce about 270 eggs during their first year
- They are quite hardy
- They produce brown eggs
Black Rock
- They are also bred from Rhode Island Red and Barred Plymouth Rock but are only produced by Crosslee Poultry Farm in Scotland.
- They are hardy and suited for free range.
- They live longer than other hybrids.
- When mixed with other flocks, Black rock might bully the timid breeds.
Columbian Blacktail, Calder Ranger, Black Tail
- They are chestnut colored with black tails and sometimes black feathers
- They lay light brown eggs
- They are hardy and suitable for free-ranging
Sussex Star, Sussex Nova
- They have white with black markings like that of purebred light Sussex
- They can produce either white or brown eggs.
Bluebelle
- They are grey-blue
- They are quite larger
- They can lay around 260 light brown eggs within their first year
- They are docile and friendly
Skyline, Columbine
- They are grey/blue or cream/brown
- Their productivity is quite low compared to the other hybrids.
- They lay blue or pastel eggs.
Speckled, Speckled Ranger
- They are developed by crossing a purebred Rhode Island Red with Marans
- They are dark grey and white mottled hens.
- They produce more eggs than their pure breeds
- They lay better than other hybrids
- Their eggs are brown and slightly speckled
Read Also
- What are the factors to consider in selecting chicken?
- Black And White Chicken Breeds In the United States
- Top 10 Frizzle (chicken breed) in the world
