Hybrids
Hybrid hens have been developed over the years to provide the best possible production for eggs and meat.
The most common hybrid hens, used in battery and free range farms are brown in colour and can be Lohmans, Hi-Lines or Warrens but there are many more 'prettier' hybrids to choose from for the backyard such as Blubelles or Speckledys maybe.
Intensive egg farming means that farms rotate their hens approximately every year and a half and at this time it is sometimes possible to grab a bargain batch of hens who will remain good layers for a further 2-3 years.
We keep a flock of ex-battery and free range farm chickens as our main egg suppliers, we now hatch out from these to provide us with future layers thus negating the need to buy in more stock and risk infection.
The offspring they produce may not be as prolific in the egg laying department but it is more than sufficient for the household supply and with the mix of cockerels we have running with them we get some very pretty cross bred youngsters!
The most common hybrid hens, used in battery and free range farms are brown in colour and can be Lohmans, Hi-Lines or Warrens but there are many more 'prettier' hybrids to choose from for the backyard such as Blubelles or Speckledys maybe.
Intensive egg farming means that farms rotate their hens approximately every year and a half and at this time it is sometimes possible to grab a bargain batch of hens who will remain good layers for a further 2-3 years.
We keep a flock of ex-battery and free range farm chickens as our main egg suppliers, we now hatch out from these to provide us with future layers thus negating the need to buy in more stock and risk infection.
The offspring they produce may not be as prolific in the egg laying department but it is more than sufficient for the household supply and with the mix of cockerels we have running with them we get some very pretty cross bred youngsters!