Have you caught the chicken-keeping bug? Do you look forward to pulling out the hatchery catalogs at the end of a hard day to dream about how many more birds can you find room for in your coop? Have you placed an order of rare or show birds? Maybe this is the year you add ducks or turkeys or geese. Please think about guineas too!
Today, I want to give you some recommendations for the breed of chickens that is one of the easiest to brood that love to lay eggs. I have been raising poultry for many years and have tried many breeds. Let’s get started so you can go to Buchheit soon for their certified high-quality stock.
ISA Browns: ISA Brown is not the breed’s name but more a brand, ISA stands for ‘Institut de Selection Animale’ the name of the company that developed the hybrid breed in 1978. It is the result of a complex series of crosses including but not limited to Rhode Island Reds and Rhode Island Whites, but the exact combination is a closely guarded trade secret.
Pros: these girls are egg laying machines! They will lay well over 300 eggs per year, amazing!
They are very friendly with a gentle, calm disposition making them an excellent breed for families with small children. They can go broody, but it is rare. Medium brown colored eggshell quality is excellent. They are overall a very hardy breed able to withstand both the heat and cold. Since they are not flighty, they can handle confinement well. They are great foragers. Excellent birds overall!
Cons: While they are a low maintenance breed since they are bred for maximum egg production, they are prone to specific health issues especially fatal kidney problems. If you are looking for an outstandingly lovely hen the ISA Brown while having a pleasing composition is not a show bird. They need more protein than some layers as they are epic egg layers. Consider a small amount of live culture yogurt or mealworms once or twice a week to boost their calcium and protein levels. The biggest con to this amazing bird is that the bountiful egg laying comes to a screeching halt around two years. They stop laying. They are exhausted, remember that they were created for large commercial farms, so they are replaced frequently. You may get a surprise egg occasionally, but if you decide to keep them past two years, you will be feeding a pet.
I couldn’t resist getting some ISA Brown chicks from Buchheit thinking we would have another mild winter and I wanted to try winter brooding. With our frigid winters, I was sure I might lose one or two of them to the extreme cold, but those pullets were hardy, and now I am getting five eggs a day from my five pullets in the middle of late winter as they flourish in less than ideal conditions. I love going towards my coop in brisk mornings and hearing these gentle ladies greeting me with their melodious voices. I love life on our little farm! Hope you will consider adding an ISA Brown hen or two to your flocks. The Golden Comet, Cinnamon Queen and Cherry Eggers all share the same traits of the ISA Brown. I find the ISA the best hybrid for my needs. Be blessed! Anne May
