[happyclucker]

hi everyone, im on the verge of buying some hens, and would like advice on what are the most prolific layers, and where to get them. i am in norfolk just south of norwich.

[Foxy]

Have a look here:

I see you want prolific layers, how many eggs a week do you need?

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=31331.0

[happyclucker]

thanks foxy, i only intend to keep six hens but have got a large family lol. thanks for the link.

[Roughlee Handled]

I like that link Foxy.  Durrrrr I have already tried to answer the question twice today if I had known that was there....... I could have spent more time napping.  Gonna bmark it.

[Foxy]

I like that link Foxy.  Durrrrr I have already tried to answer the question twice today if I had known that was there....... I could have spent more time napping.  Gonna bmark it.

Dont worry ruff! Its amazing what you find browsing the articles! 

[woodside farm]

I have found you can't beat White Leghorns for egg production, they even lay throughout the winter  They are not very large but lay a large tasty egg. 
The only problem in they can be flighty, I get around this by clipping their wings when I put them in a new pen, only needs to be done once because when they find they can't get out they don't try anymore. 

Michelle

[Hensington]

Marans make a good winter layer. Very hard to beat the leghorns for egg production for a pure breed.

Why not go for colours......
Cream Crested Legbar - Blue eggs
Aracuana - Blue Eggs
Maran - Dark Brown Eggs
Welsummer - Dark Brown Eggs
Leghorns - White eggs
Rhode Island Red - Light brown

Hybrids will outlay anything else in there first season even laying right through winter. But they are bred to last one laying season, 74 weeks old and a commercial hybrid hen is classed as "spent" so keep this in mind if you are buying pets and not looking to replace them every year.
Pure breeds will lay regularly for years but just won't lay as many in one year.

[Foxy]

Nice list Hensington, I do like welsummers, lovely temperment and good layers, I love Aracuanas, very pretty bird as well. Faverolles are lovely birds, the bantams will lay a nice size egg too.

[woodside farm]

Marans are good winter layers, but again no where near as good as the white leghorns, I also have cuckoo lavender leghorns and black leghorns, again these lay through the winter but not as good as the white.

Michelle

[Roughlee Handled]

check out this list for information on breeds and egg colours and quantity's. 
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/dual.html

[Foxy]

Marans are good winter layers, but again no where near as good as the white leghorns, I also have cuckoo lavender leghorns and black leghorns, again these lay through the winter but not as good as the white.

Michelle

cuckoo lavender leghorns, they sound really nice! are they standardized? any piccies?

[Sassy]

Marans make a good winter layer.

Don't know where you live but I know 3 people with Marans in North Yorkshire and they do not lay thro the winter. Could be the climate or maybe they are just odd

[woodside farm]

cuckoo lavender leghorns, they sound really nice! are they standardized? any piccies?

Here is a picture

[Foxy]

wow! That is a lovely looking hen! Beautiful shape