I love numbers and keeping track of things. So I thought I would put my flock statistics out there, on the off chance it might help someone wondering about the laying ability of at least the breeds I have. Remember, this applies only to my flock, and will vary, especially for those that have heated coops in the winter. The low is after they have recovered from molting (which occurred in October), about January, and the high is in May.
Ameraucana and Ameraucana crosses - low 20%, high 52%, 12 hens
Orpington and Sussex - low 30%, high 56%, 8 hens
Partridge and White Chantecler - low 25%, high 60%, 8 hens
Brown Leghorn - low 25%, high 62%, 2 hens
Bantam Wyandotte - low 25%, high 62%, 2 hens - don't lay in winter
Mille Fleur d'Uccle - low 25%, 42% - don't lay in winter
The more the chickens I have, the lower the numbers go, as it isn't as easy to have two, or three to all lay in one day, but 8 - 12 hens are not that coordinated. The chanteclers outperform the others in the fall, and even during their molt a few eggs were laid, and the orpingtons and sussexes do very well in the spring. The leghorns do not do any better than the others, despite their reputation as egg layers, and the ameraucanas aren't as prolific, but they are consistent. With my current flock of 34, the percentage of hens laying in any given day is less that 50%, except in the spring. But they provide all the eggs we need, plus a few to share, and I am delighted with that.
Ameraucana and Ameraucana crosses - low 20%, high 52%, 12 hens
Orpington and Sussex - low 30%, high 56%, 8 hens
Partridge and White Chantecler - low 25%, high 60%, 8 hens
Brown Leghorn - low 25%, high 62%, 2 hens
Bantam Wyandotte - low 25%, high 62%, 2 hens - don't lay in winter
Mille Fleur d'Uccle - low 25%, 42% - don't lay in winter
The more the chickens I have, the lower the numbers go, as it isn't as easy to have two, or three to all lay in one day, but 8 - 12 hens are not that coordinated. The chanteclers outperform the others in the fall, and even during their molt a few eggs were laid, and the orpingtons and sussexes do very well in the spring. The leghorns do not do any better than the others, despite their reputation as egg layers, and the ameraucanas aren't as prolific, but they are consistent. With my current flock of 34, the percentage of hens laying in any given day is less that 50%, except in the spring. But they provide all the eggs we need, plus a few to share, and I am delighted with that.