Barred Rock chickens are known for their hardiness, broodiness, and easy-going personality. With these good qualities and the ability to serve two purposes, it’s easy to see why they are so popular with homesteaders.
The barred rock chicken is one of the most popular chicken breeds for backyard flocks. Their striking black and white barred plumage makes them stand out, but it’s their exceptional egg laying abilities that make them a top choice for many chicken keepers. So just how many eggs can you expect from a barred rock hen? Let’s take a closer look at what makes this breed such a prolific layer.
An Overview of Barred Rock Egg Production
Barred rock hens are excellent layers that can produce up to 280 eggs per year on average Here’s a quick rundown of their egg laying traits
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How often they lay eggs: A barred rock hen in her prime will lay four to five eggs a week. That works out to 200-280 eggs annually.
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Egg Size – Barred rock eggs are a nice medium to large size Expect eggs weighing 55-65 grams
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Egg Color – Their eggs are a rich brown color. The shade can range from light brown to deep chocolate brown.
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Peak Production – Peak laying for a barred rock is normally from ages 1-3 years old. After 3 years, the egg output starts to decline.
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Winter Laying – Barred rocks lay well through cold winters. Their production may drop but they don’t stop laying eggs altogether.
So in a nutshell, a single barred rock can keep your egg basket filled with 4-5 brown eggs per week!
When Do Barred Rocks Start Laying Eggs?
Barred rocks are early bloomers when it comes to first egg. You can expect their first eggs around 18-20 weeks of age.
Here’s a guide to when they reach key egg laying milestones:
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4-5 months – Most barred rock pullets will start laying at this age.
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6 months – All your barred rock hens should be laying eggs by this point.
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8 months – Peak egg production is reached around this age.
Once barred rock pullets reach laying maturity, they kick into high gear fairly quickly compared to other backyard chicken breeds.
How Many Years Do Barred Rocks Lay Eggs?
Barred rock hens have a few peak laying years where they churn out eggs consistently:
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1st Year – 200-280 eggs per year
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2nd Year – 220-300 eggs per year
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3rd Year – 180-250 eggs per year
You will notice that they lay fewer eggs after the third year. But barred rocks are persistent layers that will keep laying eggs long after their best years are over.
Here’s a guide to their laying potential as they age:
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4-5 Years – 120-180 eggs per year
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6-7 Years – 60-140 eggs per year
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8+ Years – Less than 100 eggs per year
Lots of hens stop laying eggs after 5 or 6 years, but barred rocks will keep laying eggs for years to come because they are tough and don’t give up.
Do Barred Rocks Lay Well In Winter?
Some chicken owners worry about winter egg production dropping off. But barred rocks were bred to handle cold climates.
Even though they don’t produce as much in the winter as they do in the summer, you can still expect:
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3-4 eggs per week in winter
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150-180 eggs for the winter months
These cold hardy birds have the right traits to continue churning out eggs even when temperatures drop below freezing:
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Abundant insulating feathers
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Small combs and wattles avoid frostbite
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Hardy genetics to withstand winter stress
So barred rock hens make great winter layers that will keep your egg basket at least half full even in the colder months.
Tips for Maximizing Barred Rock Egg Production
Here are a few tips to help your barred rocks perform to their full laying potential:
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Provide a quality layer feed – Feed a 16-18% protein feed with added calcium.
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Supplement with calcium – Free choice oyster shell keeps eggshells strong.
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Allow free-ranging – Exercise and foraging boosts egg production.
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14 hours of daylight – Use lights if needed to maintain 14+ hours of day length.
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Nest boxes – Have 1 box per 3-4 hens. Add nesting material.
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Reduce stress – Prevent fighting, predators, pests and diseases.
Meet their needs for nutrition, habitat and flock management, and your barred rock flock will reward you handsomely with a bounty of beautiful brown eggs!
Recap: How Many Eggs From Barred Rock Hens?
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Peak annual production of 200-280 eggs per hen
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4-5 medium to large brown eggs weekly per hen
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Starts laying early at 4-5 months old
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Stays productive for first 3-4 years, then slowly declines
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Lays through cold winters without complete shutdown
With their high output, early maturity and persistence, barred rocks are truly one of the best chicken breeds for maximizing your home egg production. A small flock of just 3-4 hens can keep you flush with eggs for years!
Are Barred Rock Chickens Good For Meat Production?
As a larger than average sized chicken they are considered good for meat production.
Barred Rocks are considered to have more dark meat than other breeds when processed for meat. They also tend to produce less breast meat than breeds that are specifically breed for that attribute like Cornish Cross.
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BarredRock Chicken Weird Facts You – Need – to Know
FAQ
What chicken lays 350 eggs a year?
The ISA Brown chicken breed is known for laying the most eggs, with some individuals reaching 350 eggs per year. These hybrid chickens are popular for backyard farming due to their high egg production and docile nature.
How many eggs does a Barred Rock lay per day?
Barred rocks average 200-250 eggs/year (obviously less in later years). That means they run on a 26-28 hour cycle. You’ll get one a day, until they run out of daylight, then they’ll skip a day. Unless she has a fluke, then you might get two a day, but that’s pretty unusual.
What chicken lays 364 eggs a year?
The Australorp Chicken is renowned for its impressive egg production. These chickens can lay up to 364 eggs annually, with one exceptional hen setting the world record by laying 364 eggs in a single year. Generally, you can expect an Australorp to produce between 250 and 300 large eggs each year.
What is the average lifespan of a Barred Rock chicken?
The average lifespan of a Barred Rock chicken is typically 6 to 8 years. However, they can live longer, with some individuals reaching 10 to 12 years under optimal conditions.
How many eggs do Barred Rock chickens lay?
Barred Rock chickens usually lay four eggs per week, and they lay brown eggs. We can say that a single hen of this breed will lay between 200 and 220 eggs per year. They even lay brownish-pink eggs. Here is the list of chickens that lay colored eggs.
When do Barred Rock chickens start laying eggs?
That’s because Barred Rock chickens reach adulthood earlier than some other breeds. They can start laying eggs as early as 4 to 5 months old, though this can vary from hen to hen and also depend on their environment, diet, and genes. How Many Eggs Do Barred Rock Chickens Lay Each Year?
Do Barred Rock hens lay eggs?
This is a reasonably common trend amongst high-production breeds – like Leghorns, Isa Brown, Golden Comets, etc. What you’ll find is a Barred Rock hen will lay: After about 6 years old a Barred Rock’s egg laying will quite rapidly decrease, but many will still lay a few eggs a week on and off for the remainder of their lives.
How many eggs does a Plymouth Barred Rock hen lay a year?
Plymouth Barred Rocks are great layers. You can find them with the top layers if you want a breed of chicken that will give you fresh eggs all the time. Some estimates say that a Barred Rock hen will lay around 200 eggs a year, but the most accurate one I’ve heard is around 125 eggs a year. That’s a lot of eggs!.
Are barred Rock chickens Good Eggs?
They are known for their black and white barred plumage, and they are good egg layers. Barred Rock chickens can be kept as pets or for egg production, and they are relatively easy to care for. The Barred Rock chicken is a popular breed that is known for its egg production and friendly temperament.
Are barred Rock chickens good laying chickens?
Ease of care is another highlight for Barred Rock chickens. Hardy and adaptable, they require minimal special attention, which appeals to many beginners. Their strong laying ability and calm temperament make them a popular choice among homesteaders and backyard enthusiasts alike. Barred Rocks lay consistently, producing up to 280 eggs annually.