Hybrid hens

Hybrid hens are bred from large commercial strains developed many years ago due to increasing demand for supermarkets to provide a constant supply of eggs and meat. These strains started life as a cross between two or more pure breeds, each strain selected for maximum laying ability or weight gain from a minimum food supply.

Fortunately the battery hen days are coming to an end and the popular choice for many people now is to 'grow your own' and keep a few hens for your own fresh egg supply. Hybrid laying hens would make a good choice for this purpose. We keep 9 different colours for a bit of variety and all have a similar docile friendly nature. They are disease and cold weather hardy and will (usually!) not become broody. Hybrids live for 4-6 years and will lay around 300 eggs in their first year. They are of a medium size somewhere between large fowl and bantam.

All of our hybrids have been vaccinated against common diseases at day old, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. We always have Point of Lay (POL) hens available, these are between 16-20 weeks old.

Our hybrid hens

Rhode Star (Warren), Amber Star, Black Rock, Bluebelle, Calder Ranger, Daisybelle, Speckled Star, Sussex Star, White Star