Laying Hens at Stone Barns

They grow up so fast! Soon these chickens will be ready to get out on pasture and start laying eggs.
Why do we raise laying hens at Stone Barns Center? They serve:
...an economic purpose: we love their farm-fresh eggs!
...an ecological purpose: by trailing our ruminants on pasture, they distribute manure across the grass and help us build soil health.
...an educational purpose: 92% of all laying hens in the United States are raised in cages, and we hope we can demonstrate the value of pasture-raised hens.
What's the best laying hen breed for our corner of New York State? Here are the contenders: Wellsummer, Barred Plymouth Rock, White leghorn, Delaware, Australorp, Easter Egger, Americana, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Buff Orpington, Brown Egg Layer, and Rhode Island Red. As Livestock Manager Jessica Coslow notes, we're looking for hens that thrive in our region, lay great eggs, and carry enough meat to sell, so we can create more value for farmers raising hens on pasture.