Backyard Poultry Forum

Hi there, just coming back into chicken-keeping after many years flockless.
Our primary interest is in an egg-laying chicken, and previously owned 4 ISA browns. We live in inner suburban Brisbane so kept them in a large, well-ventilated and clean split level coop 3m long, 2m wide and 2m high for their own safety and security. We found them to be aggressive toward each other which we found distressing for both ourselves and the chickens.

We are now two adults and would like to yield approx 600 eggs per year, and I'm seeking advice about whether 2 ISA Browns or Bonds Browns will be more suitable in this confined space, or whether we should be looking at another breed altogether.

Many thanks for your recommendations!

Isa Brown are bred for a confined places .3 hens will be good for you I think .

Thanks Jose. Do you specifically mean ISA's? Or are Bonds of a similar disposition? There's a place near us selling Bonds, so interested to know from someone other than the retailer.

yeah ISA chooks .try to find a pure one not a copy .there is a lot red chooks peoples calling Isa brown but they are just a cross between white leghorn hen and Hampshire rooster .

If you want 600 eggs a year, then I think that 5-6 chickens of this breed will be enough for you. Have a good and productive year! and good luck to your hens!

If you want 600 eggs a year 2 Bond Brown layers will be enough - they lay 300 eggs a year.
I had them for many years, they were great layers and I never found them aggressive.
I have now bred my own replacements for these - an autosexing line so I can tell boys and girls at hatch!
Won't be quite as productive as the Bonds but I'm pretty happy with their numbers.