Production Red chickens are a popular dual-purpose chicken breed known for laying large quantities of eggs. But what color eggs do they lay? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about the egg laying abilities of Production Red hens.
Overview of Production Red Chickens
Production Red chickens were developed in the 20th century by crossing Rhode Island Red chickens with White Plymouth Rock chickens. The goal was to create a productive dual-purpose breed that lays brown eggs and provides good meat.
Here are some key facts about Production Reds:
- Breed purpose: dual-purpose (eggs and meat)
- Egg laying ability: very good, 200-280 eggs per year
- Egg color: brown
- Egg size: large
- Temperament: calm, docile
- Appearance: red feathers with some black highlights
- Body size: large, roosters weigh 8-9 lbs, hens weigh 6-7 lbs
Overall, Production Reds are an excellent choice for small farms and backyard flocks due to their steady egg production, large brown eggs, and dual-purpose capabilities.
Egg Color and Genetics
The eggshell color of any chicken breed is determined by genetic factors. For Production Reds, their Rhode Island Red heritage leads them to lay brown eggs.
The main pigment that colors eggshells brown is called protoporphyrin. All Rhode Island Red chickens have the genetic capability to produce protoporphyrin and lay brown eggs. When crossed with White Plymouth Rock chickens, which lay white eggs due to an absence of pigment, the progeny Production Reds end up laying brown eggs because the protoporphyrin gene is dominant over non-pigmented white shells.
Therefore, we can expect all Production Red hens to lay brown eggs consistently due to their genetics.
Egg Color Variability
While Production Reds will lay brown eggs without fail, there can be some subtle variations in the exact shade and depth of brown. Here are some factors that can affect the final color:
- Individual hen genetics – Each hen may produce slightly different levels of protoporphyrin pigment
- Hen’s age – Younger hens may lay lighter brown eggs that darken with age
- Diet – Enriched diets can produce darker egg yolks and affect shell pigmentation
- Seasons – Egg color may deepen in warmer sunny weather with more high-pigment feed available
So while the main egg color will always be some shade of brown, you may notice lighter tan eggs from younger hens start to darken to a deep chocolate brown over time. The richness of shell color can also vary a bit between individual hens.
How Dark are Production Red Egg Shells?
On average, most Production Reds will lay eggs with a medium brown shell color. This brown is darker than the very light tan laid by some breeds like Buff Orpingtons or Australorps. But it isn’t as dark as Marans who lay chocolate brown eggs.
Using the Egg Shell Color Chart, Production Red eggs register at a 6 or 7 on the 1-9 scale of light to dark egg shell pigmentation.
| Egg Shell Color Scale | Breed Example |
|---|---|
| 1-2: White | Leghorns |
| 3-4: Light Tan/Cream | Buff Orpingtons |
| 5-6: Medium Brown | Production Reds |
| 7-8: Dark Brown | Barnevelders |
| 9: Very Dark Chocolate | Marans |
So in summary, Production Red brown shells are a pleasing medium brown that is easy to identify compared to white or cream colored layers.
How Big Are Production Red Eggs?
In addition to color, Production Reds are valued for laying large-sized eggs. As a dual-purpose breed developed in part from Plymouth Rock chickens, they inherit the excellent egg production qualities including large egg size.
Here’s a look at the average Production Red egg size:
- Egg weight: 58-64 grams
- Egg size: Large to Extra Large
- Shell thickness: Medium
- Yolk color: Dark yellow to orange
Compared to a medium egg weighing about 50 grams and a jumbo egg at over 70 grams, Production Reds reliably produce eggs at the upper end of the large egg range. Their eggs are excellent for fried eggs, omelets, baking, and other uses where larger eggs are preferred.
The brown shells are also moderately thick and resistant to cracking, which supports their large size. And the orange egg yolks contain abundant nutrients. Overall, the large brown eggs from Production Reds make them a very desirable backyard chicken breed.
How Many Eggs Do Production Reds Lay?
In addition to large brown eggs, Production Reds are valued for their high egg production capabilities. Here’s a closer look at their laying productivity:
- Annual egg production: 200-280 eggs per year
- Peak production age: 2-3 years old
- Laying season: Highest spring through fall, may slow in winter
- Laying pattern: 4-5 eggs per week consistently
- Egg laying lifespan: 2-4 years at peak productivity
With their high egg laying breed genetics, each Production Red hen can pump out 200-280 medium to large sized brown eggs annually. This amounts to around 4-5 eggs per week when well cared for.
As long as you follow best practices for lighting, nutrition, and flock health, your Production Reds will reward you with bountiful boxes of brown eggs year-round. Their efficient production levels make them a great choice for backyard flocks.
Tips for Maximizing Egg Production
Here are a few tips to get the most eggs out of your Production Red flock:
- Provide a quality feed – Choose a complete layer feed with 16% protein, adequate calcium, and essential vitamins/minerals.
- Supplement with calcium – Free choice oyster shell encourages strong egg shells.
- Keep stress low – Reduce squabbling over resources and predator threats for happier hens.
- Allow free ranging – Access to fresh air, bugs, and plants supports natural behavior.
- Maintain flock health – Monitor for issues and treat illness promptly.
- Keep nest boxes clean – Hens like privacy for comfortable egg laying.
Following these tips will help your Production Reds thrive and lay abundantly.
Conclusions
Production Red chickens are the perfect combination of reliable large brown egg production and good meat yields. Their medium brown eggs are easily identifiable compared to the white or lightly tanned eggs of other popular breeds. And with each hen pumping out 200-280 sizable eggs annually when optimally cared for, Production Reds are a great addition to any backyard flock.
Focus on providing a quality layer feed, ample calcium, free ranging opportunities, clean nest boxes, and top-notch preventative flock health care. Do this and your Production Reds will thank you with basket after basket of nutritious brown eggs.
So if you’re looking for a dual-purpose hen that lays bountiful brown eggs, the Production Red is an excellent breed to consider. Their egg laying prowess combined with their docile temperament and hardiness make them a top choice for small farms and family flocks.
