If you’re considering beginning a flock or expanding an existing one, deciding which breed would best suit your needs might be challenging. There are so many lovely breeds to pick from, after all!

Chicken breeds differ in a variety of aspects, including appearance, productivity, and temperament. It’s difficult to say which chicken breed is the best because individuals raise chickens for various reasons.

Some urban farmers consider the Lohmann Brown chicken to be the greatest of all backyard chickens. Continue reading to learn more about its traits and rearing requirements and see if it’s the chicken of your dreams.

Background of the Lohmann Brown Chicken

The Lohmann Brown is a chicken breed that was developed by Lohmann Tierzucht, a German genetics firm founded in 1932. To meet the needs of varied production systems and market demands, the company has developed a unique selection of layer strains for the purpose of breeding.

Lohmann Browns were bred from carefully selected brown egg laying hens with New Hampshire chickens. The crossbreed was created with the intention of boosting egg production so the meat quality was low.

Due to their high production efficiency, the Lohmann Brown was among the first hybrids to be developed and are still popular today. Because of their egg quality, production efficiency, and adaptability, Lohmann Brown and its varieties are widely used by industrial chicken farms.

Breed Standard and Appearance

There is no breed standard for the Lohmann Brown Chicken because it is a crossbreed. You won’t be able to create exactly the same chickens, but they will appear and function similarly. Instead, you may end up with a few strangely colored birds that bear a strong similarity to your beginning stock.

Now, this chicken breed main comes in four different varieties:

• Lohmann Brown – Classic
• Lohmann Brown – Lite
• Lohmann Brown – Plus
• Lohmann Brown – Extra

The sex of the chick is obvious from the first day since they are sex link chickens: the cockerels are yellow and the hens are red.

As the Lohmann Browns grow older, they don’t look elegant at all. They’re simply chickens of a classic brown color that resemble the Hyline Brown hen in appearance.

They have plumage that is dense and orange-brown with cream highlights. They have a typical comb, a long neck and short tail feathers that are light brown with a reddish tinge. The chickens of this breed have a small head and medium-sized round earlobes with a brilliant red comb.

Their horizontally oriented bodies feature a back and loin that are both straight and wide and a chest that is underdeveloped. Their stomach is large and round. The tail is practically at a 90-degree angle to the horizon. The muscles are underdeveloped and the legs are short.

The Lohmann Browns have a medium build with light bones and a slender frame. Adult laying hens range in weight from 1.9 to 2.1 kilos. Roosters, on the other hand, are 3 to 4 kilos in weight.

The structural features and size of these chickens are influenced by the breed’s high egg production capacity. Hence, they will never get fat and their bodies will wear out soon. By the end of the laying season, the chickens are so spent that they can appear as mere skeletons wrapped in skin.

Personality and Temperament

The Lohmann Brown chicken is a sturdy breed with a pleasant temperament. These chickens are friendly and docile so it’s not surprising that they are the most widely distributed egg-laying hens on the planet.

They are not only prolific egg layers, but they are also curious and even-tempered, making them ideal to be around children and other chickens. They make excellent pets and family birds.

They are robust back garden-laying hens who are confident rather than flighty. The Lohmann Hybrid Chicken thrives in mixed flocks and enjoys the freedom of movement, so a fairly wide garden or field would be excellent.

The Lohmann Brown is an easy-to-manage first-time keeper’s hen as they are not easily stressed. They are also unpretentious in their care and adapt well to any environment.

Here is a video showing how great Lohmann Brown chickens could be as they are easy to manage even for new backyard keepers:

Lohmann Browns are active, but not aggressive, breeders. In fact, they rarely become broody. Roosters don’t fight much and don’t divide their territory.

Finally, Lohmann Brown chickens are voracious eaters. Because of their low weight, they are kept separate from other fowls.

Egg Production

The Lohmann Brown chickens are excellent egg-layers. They often begin producing eggs earlier, around 14 to 19 weeks as opposed to 20 to 24 weeks for other chickens.

When the Lohmann Brown chickens begin to produce eggs, they will do so infrequently at first, then more regularly over time. They will attain 50% of their productivity in 5 to 6 months.

They lay 290 to 320 medium to big brown eggs per year until they reach the age of 72 weeks. Their egg production will increase from 310 to 380 eggs annually between 16 and 19 months, with an average egg weight of 63 to 65 grams.

The chickens have a lengthy life expectancy, which can be up to ten years. As the chicken ages, production begins to decline after 19 months. The older the chickens become, the fewer eggs they lay, but the size of the eggs increases.

Eggs are laid almost every day, usually in the morning, so you’ll have lots of fresh eggs every day, about 5 to 7 per week, with this lovely laying hen. Even in the middle of winter, if chickens receive at least 14 hours of light, either natural or supplemented, they will lay eggs daily except during molting periods.

Egg production of enclosed and free-ranged Lohmann Browns

Health Issues and Care

The immunity of Lohmann Brown hens is excellent. However, they can become ill if they are not properly cared for and fed. Below are some concerns related to their health.

Common Diseases

1. Coccidiosis is a gastrointestinal infection that causes birds to become drowsy, sit in one spot, eat poorly, vilify, and droop their wings. You should contact your veterinarian if you notice any signs of the condition.
2. Ascariasis is a worm illness that causes chickens to become drowsy, feed poorly, and cease running around. Piperazine is the medicine used to treat them (0.2-0.5 grams diluted in 1 liter of water).
3. Tuberculosis is an infectious condition that causes birds to lose their footing, move very little, and feed badly. Chickens that are sick are separated from healthy chickens and slaughtered.

Breeding Problems

During molting, Lohmann Brown hens may stop laying as they get older. Egg production will return to normal after a month. Molting and natural aging have an impact on poultry production.

If the chicks are cold, check if their bedding is wet and muddy. If they sit still for lengthy periods of time, do not run, do not fall on their paws, and do not droop their heads or wings, check if their nutrition is not balanced, or if viruses and bacteria invade their frail bodies. Sick ones should either be medicated or killed.

Predators

Predators are a major “health risk” for Lohmann Brown chickens. These could be foxes, chicken hawks, snakes, owls, raccoons, coyotes, dogs,  and cats. In accordance with this, make sure that your chickens are housed in a secured coop when they rest for the night and given access to a covered space during the day.

5 Tips for Raising Lohmann Brown Chickens

Keep Lohmann Brown Chickens indoors Throughout the Laying Period

Warmth, light, and doors are required in the room where chickens are kept. Nests are provided with them so that laying hens can carry them. Wooden crates or wicker baskets can be used.  You should keep an eye on the litter’s cleanliness and dryness at all times.

Prepare a Walking Yard

Chickens will be less sick if they have access to fresh air on a daily basis. The chickens can independently forage for food, take sun and air baths, and carry eggs that are more complete from a biological standpoint if they are allowed to go out into the fresh air.

Equip the Coop with Heating and Lighting System

The chicken coop must be heated and lit in the winter. The temperature should be around 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. Lohmann Brown chickens may develop hypothermia and frostbite on the crest and earrings when the temperature dips to 3-5 degrees below zero. Lohmann Brown hens also will not lay if the temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius.

Install Feeders and Drinkers

Special equipment is installed in the hen house to feed and water the chickens. The feeders are set up in such a way that the hens can’t move them or leave their droppings in them.

Feed the Chickens Accordingly

Lohmann Brown chickens’ diet and feeding rates are determined by their age. Several times a day, laying chickens are fed. Chickens are fed various foods throughout the day, but gradually (20-30 grams each). The birds should not be overfed, as this will cause them to become fat and stop rushing.

7 times a day, weekly chicks are fed. Millet, barley, wheat, or oatmeal are also served as well. Chicks are fed like adult chickens from the age of three months.

Summary

Undeniably, the Lohmann Brown, a sociable and prolific egg-layer, makes an excellent backyard companion. If you want eggs, the Lohmann Brown is the way to go; they can lay 300 or more good-sized eggs every year. They’re also known for having extended life spans, up to ten years, but don’t expect eggs to last that long!

Joseph Hudson

Joseph Hudson has been raising chickens for over 15 years. In 2018, he completed the Agriculture & Natural Resources program at Mt. San Antonio College. He currently raises over 1400 chickens on his 7.5-hectare farm. He keeps sharing his experience on raising healthy and happy chickens on Chicken Scratch The Foundry.