I've recently given a loving home to 4 Isa Browns (one is point of lay and the others are 13 week growers). I would be grateful for any information on the breed. Any 'quirks' I should be aware of? I'd like to know more on their laying cycle and general life expectancy. I'd love to hear from other ISA Owners. Are ISA's only available here in England or are they part of the World Wide Coop??
I can't wait to hear from you. Thanks.

Someone from Britain should give a more genuine answer. But I believe the Isa Browns are indeed an English production bird. In the U.S, every major hatchery has its named strain of layers or broiler chicks, developed for high production or fast grown. Most of them lay very well for at least a year--after that, they may taper off to few eggs after the second year or more. The commercial egg producers replace their laying flocks every year!!Most of these production birds are quiet birds that do not mind living in crowded quarters! (they have no choice, of course). They are suitable for small flock owners, again because of production of eggs and the fact that they have enough "body" to be a good stewing hen when a little older. I know you don't want to hear that, but the traditional g reat layer, the Leghorn, is a flighty bird that is scarcely worth salvaging after its tremendous number of eggs for a year! 60 years ago, the Chinese restaurants bought my parents laying flocks at the end of their production--they went cheap, but otherwise would have been worthless--and the oriental recipes with chicken used flaked or finely chopped chicken, which worked fine with the older birds. ISA may be initials of the originating company????? Enjoy them, CJR

We have just received a dozen fertile ISA brown eggs which we are hatching under a white leghorn hen. We are excited to see how they go as domestic egg layers. Your information has been interesting. Thank you. We are in Australia, so they are here as well.

I'm a small flock (30 layers) owner near Monroeville, Indiana, USA. I roll over this small flock every year. Three years ago, in an attempt to move away from the traditional Leghorn, I asked my local supplier what they would recommend. They suggested the ISA Brown. I've been getting them every year since. They're great producers of mostly large brown eggs, consume slightly more feed than Leghorns, have a very mild temperament and are very pretty birds to have around. We've been taking them to our local 4H fair as both pullets and layers the past couple of years and have a grand champion, a reserve champion and several honor classes. I'm looking forward to many years of ISA Browns.

Still dont know what ISA stands for ? :)

Try asking at the information exchange at Country Smallholding Magazines web site, I'm sure they've talked about the ISA Hybrid in one of their magazine articles in the past... but I'm afraid I can't remember the parentage
The address is http://www.countrysmallholding.com
Hope this helps

see http://www.isababcock.com/company.htm


apparently ISA stands for 'Institute de Selection
Animale' hence ISA....

An international poultry breeding company based in
France.

Can you tell me where I can find out more info on Isa Browns? We will be showing one at our local county fair next week, and need to know more about coloring, and other facts that are true to their breed (number of tail feathers, etc.)