{"product_id":"gold-deathlayer","title":"Gold Deathlayer","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Deathlayer, an ancient German breed, is admired for their relentless egg-laying ability, striking iridescent green and purple tail feathers, and totally black doll eyes. This breed can easily compete among the most beautiful chickens on the planet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBreed History\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs a chicken, the Deathlayer seems to have it all: the coolest breed name in all of poultrydom, spectacular good looks, and a history in its native Germany that goes back more than 400 years. How did it merit being called a Deathlayer, a name that is metal to the core? There are two competing theories. A literal translation of its German name, Totleger, means “death layer.” One theory has it that the name was bestowed because the hens of this breed are so productive that they lay an egg each day until the day they die. The second theory – less sensational but probably more accurate -- is that the breed was first described by a different name in low German (Dauerleger or, literally, “day layer”), and over the centuries this name morphed into Totleger. Either way, what cannot be denied is that the Deathlayers do lay a large volume of medium-sized white eggs, and their remarkable appearance is like having visiting royalty in your chicken coop.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 1904, a breeder’s association was founded in Germany to preserve the Deathlayers. Unfortunately, this breed reached its lowest population of only a couple hundred birds in the 1980s. It wasn’t until 1988 that we saw an upward trend in their population due to a newly formed board of directors of the Special Association of Westfälischen Totlegers. In 2005, a total count of 1,492 female and 343 male Deathlayer chickens were recorded in a German census. We hope that their utility value will be received enthusiastically by American fanciers so that, together, we can protect the rare and valuable features of this breed. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAppearance and Behavior\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeathlayers are a phenomenally active, free-ranging breed and are sure to become a favorite with small-scale egg producers and backyard hobbyists. But, if aesthetics are driving your choice, it is hard to imagine a more beautiful rooster than the Deathlayer. With its tight cushion comb, iridescent greens and purples in its black feathers, luxuriant tail, and totally black doll eyes, the Deathlayer can easily compete among the most beautiful chickens on the planet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA fully mature rooster will showcase a beautiful tail with long sickle feathers that often reach the ground. Their piercing dark eyes add to the Deathlayer’s striking beauty, giving it a bold and mesmerizing presence. Both the silver and gold varieties display a pencilled feather pattern, small comb, white earlobes, and gray legs. The breed is clean-legged. The hens will normally lay about 4 eggs per week on average which is about 200 to 250 medium-sized, white eggs per year. The hens will lay for a very long time, and hence their name, typically will lay up until they die.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Deathlayer is a very flighty breed and doesn't do well in a small coop. You need a large run or the ability to free-range them. If you try to keep them in a small coop we think you will quickly realize that neither you nor the birds will be happy - as the birds will frequently fly up or frantically pace, most of the time with a lot of vocalizations. But you will find that if they have a lot of space you will both be much happier. The hens don't typically go broody so if you plan to hatch chicks, you will need to invest in an incubator.  We’ve found that a 1:10 rooster-to-hen ratio works well with the Deathlayer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBreed Standard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBoth the silver and gold Deathlayers will have a pencilled pattern on both the roosters and hens. Birds should have grey legs clean of feathers, white earlobes and a cushion comb. They are typically between 5 to 6 pounds for the roosters and between 3 to 4 pounds for the hens. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou can view the European breed standard by visiting this link, just a heads up you'll need to translate it to English. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.g-e-h.de\/rassebeschreibungen\/55-gefluegelhuhn\/160-westfaelischer-totleger\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWestphalian Deadlayers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHatching Eggs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe incubate at 99.5°F and 55% humidity. Deathlayers typically have excellent viability and hatch very reliably. Most chicks hatch on day 21, though a few may take an extra day or two. We recommend keeping eggs in the hatcher for an additional day to ensure every chick has time to hatch.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeathlayer chicken for sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeathlayer chicks for sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003egold deathlayer chickens for sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeathlayer roosters for sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003egold Deathlayer roosters for sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003egold Deathlayer chicks for sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeathlayer hatching eggs\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003egold Deathlayer hatching eggs for sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greenfire Farms","offers":[{"title":"Gold Deathlayer Day-Old Chick 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