The two breeds that make up New Zealand’s commercial layer flock are the hyline (both brown hens and white hens) and the shaver (brown hens only in New Zealand). 

In 1972, a shaver hen could produce 250-260 eggs annually.  Currently, a shaver hen can produce up to 340 eggs per year, and a hyline hen can produce a similar number.

Although these breeds are both prolific layers they will not lay heavily for more than two seasons and need to be replaced more frequently than older breeds if you would like to continue to get a good number of eggs