Abstract Systems based on dual-purpose poultry present an alternative for avoiding the culling of male layer chicks. However, controlled comparisons on the production characteristics of dual-purpose poultry are lacking. A modern dual-purpose type (Lohmann Dual; LD) and two traditional dual-purpose types (Schweizerhuhn and Belgian Malines) were compared to a standard layer type (Lohmann Brown Plus; LB) from the start of lay until week 33 of lay. In 3- and 4-week periods, the resilience of the hens to nutritional challenges was investigated with split-plot crossover design. At first the supplementation of synthetic methionine was omitted. Later, the hens were confronted by a reduction of the content of N-corrected metabolisable energy from 11.5 to 10.5 MJ/kg feed. The laying percentage of LD was initially similar to that of LB, but persistency and egg size were inferior resulting in a daily egg mass of 46.6 vs. 58.5Â g in LB across the 33 weeks. Feed efficiency and egg quality of LD were in the range of LB. Laying percentage, egg size, feed efficiency and egg shell quality were poorer with the two traditional types. The omission of synthetic methionine and a reduction of 10% of the dietary content of metabolisable energy did not lead to a reduction in laying performance and egg quality in any hen type under the present conditions. Yet, stricter nutritional challenges imposed to minimise feed-food competition may turn to the advantage of modern and possibly traditional dual-purpose types, too.