If you’ve set your mind on raising backyard chickens, you probably want to set up the most successful operation you can. What does this entail? Well, the first step would be to choose the right chickens. If you want to fully optimize your little backyard farm, you’ll need the best egg laying chickens. So what are the best egg laying chickens? We’ll discuss that question in this blog as well as answer other big questions you may have about starting your backyard chicken farm journey!
Wondering what should be included in your chicken coop? Take a look at this new coop we designed!
What Is The Best Breed Of Chicken For Laying Eggs?
The top three best egg laying chicken breeds for your backyard are the Leghorn, Rhode Island Red, and the Plymouth Rock. Here are some more specific details about each of these best egg laying chicken breeds so you can determine which ones you want for your backyard!
Are Leghorns The Best Egg Laying Chickens?
Leghorns, with their red combs and wattles, and white feathers, are probably the most recognizable chicken breed around. These beauties aren’t only known for their looks, as they are a favorite of the poultry industry. The leghorn will lay anywhere from 280-320 eggs per year. That equates to about 4+ eggs per week! They are absolute machines when it comes to egg production and, for that reason, are one of the best egg laying chickens.
Are Rhode Island Reds The Best Egg Laying Chickens?
The Rhode Island Red is one of the best egg laying chickens to have in your backyard flock. Why? Because this breed produces 200-300 eggs per year. That amounts to about 5-6 eggs per week. The Rhode Island Red breed usually produces light brown eggs that are medium to large. Of course, with all hens, egg size will increase with age. Another reason why the Rhode Island Red is one of the best egg laying chickens is that they can start laying eggs as early as 16 weeks!
Are Plymouth Rocks The Best Egg Laying Chickens?
What makes the Plymouth Rock one of the best egg laying chickens? The Plymouth Rock is simply one of the most productive chickens with crazy long longevity. This breed can lay around 200 eggs per year. Although their production level decreases around their 3rd year, what makes up for it is their durability. Plymouth Rocks can lay eggs for 10 YEARS. Yes, you heard that right. The most flock will only be productive for 5-8 years, whereas the Plymouth Rock can be relied on for a decade. They produce large brown eggs that will make a great addition to your daily breakfast!
What Chickens Start Laying Eggs The Fastest
Every chicken is different, but we’ve found that a fair average for most chickens to start laying eggs is between 20-22 weeks. However, some chickens are known to start their egg laying process as early as 16 weeks. The chicken breeds that can start laying eggs around the 16-week mark are Leghorns, Golden Comets, Sex Links, Rhode Island Reds, and Australorps. If you’re in a hurry to start your backyard flock and get those eggs, these breeds will work best for you!
What Is The Best Chicken Breed For Beginners?
What makes a chicken breed good for beginners? We’ll be ranking the breeds we’ve chosen based on docility, willingness to learn, productivity, and longevity. There are a lot of great beginner chicken breeds for the aspiring chicken farmer, so read on to learn more!
Is Australorps The Best Chicken Breed For Beginners?
Australorps are suspiciously docile, which makes them great for beginners and those with family members. They average around 250 eggs per year and are great with kids and other chickens. Known for being cold-hardy, Australorps are very gentle and great to start with for this reason. If you haven’t done any research on chickens, chicken breeding, or backyard flocks up until now, another good thing to learn about Australorps is that they are dual-purpose chickens. Which means they’re great for producing eggs and for their meat.
Australorps are considered fairly exotic with their shiny black feathers. Check out this blog for some more exotic chicken breeds that would add some character to your flock.
Are Rhode Island Reds The Best Chicken Breed For Beginners?
As previously mentioned for being one of the best egg laying chickens, the Rhode Island Red is also one of the best beginner chickens for the aspiring chicken farmer. This is because they are hardy for all types of weather and produce so many eggs. On top of this, these beautiful chickens are active forages, so their feed-to-egg ratio is among the best. Friendly, efficient, and useful, you can’t go wrong with the Rhode Island Red in your flock! One last thing to mention about the Rhode Island Reds is that, just like the Australorps, they are dual-purpose chickens.
Are Buff Orpingtons The Best Chicken Breed For Beginners?
The Buff Orpington is the definition of a lap chicken. Amongst the most docile Orpington breed, these chickens are perfect for children and families. Aside from their friendly personality, they are also equipped with a high egg laying capacity of 200-280 eggs per year! You won’t have to worry about the cold with these chickens as they are extremely weather-resistant because of their buff feathers. Because of the large stature of these chickens, they can also be used for their meat! If you also have breeding aspirations for the future, Buff Orpington hens also tend to be on the broodier side, which means they’ll want to hatch eggs. They make excellent mothers!
What Hens Lay The Biggest Eggs?
The best egg laying chickens will also usually lay the biggest eggs. Egg size depends on the size of the hen and how good their specific breed is at laying eggs. We’ve come up with a shortlist of the best chicken breeds that are capable of laying large to jumbo-sized eggs. Check out down below to see for yourself which breed would fit your flock the best!
Do Minorcas Lay The Biggest Eggs?
Out of all the Mediterranean chicken breeds, the Minorca is the largest. It’s also known to lay some of the largest white eggs of any breed. The Minorca’s egg size isn’t the only impressive thing about this amazing chicken breed. This breed can also produce 200 or more eggs per year. Minorca’s will give you the most consistent large white eggs out of any chicken breed. Don’t be fooled by this breeds productivity. They also have a beautiful look to them with their glossy black plumes and their red face. The Minorca chicken breed will make a wonderful addition to your flock!
Do Leghorns Lay The Biggest Eggs?
If you’ve ever been to any grocery store, there’s a good chance that you’ve seen Leghorn eggs. Yes, because they are the best egg laying chickens, the size and quantity of their eggs are unmatched. The Leghorn is the most popular choice for grocery stores. You can expect 280-320 extra-large, jumbo eggs from your Leghorn. If you want the most productive flock, Leghorn’s will be the way to go!
What Helps Chickens Lay Eggs
The best thing that you can do for your chickens is to give them a safe and relaxing environment. You can read more about this in our blog about how to get your chickens to lay eggs. This gives them the space they need and gives them room to grow and thrive. Here at The Hen House Collection, we’re committed to helping experienced chicken farm veterans and new aspiring chicken farmers. We’ve been building hand-made, Amish-crafted chicken coops like our Dutch Chicken Coops and A-Frame Chicken Coops for over a decade. This means our products come with a degree of professionalism and expertise. Contact us today to get started on your backyard flock or find a dealer near you!
Top 15 Best Egg Laying Chickens
- Leghorn (280-320 eggs per year)
- Hybrid (280 eggs per year)
- Rhode Island Red (200-300 eggs per year)
- Australorp (250 eggs per year)
- Austrawhite (250 eggs per year)
- Plymouth Rock (200 eggs per year)
- Buff Orpington (200-280 eggs per year)
- Minorcas (200 eggs per year)
- Delaware (200 eggs per year)
- Barnevelder (200 eggs per year)
- Wyandotte (200 eggs per year)
- Ancona (200 eggs per year)
- Spanish (180 eggs per year)
- Sussex (180-200 eggs per year)
- Marans (150-200 eggs per year)
