Let's explore some of the best egg laying chickens that you can add to your flock and what additional considerations you need to keep in mind when selecting the right breeds for your needs.
Not All Egg Layers Are Created Equal
Some lay more than 300 annually, others only about 200 on average.
Some are large and heavy dual-purpose breeds that can be used for both their meat and egg-laying capabilities, some are barely 4 lbs and will do for a collagen-rich bone broth at the end, but not much more.
I recommend you start by figuring out how many hens you can legally keep, how many you have space for, and how many you're willing to pay for.
In my article How Many Eggs Does A Chicken Lay Each Day? I help you to figure out the 'chicken math' of how many you actually need.
And if you're wondering which chickens we chose for our homestead, we raise beautiful heritage breed English Orpingtons and Bresse for both meat and eggs, Red Rangers for meat, Azure Blues for eggs, and Olive Eggers for eggs too.
Let's explore the best egg-laying chickens with some facts about what they really provide you — alongside some pretty pictures of the breeds too of course.
Ameraucana
A true blue egg layer, the Ameraucana is a popular choice for backyard chicken keepers due to their small size, friendly nature, and beautiful blue eggs which they will lay approximately 250 annually. The Ameraucana is relatively new on the scene and was created by crossing the Araucana with other breeds to maintain the rare blue egg gene while eliminating the deadly part of said gene that would cause very low egg hatching rates. These birds are friendly, lively, and good with kids.
See Also:
Ameraucana Chicken {The Purebreed Blue Egg Layer}
10 Chicken Breeds That Lay Blue Eggs
| Ameraucana | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 250 |
| Starts Laying | 18-20 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Egg Color | Blue |
| Size (Hen) | 5.5 lbs |
| Broody | Yes |
| Temperament | Friendly, Curious |
| Origin | USA |
Azure Blue
The Azure/Azur Blue is one of the only known breeds of chickens that lay blue eggs. And they lay a whopping 295 annually making them a high production breed. The eggs have a thick shell and are large. The hens are only 4 lbs at full size, making them cheaper to feed, and they do well on forage and pasture-based chicken management systems too. They are said to be friendly, docile, and great with children. This chicken breed would do equally well in a backyard or larger homestead situation. This year we added some day-old chicks to our primary flock to see if they are as good as claimed.
See Also:
Why We Chose The Azure Blue Chicken For Eggs
10 Breeds of Chicken That Lay BLUE Eggs {With Pictures}
| Azure Blue | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 295 |
| Starts Laying | 16-18 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | Blue |
| Size (Hen) | 4 lbs |
| Broody | No |
| Temperament | Curious, Friendly |
| Origin | USA |
Bresse
The Bresse is a 400 year old chicken of French origin that is claimed to have the best-tasting chicken meat in the world. And the European prices for this bird certainly would suggest the claim is warranted. We hatched and raised North American Bresse last year and while they make for an excellent meat bird, they are also wonderfully competent egg layers of light brown medium to large eggs. See my article below for more details and photos.
See Also:
Why We Decided To Raise Bresse Chickens
| Bresse | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Dual Purpose (Meat & Eggs) |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 250 |
| Starts Laying | 20 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Medium - Large |
| Egg Color | Light Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 5 lbs |
| Broody | No |
| Temperament | Calm, Quiet |
| Origin | France |
Australorp
The Australorp is Australia's contribution to the English Orpington genetics and is now a distinct breed. As a dual purpose chicken it truly does excel: not only does the Australorp dress out a very large, meaty, white carcass, but they are also prolific egg layers that can lay more than 300 eggs annually. The bird is beautiful, docile, hardy, and great with children.
See Also: The Australorp Chicken {Top-Choice Dual-Purpose Breed}
| Australorp | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Dual-Purpose (Meat & Eggs) |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 250-300 |
| Starts Laying | 16-18 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 6.5 - 8 lbs |
| Broody | Yes |
| Temperament | Calm |
| Origin | Australia |
Cinnamon Queen
The "Cinnamon Queen" is actually a marketing name that hatcheries use for their Red Sex Link chickens. Sweet, calm, docile, and prolific layers of 250 to 300 large to extra large eggs, the Cinnamon Queen has the further distinction of being an auto-sexing breed, which means you can tell the females and males apart at birth.
| Cinnamon Queen | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Dual Purpose (Meat & Eggs) |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 250-300 |
| Starts Laying | 16-18 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large to Jumbo |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 5.5 lbs |
| Broody | No |
| Temperament | Sweet & Docile |
| Origin | USA |
Easter Egger
The Easter Egger chicken is a backyard and homestead favorite for her ability to lay many eggs in fun colors: blue, green, cream, brown, etc. You never know what your particular Easter Egger will grow up to lay. Although this is not a purebred breed but rather a mutt, they generally have the genetics of the Ameraucana mixed with other breeds to create whatever desired color effect.
| Easter Egger | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 200-280 |
| Starts Laying | 18-20 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Medium to Large |
| Egg Color | Blue! Green! Cream! White! It's a surprise! |
| Size (Hen) | 4-5.5 lbs |
| Broody | Maybe |
| Temperament | Varies, Laid Back |
| Origin | USA |
Faverolles
This fancy feathered heritage breed from France is a true dual-purpose beauty that is also one of the best egg-laying chickens you can add to your flock. They are known for laying PINK eggs and being a beautiful but very hardy, healthy, and gentle breed. The Faverolles is gaining popularity in North America in recent years due to their striking appearance and practical utility. I'm very tempted to add this gorgeous and rare chicken breed to my own flock. I mean — just look at her!
See Also: Salmon Faverolles {The Beautiful French Chicken That Lays PINK Eggs!}
| Faverolles | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Dual-Purpose (Meat & Eggs) |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 240 |
| Starts Laying | 18-20 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Egg Color | Light brown, Pink |
| Size (Hen) | 6.5 lbs |
| Broody | Sometimes |
| Temperament | Gentle |
| Origin | France |
White Leghorn
There are two varieties of White Leghorn, there is the heritage dual purpose variety that hails originally from Italy. And then there is the modern counterpart known for its incredible feed conversion ability and high output of large, white eggs. I'm talking about the latter, although you can certainly seek out the former. Not a beginner breed and not great with children, the White Leghorn can be a bit more aggressive than many chicken keepers would prefer but remain a great choice for eggs nonetheless as they usually lay an egg daily. The White Leghorn also comes in many colors but white is simply the most popular and common.
| White Leghorn | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 300+ |
| Starts Laying | 16-17 weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | White |
| Size (Hen) | 4-5 lbs. |
| Broody | No |
| Temperament | Nervous, Flighty |
| Origin | Italy (Tuscany) |
Rhode Island Red
The Rhode Island Red chicken is the state bird of Rhode Island and a domestic American breed of chicken that is renowned for her friendly, calm disposition and reputation as one of the best egg laying chickens you can get. She is technically a dual purpose bird too.
See Also: Rhode Island Red {Worth The Hype!}
| Rhode Island Red | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Dual Purpose (Meat & Eggs) |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 260+ |
| Starts Laying | 18-20 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Extra Large |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 6.5 lbs. |
| Broody | Not Usually |
| Temperament | Laid back, Docile, Friendly |
| Origin | USA |
Isbar
The Silverudd Isbar is a small but beautiful and striking bird. She is the only purebred chicken that lays GREEN eggs, and they are frequently speckled with dark brown or even purplish colored specks. A lively addition to any backyard and homestead, this breed will lay up to 230 medium eggs annually but require much less feed to do this. The Isbar was developed by a monk fascinated by egg colors and chicken genetics and depending on the color of Isbar, the breed can be auto-sexing at birth too.
| Isbar Chicken | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 200-230 |
| Starts Laying | 20 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Egg Color | Green (Frequently Speckled) |
| Size (Hen) | 3.3 lbs |
| Broody | Rarely |
| Temperament | Friendly, Active |
| Origin | Sweden |
Plymouth Rock
One of America's oldest breeds and a fantastic dual-purpose breed. Once upon a time the Plymouth Rock was seen across the country but World War 2 and the industrialization of food changed that. Thankfully many people are rediscovering the practicality and benefits of of heritage breeds too.
See Also: Plymouth Rock {Popular For Good Reason}
| Plymouth Rock | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Dual Purpose (Eggs & Meat) |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 210 |
| Starts Laying | 18-20 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 7.5 lbs. |
| Broody | Yes |
| Temperament | Calm, Friendly |
| Origin | USA |
Wyandotte
Another absolutely stunning variety of chicken that coms in 9 recognized beautiful color patterns. The Wyandotte is an American breed named after the Wyandotte peoples of North America.
See Also: Wyandotte Chicken {The Most Beautiful Dual-Purpose Heritage Breed?}
| Wyandotte | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Dual Purpose (Meat & Eggs) |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 210 |
| Starts Laying | 18 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 6-7 lbs |
| Broody | Yes |
| Temperament | Docile |
| Origin | USA |
Marans
The Marans lays dark brown eggs, some so dark they resemble actual chocolate eggs. A Marans rooster is frequently used to create popular hybrid chickens like the Easter Egger and Olive Egger. They come in 9 recognized colors.
| Marans | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg-Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 150 |
| Starts Laying | 24 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | Dark Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 5.5 lbs |
| Broody | Rarely |
| Temperament | Docile, Quiet |
| Origin | France |
Orpington
I raise Blue, Black, and Splash English Orpingtons for eggs and meat both and I am absolutely a huge fan of these beautiful, fluffy, large birds. I'm considering adding some of the other stunning colors they come in actually. They take a while to start laying but they will provide you with a steady supply of big eggs for many years to come. Orpingtons are hardy, healthy birds that do well foraging for their supper and they are extremely quiet chickens. As they are a larger breed, they will require more feed so keep that in mind. If you want more information on this wonderful chicken, please see my article below for more details and pictures.
See Also:
Why The Orpington Chicken Is The Best Dual-Purpose Heritage Breed
15 Beautiful Black Chicken Breeds
| Orpington | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Dual-Purpose |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 200-250 |
| Starts Laying | 24 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large to Jumbo |
| Egg Color | Light creamy brown, can be pinkish-beige |
| Size (Hen) | 6-8 lbs+ |
| Broody | Yes |
| Temperament | Docile, Quiet, Calm |
| Origin | England |
Lohmann Brown
The Lohmann Brown hails from Germany and at a whopping 350 eggs annually, she is one of the undisputed best egg laying chickens around.
| Lohmann Brown | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 300-350 |
| Starts Laying | 19 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Medium - Large |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 4.5 lbs |
| Broody | No |
| Temperament | Gentle, Tame |
| Origin | Germany |
Sussex
A sweet and lively dual-purpose breed from England, the Sussex is a pretty hen and a great layer of large eggs. She does well confined and on pasture.
| Sussex | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Dual-Purpose (Meat & Eggs) |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 250 |
| Starts Laying | 20 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | Light Brown, Cream |
| Size (Hen) | 6-7 lbs |
| Broody | Sometimes |
| Temperament | Docile, Friendly |
| Origin | England |
Ancona
The Ancona chicken is named for the city Ancona, the capital of the Marche region of Italy she comes from. A lively, pretty, and small bird that lays large white eggs.
| Ancona | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 180 |
| Starts Laying | 20 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | White |
| Size (Hen) | 4 - 4.5 lbs |
| Broody | No |
| Temperament | Active, Lively |
| Origin | Italy |
Red Ranger
Red Rangers (also called Rustic Rangers, Freedom Rangers, and other names) is typically raised for meat as a slower growth alternative to the controversial Cornish X. They will dress out at 12 weeks. However, they are actually a great dual-purpose choice too as you will get the best of both worlds — a meat chicken at 12 weeks, or one that will also start laying eggs around 18 weeks. We are raising Red Rangers for meat on pasture this summer and I'm keeping meticulous notes to learn exactly what it costs to raise these birds on pasture. So if you're interested in that, see my article below where I'll be posting weekly updates and weigh-ins.
See Also:
Raising Red Ranger Chickens For Meat {2022 Cost Breakdown}
| Red Ranger | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Meat (But is a great dual-purpose choice too) |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 180 |
| Starts Laying | 16-18 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Medium to Large |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 5-7 lbs |
| Broody | No |
| Temperament | Active, Lively |
| Origin | USA |
Dominique
The Dominique is America's oldest breed of chicken, developed from various chickens brought from Europe on the Mayflower. This is now a rare and hard to find heritage breed that is well worth reviving.
See Also: Dominique Chicken {America's Oldest Heritage Breed}
| Dominique | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Dual-Purpose (Meat & Eggs) |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 230-275 |
| Starts Laying | 21-24 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 5 lbs |
| Broody | Sometimes |
| Temperament | Calm |
| Origin | USA |
Barnevelder
The Barnvelder is a Dutch heritage breed of chicken that was developed from a cross between various European and Asian breeds. These birds have been found in Holland since the 12th and 13th centuries.
| Barnevelder | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg-Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 180 |
| Starts Laying | 18 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | Dark Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 5.5 - 6 lbs |
| Broody | Sometimes |
| Temperament | Active, Friendly, Quiet |
| Origin | Netherlands |
Hamburg
A rare and relatively unknown breed but one of the best egg laying chickens. The Hamburg is a favorite exhibition chicken breed of ancient origins — it is thought to have originated in Holland sometime prior to the fourteenth century. They are also prolific layers of medium sized white eggs and are said to lay for a long time. They were nicknamed the "Dutch Everyday Layer." This is an economical breed choice too as they are small and eat less than others.
| Hamburg | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg-Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 150-200 |
| Starts Laying | 18 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Egg Color | White |
| Size (Hen) | 4 lbs |
| Broody | Rarely |
| Temperament | Alert, Active, Docile |
| Origin | Holland |
Death Layer aka Westfalische Totleger
This is an ancient German heritage breed of chicken that is said to lay eggs until the day she dies. Because of this, the "Death Layer" deserves a spot on the best egg laying chickens breeds list. Rare and hard to find, these birds can fetch a high price tag.
| Death Layer | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 250 |
| Starts Laying | 18-20 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Medium |
| Egg Color | White |
| Size (Hen) | 4.5 lbs |
| Broody | Yes |
| Temperament | Very Active, Alert |
| Origin | Germany |
Welsummer
The Welsummer chicken is a heritage breed that growing in popularity and is one of the best egg-laying chickens you can add to your flock. She is pretty, docile, and friendly with kids. Like the Marans, she will lay dark brown eggs reminiscent of chocolate Easter Eggs and can be used to create Olive Egger chickens too.
| Welsummer | At A Glance |
|---|---|
| Primary Use | Egg Laying |
| Egg Production (Annual) | 180 |
| Starts Laying | 20 - 24 Weeks |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Color | Dark Brown |
| Size (Hen) | 5 - 6 lbs |
| Broody | No |
| Temperament | Friendly |
| Origin | Netherlands |
Picking The Right Breed For You
Some of the best and longest egg-laying chickens are old heritage breeds hailing from Europe and Asia, but many of these require a lot of time to reach the age when they actually start laying.
Do you want to wait?
It's tempting to pick a breed based on beauty, but you need to consider the facts of feed, space, and personality/temperament too.
Is the beautiful breed you have fallen in love with gentle and trustworthy around children? Does she go broody often, cutting into her egg laying time? Does she do well on pasture as a free-range hen if that is your preference?
And how do you even know how many hens you need? Have you calculated how many eggs your family eats each day? How many you use for baking? What about the wintertime when the dwindling light and dropping temperatures causes chickens to take a natural break?
Will you preserve fresh eggs and let the hens take said break, or will you encourage them to keep laying through artificial means?
I know — that's a lot of questions. But you need to consider your answers.
- How many eggs does your family eat daily and how many eggs does the breed you want lay annually?
- What will it cost to feed your breed of choice? Larger chickens require more feed.
- Will she do well on pasture or free-ranging?
- Will she do well confined?
- Does she go broody? How often?
- Can you keep roosters? Do you want to? Unless you buy sexed from the hatchery/breeder or auto-sexing chicks, you will likely end up with some roosters in the batch. Can you do what needs to be done (rehome or slaughter — and trust me, roosters are in abundance and unwanted unless you have some spectacular specimen)?
- Is she a cold hardy breed? How does she do in the heat?
- Is she friendly? Docile? Easy to handle? Good with children?
Keeping Egg Production High
To keep your chickens laying consistently and to keep them healthy starts with a healthy coop litter management system and proper nutrition.
I don't feed my layers any special layer feed but they do get a great, high-quality, soy-free chicken grower feed with calcium on the side.
We also ferment our feed, sprout seeds and grains, and add kelp and flaxmeal to their diet.
My chickens also get a weekly feeding of scrambled eggs.
They get herbs, liver (weekly), raw whey, yogurt, and kefir (weekly) and good kitchen scraps.
However you end up feeding your chickens, a high-quality feed is necessary for egg production and so is calcium. Whether you choose to buy a specially formulated layer feed or supplement calcium on the side, is up to you.
Natural Decline With Age
All chickens naturally decline with age. Some more rapidly than others. Commercial breeds decline the fastest with a sharp drop in egg production by the third year. Heritage breeds decline the slowest and can continue producing well for many more years in many cases.
Other Factors That Affect Egg Production
Molting.
All chickens molt and when they do they will not lay or they will lay sporadically.
A broody chicken will also not lay.
Neither will an unhealthy chicken
And then, of course, there's winter and the waning light — chickens naturally stop laying in the winter as the days begin to get shorter.
Will Chickens Lay Eggs During Winter?
Some might in their first year, some may not.
You can artificially extend a chicken's laying season by using light in the coop.
We choose to give them a break over winter.
Do You Need A Rooster?
You do not need a rooster to make a hen lay eggs or to make her lay more eggs.
You do however need a rooster for fertile eggs (especially if you want to incubate and hatch your own eggs and raise the next generation of baby chicks).
See my article Can Hens Lay Eggs Without A Rooster for in-depth information.
Learn More About Chickens:
- Rhode Island Red {Worth The Hype!}
- Keeping Ducks And Chickens Together {Yes You Can}
- Salmon Faverolles {The Beautiful French Chicken That Lays PINK Eggs!}
- Plymouth Rock {Popular For Good Reason}
- Dominique Chicken {America's Oldest Heritage Breed}
- Ameraucana Chicken {The Purebreed Blue Egg Layer}
- The Australorp Chicken {Top-Choice Dual-Purpose Breed}
- Wyandotte Chicken {The Most Beautiful Dual-Purpose Heritage Breed?}
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