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Introduction
Most of us, I believe, raise hens for a variety of reasons. Of course, fresh eggs are important, but some people choose varieties that lay in various colors, while others prefer family-friendly types.
Others are looking for breeds that will do well in hot climes or flourish in cold climates.
Some people, on the other hand, are just interested in eggs. There are a lot of eggs. They don’t mind whether their hens want to sit on their laps or if their eggs are white, tan, brown, or blue.
If egg production is your only aim for your backyard flock, you can’t go wrong with any of these breeds, which are noted for being excellent egg layers.
Like cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals, Chickens come in a variety of breeds with specific traits that have been selectively developed over time. Consequently, certain chicken breeds are better than others at doing specific duties. So, if you’re seeking a chicken breed that produces a lot of eggs, you’ve come to the right place! The best chickens for egg production are listed below.
Best Chicken For Egg Production
- Golden Comet Chicken
The Golden Comet is a hybrid, but one that deserves special attention. They may lay up to 280 eggs per year or around five each week. Hybrids have been created specifically for this purpose, which means they have been bred to have a small appetite, be hardy, and deposit many eggs over a year. As a result, the Golden Comet is easy to care for and is thought to be simple to lay.
- Leghorn Chicken
Leghorns are an excellent choice for novices since they are easy to care for and produce around 250 eggs each year. The eggs of the Leghorn are likewise large. They’re also popular since they’re a lovely chicken breed with white feathers and a large red comb on top of their heads. They are, however, difficult to tame and timid, therefore, they may not make the finest pet chicken.
- Plymouth Rock
The huge Plymouth Rock breed was formerly one of the most popular in the United States. It was fairly usual for the ordinary family to own chickens. It became popular because this dual-purpose bird is simple to care for and operate with. When you consider that Plymouth Rock chickens lay roughly four eggs every week (200 per year), you’ve got a great mix.
- Chantecler
The Chantecler was created in the early 1900s in Canada to generate a robust breed that would thrive in the country’s harsh northern climate. It’s a gentle chicken that also happens to be an excellent layer. The Chantecler has short combs and wattles, making it good for chilly areas.
- Isa Brown
Isa browns are sweet, caring little feathery buddies that may lay up to 300-350 eggs every year! These American-bred ladies are in a class by themselves when it comes to egg production. Several of them begin laying as early as 16 weeks! They are rather hefty for a laying hen, weighing between 4.5 and 5.8 kg. Maybe it’s their large size that helps them lay so many eggs? They’re low-maintenance and adapt well to various temperatures, whether chilly, warm, or humid, so you can be sure they’ll thrive in your yard.
- Rhode Island Red
The Rhode Island Red is one of the world’s most well-known laying hen breeds. The species was created expressly to meet the requirements of people on a farm in Rhode Island’s Compton region. Due to their stunning look and exceptional laying abilities, the species became a popular staple in many farms, producing roughly 250-300 eggs each year. When scrutinizing the under-fluff, they’re noted for their gorgeous deep red plumage, which should have a faint salmon color. These hens are particularly laid-back and are ideal for anybody searching for a low-maintenance laying hen.
- Sussex
The Sussex is a well-known British chicken breed that was on the verge of extinction in the early twentieth century. However, it hadn’t been for one farmer who owned the last remaining flock of Sussex hens, which he had been breeding for 10 years. These lovely birds weigh around 3-4 kg and lay between 200 and 350 eggs every year. They are self-assured, curious, and friendly laying hens that come in a wide range of stunning colors and patterns, including buff, speckled, and white, to mention a few.
- Welsummer
The Welsummer is a strikingly handsome laying hen breed that originated in the Netherlands around the turn of the twentieth century in Welsum, from whence it takes its name. It’s dubbed the “ideal looking chicken” by many poultry connoisseurs. This is because of its glossy feathers, long tail, and appealing form. In addition, these sought-after birds lay up to 160 terracotta-colored eggs each year. They are busy, alert foragers who require a lot of stimuli or channel their energies into destructive behavior.
- Wyandotte
The Wyandotte hen is a tough, tough, no-nonsense laying hen. They were raised in the 19th century by Americans to be beautiful, strong, and practical birds, and they have succeeded. The Wyandotte laying hen is popular among home poultry owners and those who compete in poultry exhibitions. These birds come in various colors, weigh between 2.7 and 3.8 kg, and lay around 200 eggs per year.
- Orpington
The Orpington is a fast-maturing, sociable, easy-to-raise chicken that lays over 200 eggs each year. So what could possibly go wrong with them? The Orpington was developed in Britain and is most well-known for its buff hue, though it does exist in other, less frequent colors. Orpington chickens are also popular as display chickens.
- Brahma
The Brahma is a huge yet docile breed that may weigh up to 10 pounds. Brahmas are excellent egg layers, and they are rather remarkable in that they can continue to lay eggs regularly even throughout the winter months when many other breeds either cease or lay at a reduced pace.
- Ameraucana
You can’t go wrong with Ameraucana chickens if you want to add some color to your egg basket. These birds produce blue and green eggs and are often called Araucanas (after the Araucanian Indians of Chile, where the breed originated).
They lay significantly fewer and smaller eggs than the other breeds on this list, roughly 170-180 each year, but the distinctive color compensates. Finding these small ‘easter eggs’ in the nesting boxes is a lot of fun.
If you’re managing your cholesterol, you’ll be happy to learn that Ameraucana eggs have a lower cholesterol content than other eggs. Their eggs are very appealing because of this feature. In addition, these heart-healthy eggs have the potential to make a tidy profit if you have an oversupply of eggs or a business mentality.
Conclusion
When you’re just starting, it’s better to stick to the best chicken for egg production. Then, you may learn about the flock’s quirks and preferences. It’s a good idea to learn about one breed’s laying patterns and behaviors at a time. After that, you may start expanding out and diversifying your flock as your confidence grows.
You might decide not to go into egg production or chicken farming in general but other types of poultry farming, I got you covered, we have an article that talks about different poultry birds you can decide to start. You can check the article HERE
[…] The Easter egger, barred rock, Welsummer, and Maran are more breeds of hens that produce colored eggs. The color of the egg is determined by the breed and its genetic makeup. […]