The Top 15 Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds

There is a chicken breed that you will love, whether you are looking for a bird that can lay nearly one egg per day for a year or a chicken that can lay pastel-blue eggs. The hard part is choosing the right breed. You need your chickens to be happy, healthy, and in good health, so they can become abundant layers.

You can also follow the short guide and feed to encourage laying. So you know you will get the eggs you want, we have included the ones that lay the most eggs and the largest number.

1. Golden Comet Chicken

Yield	280/year
Eggs	Medium to Dark Brown
Character	Hardy

Although the Golden Comet is a hybrid species, it’s one that deserves special attention. They can lay up to 280 eggs per year, or about five eggs per week. The purpose of hybrids is that they are bred to lay many eggs in a short time. The Golden Comet is easy-to-care for and easy to lay eggs.

2. Red Chicken from Rhode Island

Yield	250/year
Eggs	Medium to Dark Brown
Character	Gentle, but tough

Because they can be used as a dual-purpose bird, the Rhode Island Red is a popular choice for both egg and meat lovers. They produce approximately five eggs per week, are easy to care for, and they can also be friendly. Their meat is delicious.

3. Leghorn Chicken

Yield	250/year
Eggs	Medium, White
Character	Shy, Independent

Because they are easy to maintain and produce around 250 eggs per year, the Leghorn is a great choice for beginners. The Leghorn eggs are large and jumbo. These attractive chickens are popular due to their white feathers and red comb at the top. They can be difficult to handle and shy, so they might not be the best choice for a pet chicken.

4. Sussex Chickens

Yield	250/year
Eggs	Brown or White
Character	Tame

The Sussex is an egg layer that produces around 250 eggs per year. It is also a dual-purpose breed that produces delicious meat. The Sussex can be found in eight colors and is a gentle breed. The Sussex can be encouraged to eat from your hands. The Sussex will be a great pet, and can freely roam around your garden without causing any damage.

5. Plymouth Rock Chicken

Yield	200/year
Eggs	Medium Brown.
Character	Very friendly

The large bird known as the Barred Rock is Plymouth Rock. On average, the hen will lay every other day. This slower pace is a good starting point, especially for a first-time owner. The Plymouth Rock’s positive outlook and independent nature make it a great starter bird.

6. Ancona Chicken

Yield	200/year
Eggs	Small and white
Character	Jumpy

Anconas are a prolific layer and can produce an average of 200 eggs per year. The Ancona was originally bred in Italy and is very popular in the UK. However, its nervous nature makes it a poor choice for a pet. The Ancona is also known to escape so it will require regular clipping of its flight wings.

7. Barnevelder Chickens

Yield	200/year
Eggs	Small, speckled
Character	Not great at flying

The Barnevelder, unlike the Ancona, is not very good at flying. This negates the need for feather clipping. The Barnevelder, a Dutch bird, was created first by crossing Dutch chickens and Asian stock. The Barnevelder can be kept in a garden pen and makes a great first chicken.

8. Hamburg Chicken

Yield	200/year
Eggs	Medium, White
Character	Aggressive

The Hamburg is a German native and can be aggressive in tight spaces. It produces around 200 eggs per year. The striking appearance of the Hamburg, which has black dots and white feathers on its background, is what makes it so popular.

9. Maran Chickens

Yield	200/year
Eggs	Medium to Dark Brown
Character	Gentle

Marans are gentle chickens but they are difficult to keep tame. Marans are great first chickens because they don’t need much space.

10. Buff Orpington Chicken

Yield	200/year
Eggs	Medium Brown.
Character	Friendly

The Orpington is a great choice for pet chickens. It comes in Buff or Black. They are very friendly and enjoy being held. Orpington hens are susceptible to becoming broody. This is good if you have more chicks, but it can also cause illness and stop them from laying during the laying season. The Buff Orpington is an excellent choice for novice owners, despite its tendency to brood.

11. Easter Egger

Yield	250/year
Eggs	Light blue, medium to large
Character	Non-Aggressive

Another hybrid breed, the Easter Egger, is worthy of being included in our second hybrid list. This is due to a large number of eggs it lays and the high quality of its eggs. The Easter Egger is a large breed that produces many blue eggs per year and they are quite large. Although the bird isn’t aggressive, they can be kept in the backyard. However, they might not like to be petted.

12. Minorca Chickens

Yield	200/year
Eggs	White, Very Large
Character	Friendly

The Minorca is a shining example of how quality is more important than quantity. The Minorca breed produces more than 200 eggs per year or one egg every two days. However, they are large eggs and attractive white eggs. Minorca is also a friendly breed which makes it an excellent choice for owners.

13. Lohmann Brown Chicken

Yield	280/year
Eggs	Brown and Jumbo
Character	Friendly

Although the Lohmann Brown is more popular in South Africa, it is still a popular breed. This breed is bred by a German genetics firm and can lay up to 280 large, very brown eggs each year. They are friendly and can live with other animals and children.

14. Welsummer

Yield	180/year
Eggs	Chocolate Brown
Character	Sweet Natured

The Welsummer chicken is versatile. The Welsummer is a versatile chicken that can be used outdoors as well as in pens. The eggs of the hen are dark chocolate brown with darker speckles. This breed is able to withstand both hot and cold temperatures and is an excellent choice for hens.

15. Penedesenca Chicken

Yield	200/year
Eggs	Dark or dark red-brown
Character	Alert

The Penedesenca bird is alert and cautious. Although she won’t be as affectionate as some other breeds, the Penedesenca will still come to you with patience and regular encouragement. She can also lay 200 eggs per year and her eggs are a beautiful, natural dark red-brown color.

Offer the best Laying Conditions

These are the things you can do to ensure your chickens lay plenty of eggs.

• Nest Boxes – On average, one nest box is needed for every fourth bird that lays eggs. They should be placed in a dark area that provides privacy, and should not be more than a few inches above the ground. Make sure the nest boxes are clean and safe for your chickens.
• Collect eggs – You should try to collect eggs at least once a day depending on how many eggs are being laid. A few eggs won’t stop a hen from laying but a whole box of eggs will.
• A Nest Egg – Provide a nest egg – This will help your hens find the best place to lay eggs and guide them to it. You can either buy a fake egg or a golf ball.
• Roosting Spots: Nest boxes should only be used for nesting, not sleeping. You can provide roosting areas so that your birds won’t need to sleep in the nest boxes. This will allow them to continue laying.
• Keep them in – Don’t let them out. If they aren’t allowed to roost, their eggs won’t be laid and they may become distracted by other activities. They should be kept locked up until the early hours of the morning to allow them to lay their eggs.
• Let There Be Light – Many chickens won’t lay during winter because there is less daylight. Artificial light that is similar to sunlight could encourage your chickens to lay year-round.

Conclusion

The best breed for you will depend on many factors, including your egg quality and appearance. Consider how much space you are willing to give the hens and whether they will be allowed to roam and forage. Also, consider any environmental considerations that might make it difficult for certain breeds to thrive.

Below is a list of different chicken breeds that can be used for egg production. Some breeds have a high laying rate, others offer jumbo eggs equivalent to two medium eggs and some eggs are stunningly beautiful in blue or intense chocolate brown.