Do you know more than 85 million metric tons of eggs are produced globally per year? A chicken takes around 26 hours to lay an egg and prepare itself for the next egg. They generally lay two eggs every three days. Are you looking for chickens that lay eggs regularly?
A chicken egg can provide around 5.2 to 7.5 grams of protein. You can get this protein from your own backyard chickens. But which is the most egg-laying chicken breed? In this article, I will share some valuable information about some best chickens that lay lots of eggs.
12 Most Productive Egg-laying Chickens
More than 25.6 billion chickens are living worldwide. Do you know more than 62.5 million egg-laying hens are bred annually in the US?
The followings are some top breeds of chicken that will lay lots of eggs for you. Let’s dive in without further ado!
01. Plymouth Rocks
This special chicken breed originated in New England in the middle of the 19th century.
They are available in seven color varieties. But Barred is the most common one. They have black and white bars.
Plymouth Rocks lay around 4-5 eggs per week. Their average yearly egg production is 200 to 300 eggs. They lay large and light brown eggs. Each egg weighs around 50 to 55 grams.
Adult males can be as big as 8 pounds, while hens weigh around 7.5 pounds.
They start laying eggs from 18 to 20 weeks. Their egg production remains at the top for the first three years.
Then, it starts reducing gradually. But a few may keep laying eggs until they reach ten years.
Their average lifespan is 6 to 8 years. But some may live for up to 10 to 12 years.
02. Rhode Island Reds
This red chook was first seen in the New England states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the late nineteenth century.
The plumage color of Rhode Island Reds varies from chicken to chicken, such as a lustrous deep pink, full black, chestnut red, light rusted, dark maroon, etc.
Rhode Island Reds lay about 5 to 6 eggs per week. They lay around 250-300 eggs per year. Their egg color is light brown, and their size is medium to large. A single egg weighs about 53 to 55 grams.
Regular roosters have an average weight of 8.6 pounds, whereas hens weigh around 6.6 pounds.
Rhode Island Reds begin laying eggs when they are 18-20 weeks. But some may start as early as 16 weeks or as late as 24 weeks.
Their average lifespan is 5 to 8 years. They lay eggs consistently for the first 3 to 4 years. But their egg production reduces by 10% per year.
03. Leghorns
This beautiful white bird originated from Tuscany in central Italy. They are called Livorno or Livornese in the Italian language.
It is a small landrace chicken breed, which is the only Mediterranean breed.
Leghorn chickens are available in 16 different varieties globally. But black, white, and brown (light and dark) are the three most popular colors.
They lay about 5 to 6 eggs per week. Their yearly egg production is 250-280. But some may lay as many as 300-320 eggs.
Leghorns generally lay white eggs. This highly productive egg-laying hybrid, Large to Extra Large, weighs approximately 55 to 65 grams.
The male chickens have an average weight of 7.5 pounds, whereas females weigh 5 pounds on average.
Leghorns live for up to 5 to 6 years on average. They even lay eggs when they are old.
This white-color bird starts laying eggs when they become 16-17 weeks old. Their egg production continues for four to six years. It starts decreasing after this period.
04. Australorps
This black-colored chicken originated in Australia from the Black Orpington stock in 1890.
They are available in three standard colors: black, white, and blue. However, their original color is black.
Australorps lay around 4 to 5 eggs per week. Their annual egg production is 250 to 300 eggs. But good nest sitters can lay as many eggs as 364 eggs in a year.
This Australian Orpington lays light brown medium-sized eggs. Each egg weighs around 48 to 53 grams.
Rooster has an average weight of 8.5 pounds, whereas hens weigh approximately 6.5 pounds.
Australorps start laying eggs when they reach 22 to 24 weeks of age or 5 to 7 months of age.
The average lifespan of an Australian Orpington is around 6 to 10 years. But their egg production remains good for the first four years.
This chicken breed stops laying eggs regularly when they reach their older period.
05. Barnevelders
This dual-purpose breed originated in the city of Barneveld, Holland, in the late 1800s.
The plumage color of Barnevelders is available in seven colors. But Black, double-laced, partridge, and silver are the most common ones.
They lay around 3 to 4 eggs per week. Their annual egg production is between 17 to 200 eggs.
Barnevelders produce unique dark brown or chocolate-colored, large-sized eggs. The average weight of each egg can be anywhere from 60 to 65 grams.
Male Barnevelders have an average weight of 7-8 pounds, whereas females weigh about 5-6 pounds.
They begin laying eggs when they reach 8 months or 28 weeks of age under ideal conditions. But some can be early as 5-6 months or as late as 9-10 months.
Their average lifespan is seven years. But proper care can increase their lifespan by up to 15 years old.
Barnevelder chickens produce 15% fewer eggs after completing yearly molt. Their egg production continues for at least 5 years.
06. Delawares
This chicken breed is known as the Indian River chicken, which originated in the US state of Delaware in the 1940s.
Their regular plumage color is bright white with black barring. They lay about 4 to 5 eggs per week. Their yearly egg production is 200 to 250 eggs.
Delaware chickens mainly produce light brown large to jumbo eggs. Each egg weighs 2 to 2.5 ounces.
Roosters have an average weight of 8-8.5 pounds, whereas hens weigh approximately 6-6.5 pounds on average.
This Indian River chicken breed lives for 5 to 7 years on average. They start laying eggs when they reach 20-22 weeks of age.
Their egg production continues for up to 4 or 5 years. But it starts reducing by 10% each year.
07. Faverolles
This beautiful chicken breed originated in north-central France in the 1860s. They are well known for their extreme docility.
They are available in eight official colors. But black, laced blue, buff, cuckoo, salmon and ermine, etc., are the most popular ones.
Faverolles produce around 3 to 4 eggs per week. Their yearly egg production is 180 to 200 eggs.
This quiet chicken breed lay tinted or very light brow. Its egg size is medium to large. Each egg weighs around 53 to 63 grams.
Male chickens have an average weight of 11 pounds, whereas female chooks weigh approximately 9 pounds.
Their average lifespan is 5 to 7 years. Faverolles chickens start laying eggs when they reach 19 to 20 weeks of age.
They are at a peak in their egg production for the first three years old. It starts reducing each year gradually.
08. Hamburgs
This Pheasant Fowl originated in Holland in the fourteenth century. They are well-known for their wildness, activeness, and adventurousness.
Hamburg chickens have distinct features. They are available in 11 different colors.
But Silver Penciled, Golden Penciled, Silver Spangled, Golden Spangled, White, Black, etc., are the most popular ones.
They lay around 4-5 eggs per week. The annual egg production of this mid-sized fowl is between 150 to 250.
Each egg has an average weight of 50 grams. They lay glossy white, small to medium-sized eggs.
Hens have an average weight of 3.5-4 pounds, whereas cocks weigh about 4.5-5.5 pounds.
Hamburg chickens live around 6 to 8 years. But they can be outlived with proper care.
Pheasant Fowls start laying eggs when they reach 4-5 months of age. Their egg production continues for several years. But it will decline each year after every molting season.
09. Jaerhons
This chicken breed originated in southern Norway in 1920. They are well-known for their cold hardy nature. Jaerhons are also good foragers and fly pretty well.
They are mainly available in two color varieties: light brown with yellow and dark brown with yellow.
Jaerhons lay around 5 to 6 eggs per week. Their yearly egg production is 200 to 300.
They lay generally large-sized, white-colored eggs. Each egg weighs around 2 ounces.
Male Jaerhons have an average weight of 5 pounds. But female chickens weigh 3.5 pounds on average. They start laying eggs when they reach 6 months of age.
Their average lifespan is five years. Norwegian Jaerhon lays eggs for up to four years of age. But as they become old, their egg production decreases.
10. Euskal Oiloas
This European Atlantic chicken breed originated from the Basque Country in Northeastern Spain and Southwestern France. They are extraordinary foragers and super active.
They are mainly available in five color varieties: red, red-brown, golden cuckoo, rust-buff, and white-black.
Euskal Oiloas lay around 4-5 eggs per week. Their monthly egg production is 180 to 220.
They lay reddish-brown, large to extra-large eggs. Each egg has an average weight of 60 grams.
Roosters can be as large as 8 pounds, whereas hens have a maximum of 5.5 pounds of weight.
They start laying eggs after reaching 6 to 9 months of age. Euskal Oiloas live around 6 to 8 years on average. Their egg production continues at least for the first four years of age.
11. Anconas
This chicken breed originated from the Italian central east coast in the Marche region. They are hardy, fertile, and prolific.
Their plumage color is pretty uncommon. The feathers are black with white tipping. But they are available in blue, white, black, partridge, and black-tailed red.
Euskal Oiloas lay around 4-5 eggs per week. They can produce approximately 180 to 220 eggs per year.
This hardy chicken lays white-colored, medium-sized to large eggs. Each egg weighs around 50 grams.
Roosters have an average weight of 6 pounds, whereas hens weigh around 4.5 pounds.
They can live around 8 years or more. Their egg-laying journey starts at five months of age and continues at least for 3 to 5 years.
12. Wyandotte
This American Sebright originated in the United States during the late 19th century. They are well known for their friendly and docile temperament as well as broodiness.
Wyandotte chickens are available in nine color varieties: buff, blue, black, white, Columbian, silver penciled, silver laced, partridge, and golden laced.
They lay 4 to 6 eggs per week. Their annual production can be anywhere from 220 to 300 eggs. They lay light to dark brown, large eggs. Each egg weighs around 53 to 73 grams on average.
Male chickens from Wyandotte have an average weight of 8-9 pounds, whereas female chooks weigh about 6-7 pounds.
The average lifespan of Wyandottes can be anywhere from 6 to 12 years.
They start laying eggs when they reach five to six months old. Their egg production peak remains at a peak for the first 3 years. It begins reducing from the fourth year.
Closing Thoughts
Raising some egg-laying chicken breeds appears appropriate when it comes to enjoying fresh and organic eggs. You can earn some extra cash by selling them.
Apart from eggs, many are a good source of meat. You can create a quiet, well-behaved family pet in your backyard.
Now, you know which is the most egg-laying chicken breed. Make sure to provide a balanced diet to sustain consistent egg production.
