Top 10 Best Egg Laying Chicken Breeds

If you are in the industry of trading eggs, then you need to have the best chickens in your backyard flock to produce maximum eggs for you. So, if you want to keep chickens for the egg purpose, then you should know which breed is most suitable for you. And in that way, you can save a lot of money.

So, you must be thinking about what criteria lends a chicken into best egg-laying chickens? Laying habits, capacity to lay an egg and age of your chicken also matters.

Choosing the best chicken is essential for having fresh eggs all around the year. Listed below are the top 10 chicken breeds that will add four stars to your business.

Top 10 Best Egg Laying Chicken Breeds

1. White Leghorns

White Leghorns are those chicken breeds that are hardy. If you are providing them with enough food, water, and heat, then you expect 280 eggs per year. The eggs will be white and medium-sized.

The weight of the female white leghorns is 5lbs. They start laying eggs at the age of 16-17 weeks old.

White leghorns are a unique breed with a full-body white and have a red hair comb. These are nervous and flighty.

One thing about white leghorns that you should know if you are considering them for your flock is that they chicken out easily, pun intended.

2. Rhode Island Red

Rhode Island Red is the most popular breed in the backyard flock as they lay lots of eggs and are hardy. Sometimes they can behave bossy, especially with the other small-sized chickens, so keeping them separate is the right choice.

These birds are the best foragers, and they make excellent free-range birds and penned chickens too.

They can lay up to 260 eggs per year and weights 6.5 lbs. They start laying at the age of 18-24 weeks old. These birds can be quickly taken care off.

3. Red sexlink

If you like brown colour eggs, then Red sex link should be on your list for your backyard flock. They are the great pets as they go smoothly with other birds and are not particularly broody.

They are the best cold hardy free-range birds. They lay 250-300 eggs per year. The weight of the female bird varies from 5 to 7.5 lbs, and they start laying eggs at the age of 15 weeks old. They are usually gentle and quiet and will be perfect for your flock.

4. Ameraucana

If you are looking for some fun in your flock, then Ameraucana breed is perfect for you. They are popularly known as “Easter Egg Chicken.” As these birds are colourful, so they lay delicious multicoloured eggs. They can tolerate every climate and do well with either penned or in coups.

They can lay 250 eggs per year, and the weight of the female bird will vary from 4.5 to 5.5 lbs. They start laying eggs at the age of 25-30 weeks old. They are usually broody. One thing that is important about these birds is that: This breed has the “crossed beak” a genetic disorder that will affect about one in 100 chicks.

5. Barred Plymouth Rock

If you want a friendly and sweetest bird for your flock than nobody can beat Barred Plymouth Rock, they are also good with children. They are readily big and blend with other breeds easily as they have a calm temperament.

They are terrific foragers, so they make great free-range chickens bird. They can lay 280 eggs per year, and every time you will get either light brown or peachy coloured eggs. They start laying eggs at the age of 18-22 weeks old.

6. Golden Laced Wyandottes

If you are gorgeous chickens for your flock, then Wyandottes are your perfect choice. They are gentle, calm and terrific foragers, so they make great free-range chickens. 

They produce 200 eggs annually and are of 6 lbs. They start laying at the age of 18-20 weeks old. The weight of the female Wyandottes is 6 lbs.

7. New Hemisphere Red

If you are looking for a breed that gives you eggs and chicken also then New Hemisphere Red is the best choice for you. They are the cold hardy and broody and makes them excellent mothers.

They produce 200 eggs annually, and weights of 6.5 lbs. These birds are generally in competitive and aggressive behaviours.

They start laying an egg at the age of 18 to 21 weeks old.

8. Buff Orpington

These chickens are the best pets, and if you are looking for a breed that is more indocile nature, then Buff Orpington is the best choice for you. They are best in a defined area like a coup but under the proper circumstances.

However, their coats are fluffy and retain moisture, so they always require a shelter. They can lay up to 150-200 eggs annually. They start laying at the age of 19-24 weeks old and weights of 6-8 lbs.

They are easily handled and friendly breeds that you should be included in your backyard flock.

9. Australorp

If you are just a beginner in the selling of eggs, than Austalorp is the excellent choice to start your business. They also have a lot of meat and has a gorgeous colour.  

They are very hardy breed as they tend to bully other breeds, and sometimes they eat eggs of different kinds. They lay up to 250 eggs per year. They start laying eggs at the age of 22-24 weeks old with the weight vary from 5 to 7 lbs.

10. Speckled Sussex

Sussex chickens are those birds which don’t require ample space. However, you have to think before raising them with other breeds as they usually the target of bullies.

Sussex are very docile and curious. They can lay up to 250-300 eggs per year and weights of 7-8 lbs. They start laying an egg at the age of 16-20 weeks old.

How to keep Egg production high

If you have a chicken that lays a good number of eggs doesn’t mean they will lay eggs regularly. For that, you have to take care of diet, age and many more. As there are many factors which affect the production of eggs.

•  The essential factor that affects the productivity of eggs is that age of the chicken. And you cannot do anything about this as it is a natural way. If your chicken is laying 250 eggs in their first year then by the third year, they will lay only 160 eggs. 
• Chickens need around 20 grams of protein every day for them to keep laying eggs. If you are not providing them ample amount of diet, then it will affect productivity. Make sure you are feeding them layers pellets. Layers Pellets contains all the essential minerals and nutrients that hens require.
• Make sure that the chickens get enough sunlight to lay eggs. Chickens at least need 14 hours of daylight. Don’t provide them with any artificial light as it will affect the health of the chickens.

Final words

So hope the list would help you in the selection of the breed for your backyard flock. Whatever breed you choose, make sure to take proper care for them. Have fun with them and start your homesteading adventure.