Health Fitness

Egg laying: What are the best chicken breeds for eggs?

Choosing a breed of hen for eggs is not such a difficult choice if you know what you are looking for. You only need to ask yourself a few simple questions. Do I need white or brown eggs? Do I need a pet or livestock? How much space do I have? Do I want to hatch more chickens?

Hybrid / golden kite

If you’re looking to get the most out of your effort, hybrid chickens like the Golden Comet have been specially bred to eat less food and produce more eggs. The comet is not the only hybrid chicken, but it is definitely the most popular. These hybrid chickens lay around 280 medium-sized brown eggs per year. Hybrids are hardy little creatures that are more resistant to infection and disease compared to other chicken breeds. The downside is that these birds rarely broody, so if you’re looking to raise new hens from eggs, this breed is probably not the best choice.

Rhode Island Red’s (RIR’s)

RIRs lay about 250 medium brown eggs per year. This breed is most popular with backyard chickens and first-time chicken owners. The reds are known as the multipurpose bird. These birds are known to take care of themselves. Reds are docile and friendly chickens that farmers use for meat and eggs, in addition to their beautiful color, this is why they are so popular.

Leghorn

Foghorn Leghorn, is still a funny cartoon. Aside from their bright white stance, that cartoon is probably why they remain so popular to this day. Many people believe that Leghorns originated in America, unfortunately this is not true. This breed was brought to the United States in the 1800s and has been a popular farm bird ever since. Leghorn chickens originated in Italy and lay around 250 medium white eggs per year. This breed is not known to be aggressive, but Leghorns are not known for being friendly either. They are a skittish breed that is not really easy to tame due to their shy nature.

Marans

The Maran chicken breed is known for its dark brown eggs and excellent meat quality. These birds lay around 200 medium-sized eggs per year. Marans require very little room to roam because they like to be close to home. They are known to be very gentle birds, but they are not so easy to tame due to their shyness. So this breed wouldn’t be the best pet without a lot of work handling it and spending time with it. Still, a pretty bird, an “excellent” egg layer, and a meat bird. A great addition to any farm or herd too!

Buff Orpington

Last but far from the least, the Buff Orpington breed of chicken. Orpingtons are docile birds that make a great garden and friendly pets. These birds love to socialize and will hang out with you and eat food from your hand without much effort. Buff have a thick coat of yellowish golden feathers and lay about 180 white, regular-sized eggs per year. This breed is known for going broody and makes a great hatching hen. The excellent breeding of this breed is the reason why the hobbyist lays slightly fewer eggs per year. This breed is actually so good at sitting on its eggs, that farms often use the Buff to hatch the eggs of other poultry and poultry, such as the house duck, which are terrible egg hatchers.

What is the best breed of hen for eggs?

In conclusion, the best breed of hen for eggs depends on what your needs are. Do you need a broody hen? The Orpington is perfect. Golden Comet Chicken is perfect if you need a lot of eggs with minimal effort and food. Rhode Island Reds if you are looking for a friendly pet. The Maran chicken breed is your choice if you have limited space. Do you only need white eggs? Leghorns produce the best amount of medium-sized white eggs.

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