If you are interested in raising chickens for their eggs, there are many different breeds to choose from. Some of the top egg-laying breeds include Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, and Plymouth Rocks. Each breed has its own unique characteristics, such as egg size, shell color, and temperament.
Let’s discuss each breed in detail.
What Are the Top Egg Laying Chickens Breeds from Around the World?
In this article, we are going to discuss the top egg laying chickens breeds from all around the world. When it comes to chickens used primarily for egg production, there are many popular breeds that have been used for years.
These include Leghorns, which lay large white eggs; Anconas, which produce medium-sized white eggs; and Rhode Island Reds, which lay brown eggs. Other varieties such as Araucanas, Barnevelders, Marans and Orpingtons lay medium-to-large sized dark brown eggs.
All of these chickens can produce hundreds of eggs annually if cared for properly.
Here is a table of some egg laying chicken breeds including lifespan, egg production, and other characteristics: Best Egg laying chickens chart
| Breed | Lifespan (years) | Egg Production (eggs/year) | Jumbo Eggs | Other Characteristics |
| Leghorn | 5-8 | 300+ | No | Prolific egg layer, good for commercial egg production |
| Australorp | 5-8 | 300+ | No | Prolific egg layer, hardy, good for backyard chickens |
| Marans | 5-8 | 200-300 | No | Rich, dark brown eggs, good for backyard chickens |
| Welsummer | 5-8 | 200-300 | No | Beautiful, speckled brown eggs, good for backyard chickens |
| Faverolles | 5-8 | 200-300 | No | Beautiful, pinkish-brown eggs, docile, good for backyard chickens |
| Plymouth Rock | 5-8 | 300+ | No | High egg production, hardy, good for backyard chickens |
| Orpington | 5-8 | 200-300 | Yes | Large, brown eggs, docile, good for backyard chickens |
| Cochins | 5-8 | 200-300 | Yes | Large, brown eggs, docile, good for backyard chickens |
| Brahma | 5-8 | 200-300 | Yes | Large, brown eggs, docile, good for backyard chickens |
| Sussex | 5-8 | 300+ | No | High egg production, hardy, good for backyard chickens |
| Rhode Island Red | 5-8 | 300+ | No | High egg production, hardy, good for backyard chickens |
What Are The Different Types of Chicken Breeds and Their Eggs?
Have you ever wondered how many breeds of chickens there are? If you’ve ever kept backyard chickens, chances are that you’ve encountered some of these breeds in your flock.
In fact, there are a whopping 239 different recognized chicken breeds around the world. Here is an overview of some of the most common and unique chicken breeds found across the globe.
- Heritage breeds: are considered the “original” or old-fashioned type of chicken with generations of history behind them.
These chickens were once commonly kept by small farmers as a part of their daily farming operations and are known for their slow growth rate and distinct appearance. Popular heritage breeds include Buff Orpington, Jersey Giant, Barred Plymouth Rock, Brahama and New Hampshire Red.
If you’re looking for something more rare and exotic there are also Heritage Breeds that offer unique characteristics in terms of colouration, temperament or behaviour. Examples include Polish Chickens (crested birds with beards), Silkies (with furry plumage) or La Fleche (with white wings).
Most Heritage breeds will not provide a high yield of either eggs or meat but their attractive physical features make them popular pets.
- Exotic breeds: For those looking for even more unusual types there are exotic breeds from all corners of the globe – including Malaysian Seramas (the smallest chicken breed), Spanish Barbu D’uccles (featuring crest feathers on the head) or Phoenix chickens (which have an ornamental crest resembling a flame).
Although many of these types may not be readily available at local stores they can often be found online at various breeders who specialise in rare poultry breeds from around the world.
- The Rhode Island Red: One of the most popular breed of chicken is Rhode Island Red. It is a great choice for backyard chicken keepers.
The Rhode Island Red is an all-purpose bird, meaning it can be used for both egg and meat production. The eggs of this breed are large, brown and have an excellent flavor.
- Orpington Chickens: The Orpington is a large, docile breed of chicken that is known for its sweet nature.
This breed is often kept as a pet due to its calm temperament and friendly disposition. Orpington chickens lay large, brown eggs with a rich flavor. Orpingtons were originally developed in England as dual purpose birds with good laying abilities and tasty meat quality.
Orpingtons come in several different colors including black, blue, buff, silver laced, lavender, cuckoo (white/black barring) and red – but they all share their impressive set of characteristics: They’re calm nature birds with strong mothering instincts who love to snuggle with people! Plus, Orpington hens lay large creamy-brown eggs throughout much of the year making them an ideal choice for backyards or homesteads looking for consistent egg production.
- White Leghorn Chicken: The Leghorn is a breed of chicken known for its high egg production. These chickens are very active and tend to be quite noisy.
The eggs of the Leghorn are white and have a delicate flavor. White Leghorn chickens are known for their beautiful white feathers, bright red combs and wattles, and high egg production. They’re one of the most popular egg laying breeds, producing up to 280 large white eggs annually.
This breed also produces tender white meat that can be used in various recipes. Leghorn chickens, also known as Italian Leghorns, originated in Tuscany and have become popular for their ability to lay large numbers of eggs. They tend to be white or brown in color with single combs and are relatively active and skittish.
- Australorp Chicken: The Australorp is a breed of chicken that is known for its high egg production and hardiness. These chickens are relatively calm and docile, making them a great choice for backyard chicken keepers.
The eggs of the Australorp are large, brown and have a rich flavor. This Australian breed is well-known for its hardiness and egg laying capabilities, producing up to 300 brown eggs each year. Australorps also possess impressive agility which makes them great foragers.
They also make wonderful pets because of their quiet nature and calm demeanor.
- Wyandotte Chickens: The Wyandotte is a dual-purpose breed of chicken that is known for its friendly temperament and egg production.
This breed is often kept as a pet due to its docile nature and colorful feathers. Wyandotte chickens lay large, brown eggs with a robust flavor. The Wyandotte breed was created in America by crossing different bird varieties from Europe such as the Cochin and Brahma.
The resulting hybrid has become a beloved breed that is known for its striking black and white patterned feathers and its excellent mothering skills – these birds are great broody hens who love to sit on eggs and hatch them out! Wyandottes are hardy birds with an average lifespan of five to seven years that lay medium sized light brown eggs each year.
- Barred Plymouth Rocks: One of the most iconic chicken breeds, Barred Plymouth Rocks have been bred in America since 1835.
These medium-sized chickens produce plenty of large white eggs throughout the year while also displaying their eye-catching barred patterned feathers which range from black to gray or brown depending on the individual bird.
The Barred Plymouth Rock is a dual-purpose breed of chicken that is known for its friendly temperament and egg production. This breed is often kept as a pet due to its calm nature and attractive black-and-white barred feathers. The eggs of the Barred Plymouth Rock are large, brown and have a rich flavor.
- Silkie: The Silkie is a small, docile breed of chicken that is known for its fluffy feathers and sweet disposition. This breed is often kept as a pet due to its calm nature and friendly disposition. Silkie chickens lay small, white eggs with a delicate flavor.
- Araucana/Ameraucana: The Araucana is a small, hardy breed of chicken that is known for its colorful feathers and egg production.
This breed is often kept as a pet due to its friendly nature and attractive appearance. They have unique appearance that include muffs around the ears, tassels at the neck, and tails. These South American birds have bright blue ear lobes and lay beautiful greenish blue eggs.
Ameraucana chickens are relatively new on the market but have quickly become one of the top favorites amongst backyard poultry keepers due to their pretty blue-green eggs they lay each year. Ameraucana chickens have distinctive beards, muffs, and feathered legs, making them incredibly charming pets.
While they aren’t known for being particularly friendly with people, they are docile birds that are easy to care for.
- California Whites: Created by crossing Rhode Island Reds with Leghorns, California Whites boast impressively high egg production with strong hardiness towards colder climates; ideal for those living in northern areas!
Their snow white feathers bring an element of gracefulness to any coop and provide regular medium sized white eggs for those lucky enough to own them.
What breed of chicken produces the best eggs?
If you are looking for the best eggs when it comes to taste, Rhode Island Red chickens are the top choice. Their eggs have a deep orange yolk and a rich flavor that is hard to beat. If you are looking for eggs that are high in nutrition they are also a good choice.
Which chicken lays the most eggs?
The Leghorn chicken is the breed that lays the most eggs. On average, they produce around 300 eggs per year, making them an ideal choice for egg production.
Which are the best brown egg laying chickens?
The Rhode Island Red, Orpington, and Wyandotte are all excellent choices for producing brown eggs. These breeds are also good layers, producing an average of 200-250 eggs per year.
What are the top 10 best breeds of brown egg laying chickens?
Here is the list of top 10 best breeds of brown egg laying chickens.
- Australorp
- Marans
- Welsummer
- Faverolles
- Plymouth Rock
- Orpington
- Cochins
- Brahma
- Sussex
- Rhode Island Red
Which are the best egg laying chickens for backyard?
The Plymouth Rock and Silkie are both good choices for backyard egg production. They lay an average of 200 eggs per year and their eggs have a deep orange yolk and rich flavor in taste.
What are the top 10 best breeds of jumbo egg laying chickens?
Here is a list of the best jumbo egg laying chickens:
- Orpington
- Cochins
- Brahma
- Jersey Giant
- Easter Egger
- Red Star
- Australorp
- Plymouth Rock
- Sussex
- Rhode Island Red
Largest Egg in the world
The largest chicken egg ever laid is widely recognized by a chicken in Norway in 2010. Egg was measured approximately 9.75 inches (24.8 cm) in circumference and 3.75 inches (9.5 cm) tall.
This egg weighed approximately 17.75 ounces (501 grams), which is more than five times the size of a typical jumbo chicken egg. It is worth noting that eggs this large are extremely rare and are not considered representative of the normal size range for chicken eggs.
Most chicken eggs are much smaller, with the average size being about 2.75 inches (7 cm) in circumference and 2 inches (5 cm) tall.
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Final Words
With so many types of chicken breeds available, it can be difficult to know exactly how many there are in total. Estimates suggest that the number ranges anywhere from 200 to more than 400 different breeds and varieties, which makes sense when you consider the different sizes, shapes, colors, temperaments and egg-laying capabilities among them.
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