For many people, the main incentive for raising backyard chickens is a fresh supply of eggs.
I still remember walking down to my chickens’ nesting boxes for the first time and picking up those warm fresh eggs!
Knowing the chicken breeds that lay lots of eggs is important.
Quick Look At Our 10 Best Egg Laying Chicken Breeds
10 Breeds That Lay The Most Eggs |
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Hybrid
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Rhode Island Red
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Leghorn
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Sussex
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Plymouth Rock
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Ancona
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Barnevelder
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Hamburg
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Marans
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Buff Orpington
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Our Choice of Treats for Our Chickens
- Increase Egg Production
- Stronger Egg Shells
- Healthy Feathers
Most beginners don’t know that the breed of chicken you get makes a huge impact on the number of eggs you should expect to receive each day.
Certain breeds, such as Japanese Bantams, tend not to lay eggs, whereas Hybrid hens can lay more than 280 eggs per year- nearly an egg every day.
Choosing the right breed is crucial if you want fresh eggs all year long, so we’ve drawn up a list of our favorite top 10 egg-laying chickens.
We have updated this article to include an 11th breed – the Easter Egger.
See why below.
Our Picks On Best Chicken Coops
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- LARGE NESTING BOX
Top 10 Best Egg Laying Chicken Breeds
1. Hybrid
There are many different hybrid breeds, and one of the most common is the Golden Comet. Hybrids have been bred to lay huge amounts of eggs whilst only consuming small amounts of food. This makes them cheaper to feed than other breeds.
Eggs
You should expect a typical hybrid hen to lay around 280 eggs per year. These eggs will be medium-sized and brown colored.
Color
Hybrids are normally a golden, brown color with soft white tail feathers.
Character
They tend to be very tough and resilient chickens and rarely ever turn broody. If you are looking for an all-year-round egg layer that is easy to look after, a Hybrid chicken is definitely the pick for you.
2. Rhode Island Red
Rhode Island Red’s originated from America and is known as ‘dual-purpose chickens. This means you can raise them for either eggs or meat. They are one of the most popular backyard chicken breeds because they are tough and lay lots of eggs.
Eggs
You should expect a young Rhode Island Red to lay 250 eggs a year. These eggs are brown and medium-sized.
Color
Contrary to their name, Rhode Island Reds actually have brown and black feathers giving them a dark appearance.
Character
They are more than capable of looking after themselves and are well known for being tough. Rhode Island is very friendly and is commonly picked by first-time chicken keepers.
3. Leghorn
Any child who grew up in the 50s or 60s will know what a Leghorn looks like from the popular TV show Foghorn Leghorn.
Leghorns were brought to the States from Italy back in the 1800s and have made the perfect backyard chicken ever since.
Eggs
They should lay around 250 eggs per year. These eggs will be white and medium-sized.
Color
They are unique breeds going, with a full white body and a large thick red comb.
Character
Whilst they would still make an ideal pick for a beginner, anyone looking to tame their chickens shouldn’t choose Leghorns as they are known for being shy and hard to tame.
4. Sussex
As the Rhode Island Red, the Sussex is a ‘dual purpose’ hen which means you can raise them for eggs or meat.
Eggs
A Sussex is easily capable of laying 250 eggs a year. The color of the eggs will vary from brown through to creamy white.
Color
The Sussex breed has eight different colors, the most common being a pure white body with a black neck and tail feathers.
Character
They are a very calm breed who would happily free range in a garden without destroying it! If you want a tame breed that would eat from your hand, the Sussex is for you.
5. Plymouth Rock
The Plymouth Rock (Barred Rock) is an ideal pick for a first-time chicken keeper looking for a hen that lays eggs roughly once every two days.
Eggs
A healthy Plymouth Rock should lay around 200 eggs a year. These eggs will be small to medium-sized and are a light brown color.
Color
They are predominately grey, with white stripes wrapping around their body.
Character
Plymouths are a large bird that is much better suited to the free-range lifestyle. Like the Sussex, they are very friendly birds who can easily be tamed.
6. Ancona
The Ancona is a small hen that originates from Italy but is now much more common in the United Kingdom and the US.
Eggs
It will lay around 200 eggs per year. These will be small white eggs.
Color
It looks very similar to Plymouth Rock in feather appearance, except it is less than half the size.
Character
The Ancona isn’t a breed to be picked as a pet. It is skittish and will need its feathers clipping often as it’s notorious for flying out of chicken pens!
7. Barnevelder
The Barnevelder is a cross between the Dutch Landrace and Asian jungle fowl. It is native to Holland and is known for its glossy feathers.
Eggs
It is capable of laying around 200 eggs per year. These eggs will be small to medium-sized and a light speckled brown color.
Color
The Barnevelder is predominantly a black chicken with brown tipped feathers.
Character
This is a great garden bird that is much better suited to a garden pen. It isn’t a great flyer, so you don’t need to worry about clipping their feathers.
8. Hamburg
The Hamburg (also spelled Hamburgh) is a chicken native to Germany and one of the most attractive chicken breeds.
Eggs
They will lay around 200 eggs per year. These will be small to medium-sized eggs and will have a white glossy shell.
Color
Their feathers resemble the coat of a Dalmatian and are white with black feathers. Hamburgs also have another color variation which is black with gold-tipped feathers.
Character
Hamburgs need lots of space to roam around in and don’t do well inside a chicken pen.
They are known to be aggressive in small spaces and are much better than a free-range chicken.
Ensure to read How Much Space Do My Chickens Need if you are unsure about what counts as a small space.
9. Marans
Marans are another dual purpose hen and are renowned for their vibrant dark brown eggs and exceptional meal quality.
Eggs
A Maran will lay around 200 eggs a year. These eggs are a vibrant dark brown color and are medium-sized.
Color
They are very similar in appearance to Plymouth Rocks and are mostly dark grey with white flutters.
Character
Marans don’t require much space to roam in and are a very gentle hen. With this being said, they aren’t very tame and don’t make good ‘pets.
10. Buff Orpington
In tenth place is the Buff Orpington, which is my personal favorite chicken breed. They originate from Kent, England, and are a backyard chicken keeper’s dream!
Eggs
Orpingtons will lay around 180 eggs a year.
They have a tendency to get broody during the summer months, which is why they lay less than the other breeds mentioned on this list.
Colour
They are a glorious golden-yellow color and have a thick layer of feathers.
Character
Buff Orpingtons are one of the tamest breeds you can get and will make a great garden pet.
Within no time, you can train them to eat from your hand and socialize with you.
11. Easter Eggers
While Easter Eggers are a hybrid breed, they deserve a shout-out of their own. These inquisitive and savvy chickens are the famous blue egg layers, and if you want a lot of blue eggs, this is your gal.
Eggs
You can expect about 250 eggs per year from an Easter Egger. They range from medium to large. And yes, they can be anywhere from a greenish-blue color to a bright light blue. Gorgeous for spring decor!
Color
Easter Eggers range widely in color variations. They tend to be brown and have flecks of other colors on their feathers. They are known to resemble a hawk, thus tend to be a favorite free-range chicken. EE’s are also known for their quirky beards, which often contrast in color from the rest of the chicken’s body.
Character
Easter Eggers have a reputation for being a friendlier bird. With that being said, their temperament spans widely across the spectrum.
I’ve found them to be a nervous breed, preferring to stay at arm’s length from people.
This is also what attributes to their ability to evade predators.
Even More Breeds of Chicken That Will Lay Lots of Eggs
While the above chicken breeds are most likely to lay lots of eggs, there are also a few other breeds with reputations for great egg-laying. These include:
- Ameraucana
- Australorp
- Delaware
- Euskal oils
- Faverolles
- Golden laced wyandottes
- Isa brown
- Jamerson
- New Hampshire red
- Red sex link
- Welsummer
How to Keep Egg Production High
Just because you have a breed that can lay lots of eggs doesn’t mean they will lay lots of eggs.
Many things can affect how many eggs a chicken lays. Their diet, age, and access to daylight are all important.
Age
It’s a sad fact that older chickens just don’t lay as many eggs as younger chickens.
A chicken’s first year of laying eggs is always its best.
You can see in the graph, once a chicken hits the age of three, the amount of eggs it lays really slows down.
If your chicken laid 250 eggs in its first year, it would only lay 160 eggs by the third year.
There is nothing you can do to stop this; it’s just nature’s way.
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Diet
Chickens need around 20 grams of protein every day for them to keep laying eggs. If their diet isn’t providing them with this protein, they won’t lay many eggs.
To ensure your chickens are getting plenty of protein, make sure you feed them layers of pellets.
Layer pellets have been manufactured to contain all the key minerals, nutrients, and minerals that hens require.
If you are looking to increase the amount of protein your chickens get, read 9 Healthy Treats Your Chickens Will Love.
Daylight
In addition to a good diet, chickens need at least 14 hours of daylight to lay eggs.
If they don’t get this amount of daylight, their egg-laying will be limited.
To ensure they get this amount of daylight, make sure you are letting them out as close to the sunrise as possible- even if it means those early morning starts!
There won’t be 14 hours of daylight during the winter, and many chicken farmers will use artificial lighting to keep their chickens laying eggs. I would never do this because chickens need this downtime during the winter for their body to recover.
If you are forcing your chickens to lay by using artificial lighting, it means their bodies don’t recover, and your hen’s health will progressively get worse.
Common Questions About Breeds of Chicken That Will Lay Lots of Eggs
Still, have some questions about chicken breeds that will lay lots of eggs? Or maybe you want some of the information above in a more compact form. These FAQs should give you the answers you need.
What Chicken Breed Lays the Most Eggs?
The chicken breeds that lay the most eggs include white leghorns, Sussexes, gold lines or hybrids, Plymouth Rocks, and Rhode Island Reds. Now remember no matter what breed you have, you always want to make sure their coop is protected. In fact, we recommend some of the best automatic chicken coop doors.
What Breed of Chickens Lays the Most Eggs Per Year?
The Australorp holds the current record for laying the most eggs per year. Any other breed mentioned above is also a strong contender.
What Chickens Lay 300 Eggs a Year?
Most of the chickens on this list lay 300 eggs a year, including Isa Browns, Rhode Island reds, Australorps, Leghorns, and speckled Sussexes.
What Are the Most Eggs Laid By a Chicken in One Day?
The most eggs ever laid in a day were seven. A white leghorn holds the record for most eggs laid in a year, with 371 in just 364 days.
What Is a Fart Egg?
Fart eggs are eggs without yolks. They are also called wind eggs or dwarf eggs. Fart eggs tend to be round and small, very similar to marbles or grapes. They are usually a young chicken’s first try at laying eggs.
Let me know how many eggs a day your hens lay in the comments below!
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Our Choice of Treats for Our Chickens
- Increase Egg Production
- Stronger Egg Shells
- Healthy Feathers
Read Next: Automatic Chicken Coop Door: What to Know Before Buying
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0 eggs. They are about 17 weeks old.
Are you excited for your first eggs Sandy? It should be any day now 🙂
Can you mix different breeds of chickens in the same coop?
Absolutely Britton 🙂
Claire
Having a crazy mixed-Up flock is so much fun. You can have many types of gentle natured breeds in the same flock. Although, larger flocks often form competitive cliques, with a lead hen, that is often smarter, more pushy or bossy than th
e others. This is my experience & observation.
Just like people, girls in high school or whatever current : THE HOUSEWIVES OF….(add your own city of choice)
I MUST SAY, ONE OF MY GREATEST JOYS IN LIFE
HAVE BEEN & ARE…
My mixed breed flocks of chickens that I’ve had throughout my life since nursery school. About 50 yrs now ! Half a century of CHICKENS!!!
The different shapes, sizes, colours & especially my favourite, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT QUIRKY, FUNNY & ENDEARING, PERSONALITIES !!
I am proud to say , many people say , even visiting veterinarians & their techs, comment on how beautiful my chickens are. I do take pride in their bright , alert eyes/ smooth, glossy, full,
undamaged, (now that I have a rooster, not always the case now) plumage/ jaunty strutting gait & easy movement/ large (varies with breed ) uniform ,clean, eggs with thick , durable, shells, large deep yellow orange firm standing yolks, tensile albumen & THE NUMBER OF EGGS I GET IS CRAZY!! EVEN IN WINTER! My primary flock is 12 Hens, 1 rooster ( my rooster lays eggs too! He is a hermaphrodite ) one hen
or another has always gone broody, all considering, I get 9 – 11 eggs A DAY ! They’re coming out my ears! I use them for barter for goods & services.
THE OTHER FLOCK ATTRIBUTE I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN IS: THE WINNING, AFFECTIONATE & GREGARIOUS PERSONALITIES of its very different members
When planning a community flock, consisting of many different breeds & types of Chickens ..IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO RESEARCH the typical varying traits & characteristics, of each individual breed, BEFORE purchasing, hatching, or adopting, your chicks & adults.
The longer I am involved with raising poultry , there are more new & wonderful breeds, that come to my attention, such as Cochins & Wyandottes to name some. Despite being ancient , heritage, or original all American breeds.. I was not familiar with all the different breeds available. My updated flock now consists of 16 chickens, 2 of which are home, hen,-hatched chicks, 2 recently & locally purchased, that are under a year
( pullets?) & not laying yet. One of the last chickens I got, was under a year old, as a house warming gift, from my brother-in-law, began to lay eggs, the very day she arrived , from her nearly 200 mile journey here! Here is the breakdown of my CRAZY MIXED-UP FLOCK MEMBERS : given name/ size/colour/breed/sex
MY ORIGINAL FLOCK BEFORE EXPANSION:
(given as birthday & Christmas gifts & purchased by me as tiny chicks )
SHILOH – Bantam Golden Silkie Rooster
CHEYENNE – Bantam Golden Silkie Hen
SHADOW – Standard Blue Wyandotte Hen
(THE BOSS OF HER FLOCK )
CHERIE – Giant Blue Cochin Hen
SHANTI – Giant (she was the runt of her brood )
Silver-Laced Cochin Hen
Recent Newcomer (house warming gift):
VLADIMIR – Bantam White-Crested Black Polish Hen
Adopted:
‘BAMA – Giant Golden-Laced Wyandotte Hen
RASHA – Standard Australorp Hen (all Australorps are a glossy green-black)
HOSANNAH – Standard (runt of her brood) Australorp Hen
BAD ASS – Standard Ausralorp Hen (THE BOSS OF HER CLIQUE)
SITKA – Standard
Red-Splash White Americauna Hen
OREO – Large Cuckoo French Maran Hen
Recently Purchased :
SAFFRON – Standard Golden-Penciled Wyandotte Hen
SESAME – Standard Golden-Penciled Wyandotte Hen
Just Hatched/Fledging Feathers:
CAYENNE – (daughter of CHEYENNE) Bantam Golden Silkie (sex undetermined)
SAGE – (daughter of Cherie) Giant/Bantam hybrid Blue Partridge Blue Cochin x Golden Silkie Hybrid / ( sex undetermined) this chick looks exactly like the Blue Partridge Pekin Bantams, that I’ve researched on-line.
( I’ll call it a she &/or her 4 the sake of hoping)
She is blue, fluffy, pillow-backed , rumpless, shaggy legged & footed & has deep-golden, black-centered, hackles & a pale golden breast. This is not a standard, recognized, Cochin colouration. BUT… a Bantam Cochin is NOT a Cochin, but called a Pekin Bantam. SAGE’S plumage, is a common colour of Pekin Bantams, which I call Blue Partridge. I don’t really know what colour it is properly called.
I PERSONALLY THINK since she is a Giant Cochin x Bantam Silkie hybrid, the Bantam gene dominated & the Pekin Bantam traits became the genetic outcome. Cochins were used in developing Pekins, or vice-versa, Pekins were used to develop the Cochin standard, not really , very, sure there.
Interesting how the alleles & markers numbers, come up on the genetic roulette wheel of hybridized breeds & colour varieties.
Have fun with your CRAZY MIXED-UP FLOCK
OF CHOOKS!!
I chose my flock#1 for broodiness traits, as I always planned on raising game birds & the breeds I chose will hatch & raise ANY egg you put under them, EVEN REPTILE EGGS !! Heck, I’ve even heard of these breeds, keeping newborn kittens warm & protecting them!!
CHEERS!!
SIDE NOTE: YOU SHOULD ALSO, ALWAYS, RESEARCH WHICH BREEDS, WILL SUIT YOUR EXPECTATIONS & PURPOSES BEST,
( I don’t have any expectations, my chickens are more “pets,”; than “employees”) WILL THRIVE BEST IN THE PARTICULAR CLIMATE & GEOGRAPHY & BE COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR PERSONAL HUSBANDRY METHODOLOGIES, THAT YOU PLAN TO RAISE YOUR FLOCK WITH & IN.
EACH BREED HAS ITS STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES, BECAWARE OF THESE.
IF YOU MUST HAVE BREEDS THAT ARE NOT FULLY EQUIPPED PHYSICALLY, TO DEAL WITH THE CLIMATE & AREA THAT YOU LIVE IN, PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOU, UNEQUIVOCALLY, MUST MAKE ACCOMODATIONS FOR THEIR COMFORT, HEALTH & SURVIVABILITY RATIOS.
It is very, very, cold in Winter where I moved to
last year, I have 98% mostly COLD HARDY breeds. But the Summers here, are fiercely brutal, so I have to run cooling fans in Summer & offer cold circulating spring water. THE Polish hen, that is NOT cold hardy, she knows this & happily, gets into her little heat lamp crate, all on her own, every night.
I LOVE MY CHICKENS & THEY ARE AS MUCH A PART OF OUR FAMILY , AS OUR HUMAN FAMILIES & THEY ARE TREATED AS SENTIENT, FEELING & EMOTIONAL BEINGS, THAT DESERVE TO BE TREATED HUMANELY, WITH RESPECT, PATIENCE & KINDNESS . EVEN IF BEING RAISED FOR SLAUGHTER. I used to slaughter mine very swiftly & always in the first attempt, with the most, also swift, method, in their deep, sleep, late at night… far away from the others.
Bless all of the creatures, The Creator made to sustain us in every way with their companionship, beauty,,
home/property protection & as living alarm systems, pest control talents some creatures have, meat & by-products, we use for food, fertilzer, clothing & accessories, products to to sell, barter & trade with as well. It gets longer into creative sub lists. But not me.
I am retired & my husband & I are living the old fashioned way in a wild frontier , like we grew up in as young people. Him mega ranching & industrial scale farming & me organically & communally farming . We put our philosophies & methodologies together, to come up with what works for us humans & creatures alike. He’s nearly done DIY chicken coop, run & house (mansion) building, right now . He just got done running electricity out to them for heat , light & A/C & put up the rain gutters on it yesterday. He just wants his darn garage back from the flock!! SO HE SAYS.
Toodles!! HAVE a6 CLUCKIN’ GREAT NEW YEAR !!
???????
My son wanted lots of different chicks. So he ordered 3-5 of 20-25 different breeds. Even some bantam breeds. All did well.
i have a lot of chickens we have this easter egger that is broody and some eggs in the incubator and some chicks ,i have alot of mixes
Yes u can but if they are broody they cross breed with other chickens and make different type of chicks!!
Actually the “broodiness” has nothing to do with the resulting breed, that is specifically the rooster & hen. Broody refers to a hen sitting on a brood of eggs, attempting to hatch them out.
We have a chicken that adopted us. She came from our neighbor and just never went back. She lays an egg a day. We believe she is a Black Astralop. We decided to get babies and raise more.
Yes that’s half the fun with chickens unless u want to hatch out eggs to sell they should be fine
I have 16 hens two of each of my favorite breeds. Makes colorful egg collecting . I average from 8 to 10 eggs each day. Some of my hen are four years old. My Golden Lace Wyandotte’s are my oldest and still lay .
I just got my chicks today. 5 Road Island Reds n 5 Buff Orfingtons. I was raised on a farm in Iowa n now in Houston Tx. I have always wanted some for brooding n eggs. They will have free range in my back yard.
That’s great Julius 🙂
Best of luck on your chicken journey and be sure to get in touch if you have any questions,
Claire
Claire, how do you handle all the sick chickens. I have two sick and three coughing. I’m feeling overwhelmed. How do I fix them? This is my first year and most aren’t laying yet. I’m excited and I love them. I’m just getting frustrated with the illness
Hi Brooke,
What do you mean by ‘sick’? Are they physically being sick?
Claire
Also in Houston and just last week bought 8 pullets for my back yard flock.
I’m 610/290 Julius.
I have a chicken that’s brooch and the other hand are laying their eggs in with what to do to stop this?
If you want to stop your broody chicken here is some info https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/6-ways-to-break-a-broody-hen/
Claire
i know the hens start laying egs at age of 20-25 weeks . So dont worry.
Some chickens dont lay till 22 wks according to breed.
They have to be about 6 mo to start laying eggs
It usually takes about 6 months for your chicks to fully mature and to be regularly laying eggs. However, you can expect your flock to start slowly laying eggs any time now.
Yes that is true, but they first start at about 5 months and become regular at 6 months of age
they only lay at 22 weeks
Not necessarily. I’ve read about two hybrids that begin laying regularly between 16 and 18 weeks. Red stars and black stars. I’m getting them next, I’ll let you know.
I GOT 1ST EGG IN 16 WEEK AND THEY ARE NOW 19 AND EGGS ARE 12 SO WAIT THEY WILL START
You had mentioned that the Leghorns are not so tame but out of all my chickens I have my dirty purdy that’s her name leghorn who wants to talk all day and be carried around. Shes very funny and helps me clean every day and then shows me how to go into the nest box. Hillarious she is.
When I was a kid (1950’s) we had a hatchery used to give us kids little leghorn chicks…we loved those chickens..kept them as pets..most loveable birds, just wanted to sit in our laps and follow us around the yard! Maybe breeding more for egg production has changed them..but I remember ours as excellent pets!
My hens took 6 months before they started to lay
Do chickens get upset when you collect their eggs?
No they should be used to it if you do it often. If they are broody they can be a little rambunctious.
Claire
What breed has some to do with it and what kinda feed
Ours didn’t lay until they were almost a year old . There is no rhyme or reason cause we keep our chickens as happy as possible. Don’t get discouraged… it will happen when it happens
Ours were the same, I think it was because they got to egg laying age just as winter set in. All started laying once the days got longer though ?
I have 6 hens all in their second year. I average between 33-35 eggs a week.
That sounds like a healthy amount 🙂
Which breed are they Chrissie?
Hi Chrissie,
What breed’s of hen’s do you have? We are looking to get hens soon & I am dong some research on the best type of hen’s to get & also how do you take care of them in winter month’s?? Thank’s SOo much!!
White leghorns! our flock of 10 gives us about 8-9 eggs a day not to mention they are popular for laying huge double yolks. This breeds is extremely healthy and is bred for just laying eggs. They took about 5 months to fully mature and our happy chickens with happy owners.
ahhahahahhaha
My chickens started laying at just over four months of age, and the first eggs were so small! Within a couple months the eggs got so much larger. I have barred rocks and they are very charming and friendly, they run to my voice and their favorite treat is Cheerios.
That is adorable! I hope I can train my chickens to be as obedient as yours! Maybe they won’t escape every single day then.
I have 10 hens and I get 10 eggs 99% of the time. Maybe once or twice a month I get 8 or 9 eggs. I have Amber Stars and Amber Whites. I was laughing whilst reading your post about Broody chickens. I’ve only had these chickens since April 18, 2015 and they were approx. 5 months old then. They are a hybrid and incredibly docile and love attention. Beautiful, calm birds. I sit for two hours each evening with them, not including the time I spend during the day cleaning their baths or coop or refreshing water, lol. I already have one that went broody. I’ll be interested to see if she makes it the 21 days and what her chicks will be like. I had to move her to another coop because the one they are in normally is high off the ground and I read the chicks could die from falling out of the coop while young. So I made my original coop into a maternity coop, lol. She is on day 6 with these eggs but when she was in the other coop, she spent two days in one nest then moved to another nest and spent two days there and then moved back to the original nest and thats when I decided she needed her own coop. Not sure if she was getting up to get water and food and another hen would sit in her coop so she moved or she just moved. Being her first time being broody, I’m sure she’s a bit confused. I found her one night in one of the bathtubs, squatting. At the time I didn’t realize she was broody, but I recognize the head down look now and the glaze. I cannot begin to describe my joy and love of my girls and the rooster. Truly the blessings are all mine.
Thanks for getting in touch Leighe!
It sounds like you are very lucky indeed- most of us would kill for an egg supply like that!
Keep in touch and let us know if your eggs hatch,
Claire
I like the graphic very much. Saw it before, but didn’t know the creator!
Thank you Larry!
Has anyone bought great chicks from Alamo Hay and Grain? I am thinking of buying some, should I also get a rooster? Finally, do they have Golden Comet chickens?
We haven’t Ava, but lets see if anyone else has got chickens from Alamo Hay and Grain and writes a comment back!
im looking to get started raising chickens to have a constant egg supply any advice you could give on getting started what to feed and all would be great! i have no experiance at all
Hi Mark,
Take a look through our blog and we have a lot of advice about feeding!
If there is anything specific just drop us an email 🙂
Hi mark,if you get baby chicks you’ll want to feed them starter feed,I person all used starter feed that’s medicated,make sure there’s always fresh water at all times,this is very important,you’ll also want to make sure the little things are housed safely,away from predictors and drafts of air,keep them away from older chickens until there 8 weeks old,keep them dry and warm,they get wet they die.say you purchased 6 chicks at 3 weeks you can hard boil 2 eggsand mash them up real fine and add to there food for extra protein,save all your egg shells rinse them with cold water and let dry,use coffee grinder and grind them up fine,once your chick are around 15 weeks old add a little egg shell to there food its extra calcium,once your chickens have all the down feathers gone and Adair feathers in place and they’ve been in the CCP for at least 3 weeks its safe to let them out in the run,1st week of life temp should be 95*f2nd week 90*f 3rd week 85*f 4th week 80*f 5th week 75*f. Raising chickens are such a joy and loads of fun,treat them like you would want to be treated and you’ll make friends,good luck
Thank you for sharing your advice Pearllea!
They sure are 🙂
Claire
I’m a city girl out on a 96 acre farm land. I enjoyed all your comments, we are going to tray our hand at raising chickens. Husband is building a chicken coop/big run for about 19 chickens. Any other advice is appreciated. Trying to not kill them LOL I decided to get Aystrakiros as they look the most tamable.
I’ve just hatched out 10 baby chicks some (most) are from my redstar pullets so will these offspring be good egg layers? My roosters is a large silkie white, the other daddy is a small to medium size barred rock yet he has light feathers down his legs don’t know if he’s a cross as well. Some chicks are all black, some are white and some are cream.
Congratulations that is great news.
Yes I would expect them to lay quite well- Silkies aren’t known for great laying but the redstar genes will hopefully counter that!
16 chicks total now, my neighbour gave me some of her eggs for my last little girl that went broody she hatched 5 cuties all pullets and 1 little roo. So I’ve increased my flock that’s for sure, I want eggs in return for my love and care and best friend ship.
Let’s hope they return it with lots of eggs for you!
I don’t raise hens nor do I know much about it. But found a hen (she looks just like a Buff Orpington) laying eggs in a small grassy area in the corner of our front porch. She just got off her eggs today and there were 23 eggs there! Is this normal!
Wow that sounds like a great find Michele!
It sounds to me like she has turned broody… this is normal behaviour and nothing to worry about 🙂
I have 2 red leghorns that are 5 weeks old. One’s comb is slightly larger and turning pink. They were supposed to be sexed pullets. Is it too early to know if it’s a rooster? Are there any tell tale signs I should look for besides the comb?
Hi Michael,
It’s still quite earlier to tell. What is their behavior like- are they pushy and dominating the other chicks? This would be a tell tale sign of a rooster!
Claire
I’m 14 years old and we built a chicken coop and we were wondering what type of chickens we should get and what accessories are necessary for raising healthy hens
Hi Jackie,
Thank you for getting in touch.
I would recommend either Rhode Island Reds or Buff Orpingtons, they are great beginner chickens and will lay lots of eggs for you too 🙂
Happy chicken keeping,
Claire
Very nice Article. I currently have 16 chickens and own a few different breeds. That being said, I must say the Sussex, Leghorns, and Barnevelder(recently passed), have laid the best! But none can replace our White Leghorn for production! She is also the most friendly, seeing as we hatched her ourselves and have handled her since day one.
Hi, there! I gave a Buff Orpington and a Red Star, which are both 2 years old. We’re trying to add 2 more great egg layers. What do you recommend?
Hi Deana,
I’d love either a Sussex or Leghorn next!
Claire
Hi, I recently got a novogen chicken, does anyone know anything about them??
Hi Jade,
Are they similar to a Rhode Island Red?
Claire
How is the Novagen? I heard they are great layers!
Pamela Bohon
My family about to receive our first set of four hens, thank you for posting the site this is been most helpful!
how many month does it take before Hybrid start laying eggs?
Hi Godwin,
Hybrids normally start laying at around 20 weeks old, providing their diet is correct 🙂
Claire
We got 2 brown 19 week olds (Rangers) and 1 black 16 week old (Rhode Island we think-black with blue/green tinge on feathers in certain lights). They are hybrids and the farm said both breeds good layers.
We’ve had them for 10 weeks now, the brown girls have been laying for 7 weeks pretty much one a day each, however the black one still isn’t laying. Any advice?
They’re on layers pellets, have half cup of corn and meal work scattered each night and usually a treat of rice and corn on top of their main food. They come out for an hour+ each evening.
All three seem happy, have grown well, red combs etc. Infact, the black one is the biggest.
Hi Clare,
So the black hen is around 25 weeks old now? It could be once of two things I’d think:
1) She hasn’t started laying egg and will start laying within the next few weeks- this seems unlikely…
2) She is already laying eggs and has a ‘secret’ nest somewhere else in the run.
Let me know how you get on,
Claire
Can I use newspaper instead of straw to line my chicken nests I gather straw carries mite
Hi Sue,
I’ve tried it in the past and would not recommend it. The newspaper stuck to the eggs and sometimes the ink transferred onto the egg shells.
You could use pine wood shavings if you’re worried about mites,
Claire
Hi am thinking of getting 2 hens as just going to get medium coop . Need to be very friendly as I have 6 grandchildren who would love to help me look after them as pets and for they eggs of course. Which hens would be best for me?
Hi Carol,
My favorites are the Rhode Island Red and they have a very docile personality so will be great with the grandchildren!
Good luck,
Claire
I have just started with chickens and have a mixed group of eight, but mainly orpington and rhode island red. Also have black and a pure white but cannot remember what type they are although they did tell me. They are doing really well and seem very happy eating, drinking and are outside all day on free range.etc., They are around 12 weeks old I believe – what age do they start laying?
Hi Carol,
Well done on making the decision and getting chickens 🙂
You should expect your first eggs from them in around 8 weeks!
Good luck,
Claire
I have 28 chickens. They were free ranging and always laid 24 eggs per day. They were destroying my plants and flowers so we leave them in the pen most days now, (large 40′ x 40′ pen). Now they only lay 20 to 24 per day. They are all first year layers. Could they just be mad cause we don’t let them out any more? I have no clue as to why they wouldn’t continue as before. Any insight on this?
Hi Vicki,
When chickens free roam they get a lot of key minerals from the ground. When they are in a pen the ground can run of these minerals once the chickens have ‘pecked’ there long enough!
I would make sure that the feed you are using is a commercial feed which provides them with all their key nutrition and minerals and they will be fine 🙂
Claire
I have two Americauna Roosters that were supposed to be pullets. They are beautiful but the city does not allow Roosters. What can I do with these chickens? They are extremely nice boys and used to people. I found a home for the third. Our local store sold us 3 of 3 roosters when we purchased our Americaunas. They are more like pets but cannot keep them. Have had them since Feb.
Hi Sandie,
I’m so sorry to hear about this 🙁
I would try and find somebody you trust who can take them off your hands, as you don’t want to get in trouble with the city for keeping them…
Claire
just got 18 mixed breed chooks about 14 weeks old
Congratulations Jansen!
Good luck on your journey 🙂
Claire
I need help!!
A friend gave me a black hen and I’m convinced it is her laying the white egg because all of my other breeds lay brown. I can’t find her breed or anything that looks like her that lays a white egg. Please help!?
I have 14 chickens that are not even 1 year old, we are starting to get eggs and we have 2-3 chickens that we don’t know if they are roosters or not
Hi Alexia,
Look at their sickle feathers- at 20 weeks old or so it should be a dead give away!
Claire
What are good places to get sexed hens from
Hi Tyler,
Thank you for getting in touch.
I don’t personally know any breeders in your area- I would suggest either joining or speaking with a local poultry club because they will know who has a good reputation in the local area.
Or have you considered purchasing from a national breeder and getting them delivered to you?
Claire
Country hatchery
My younger sister is planing on raising chickens just like I do , I raise road island reds and I love EM, but she doesn’t want the same breed as me, she says she wants to raise them for eggs but she’s 5 and I think she just wants a friendly backyard pet breed what do you recommend
Hi Whitney,
I would recommend buff orpingtons.
They don’t lay as many eggs as road islands but they are very friendly and easy to care for.
I wish your sister all the best luck 🙂
Claire
I raise australorps they’re excellent layers hybrids are good layers but not very healthy don’t waste on them herritage breeds are far better than hybrids.
I plan to get chickens, very soon when we have more space to raise them. I’ve read a lot on this site and I’ve decided I want to raise both Sussex and Buff Orpingtons. Do they do well together? Will they be able to be in the same coop and not fight with each other? I’ve never raised hens but I know a couple people who do they just have different breeds.
My Six new hens are Black Stars and are four months+ and healthy. I have always raised Sex Lnks which roost readily. These Black Star hens huddle in the corner of concrete floor of coop at night and never go near the laying nests. Any thoughts as to why?
Hi Michael,
Do they have any light in the coop during the evening?
I’ve heard of this before and it was caused because the hens couldn’t see the roosting bars inside the coop at night.
Claire
Hi my hybrids stopped laying three months ago. Nothing since except a few shell less eggs crushed. On layers pellets, no corn, excluded all fatty treats just pellets. Tried++ protein, cider vinegar, not broody, no lice, no mite, plenty light, space, all is well but no eggs. At 18months could this be the end of eggs. ?
Hi Wendy,
Definitely not- they should still have plenty of eggs left at only 18months old.
However 18months old sounds very close to their first major molt- are they molting, as this would stop their egg production…
Claire
We have 4 buff orpington ladies, about 5 mo. old. Yesterday we got our FIRST egg(s)—Two of our girls laid an egg within 5 min. of each other! What was completely unbelievable was that I saw one egg and thought it was Prissy’s because she was the only one in the nesting box with an egg beside her. I picked her up to stroke and praise her and SHE CALMLY DROPPED HER EGG INTO MY HAND!!
It’s such an excitement isn’t it Mary!
You were very lucky and timed this to perfection 🙂
Good luck on your chicken journey,
Claire
Loads of great advice on here. We are getting 4 hens but are novices so thank you for all the advice. My wife has gone chicken mad. Lol
I live in Anola Mb. Canada, the weather goes from +40 deg Celsius to -40 deg Celsius before wind chill. I am wanting to get some dual purpose (eggs, then when they get older meat) chicks for myself. Was just wondering what types would be best that can handle the temps.
Hi Steven,
I always recommend rhode islands as the best beginner hen and then can also handle very hot and cold weather.
Claire
I am new to raising chickens. My chickens have laid their first eggs yesterday. I thought my chicken were brown egg layers. Buff Orpington is actually what I thought they were. They are laying white large eggs. The chickens are a red orange with black in their tails. How can I find out for sure what kind of chickens I have?
HI Cassandra,
They sound to me like Rose Comb Brown Leghorns.
Claire
My son and I plan to raise 4-5 chickens this coming year. We would like to start them as chicks. Do you recommend that? Ours will have a fairly small hen house but a fenced in yard area to roam during the daylight hours. We are very excited and haven’t yet picked what type yet. Your article was extremely helpful!
Glad to hear the article has helped you Demrie.
Yes absolutely- remember we are here if you need any help along the way!
Claire
I have 23 chickens and get 7 eggs a day….
Meagan, I would ask if you know the breeds. Some lay all year and some will stop in the winter. Also, what are the ages and their diet? Some hens are not good layers. You can tell if they are supposed to have yellow legs and beaks that are still yellow after a year of laying and look dull or sleepy. Also, how long have they been laying? Lots to consider and you can sleuth your way through this problem.
On this page you wrote not to use lights to force your hens to lay. In the comments you told a commenter that her chickens may need some light in the coop so the can see the roost. I don’t want to compromise. My girls health so they’ll lay more eggs but I noticed they might also need a bit of light. I put a 60 watt bulb in a 10’X10′ coop. Is that too much?
Hi Les,
If you don’t want to comprise your girl’s health then the safest choice is to not fit a light in their coop.
Claire
We have an Orpington that keeps going after one specific hen when they enter the coop. We inspected the other hen for any signs of injuries or possible sickness but we are going on 5 months now that this aggresive behaviour has been happening. The other hens don’t attack her until the main hen starts. We eventually moved bullied hen into her own coop which she clucks for a good hour or two until the sun sets. Has anyone any suggestions why this maybe happening? Also, my daughter is wanting to add to the bunch but I’m worried the little ones will also be bullied once we can introduce them to the older hens. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated
Hi Dawn,
What happened when you separated the Orpington? Did you remove her for a few days?
Claire
Hello Dawn,
We had very good luck with introducing or rescued Buff Orpington into our flock of Barred Rocks by keeping her separate until she was fairly close in size to our other girls then I got a 8×8 dog run and we would put her in that in the same area as the other chickens and after a while of that we would let her run with them while we were outside watching then we gradually let them spend more time unattended until they were all one happy flock.
It took time and patience but worked out great.
We have a nice small variety of “hobby” chickens. It gets sub zero temperature here. What is the harm in a small heating lamp?
Hi Chad,
You can read all about this in our winter guide:
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/the-definitive-guide-to-keeping-chickens-in-winter/
The main concern is fires, however there are other ways to keep the coop warm without the risk of fires…
Claire
we get 7 eggs a day between 7 laying hens (we also have 5 easter eggers)
I have 3 blue splash Orpington’s. Born 9 April 2016. One hen has matured faster than the other two. We are getting eggs from her EVERY day. Is this unusual? (Not that I’m complaining!
Hi Barbara,
Well she is 27 week old now, so it sounds about right to me 🙂
Claire
Help! Help! Help!
I’ve been raising chickens for about seven years now. I haven’t lost a chicken to anything but a coon now and then when one refuses to go into the pen at night.
I have about twenty partridge rock and ten misc. breeds (all documented good layers).
They are all about eleven months old now. They started laying well and suddenly stopped. The food is the same, plenty of water, clean roosts, nesting boxes and plenty of space for ranging.
I am stumped.
Hi Christine,
Generally there are three things that would cause a stop in production like this:
• Change in environment (coop move or bringing in additional hens).
• Some form of illness (mites, lice etc).
• Change in seasons (moving into winter).
Any of these sound familiar?
Claire
Hi! I love the way you care about the chickens and your enthusiasm! I’m sorry if I missed this but I’m interested in learning about cleaning my coop with natural ingredients and not using toxic chemicals. I recently tried vinegar, water and sweet orange essential oil. Does anyone have a any advice or thoughts on this? Thank you
Great question Debbie 🙂
Lets see if anyone here can help- over to you guys…
Claire
Hi Debbie,
I’ve also heard that vinegar mixed with orange essential oil and water is good, but I haven’t tried it yet. I use the deep litter method, which means the coop only needs cleaning about once a year. (each week you add more litter, wood shavings and dried leaves from the garden. The birds mix it up when they scratch through it for bugs) It doesn’t smell, and there are no mites or anything. It’s great!
Hi Debbie ,
I’m not sure what kind of floor you’re using for chicken coops ?
We’re using mud floor and then we use the wood shaver .It is easy to clean and it is useful for heating during winter season .
Hey Debbie,
I use wood shavings on the floor and a piece of plywood under the roost as a poop board and dump the poop in the garden then spray that off every few days.
I also spray the coop with water every few months and change all of the shavings.
I also change out the plywood every year with a new piece of plywood.
Does anyone have a good opinion on what kind of coop should get because I want to be able to clean out their coop.
Always wooden coop is best. And if u filled it with some sand it will be great
I’m hoping to get some more breeds this spring! I loved how nice my Leghorn girls turned out this year and hoping for more! (maybe a different color this time!) Also getting Easter Eggers and Marans! I cant wait!
Almost three years ago I picked up 12 Golden Comets (I think). At about five months old they began laying and over the next 20 months I picked up about 75 eggs a week. My neighbors and grandkids loved the girls. The girls follow them everywhere. I kept them loose in the fruit orchard and they would go into their cage to lay, eat or sleep. I feed them 20 percent laying pellets and all the fruit they can eat. Six months ago I picked up six Rhode Island Reds and they have started laying now. The eggs are smaller and less frequent. They are alright, but I am getting more Golden Comets soon. I enjoyed the article and posts, thank you.
I did not know artificial lights were bad for my hens it gets really cold here in the winter so I put up heat lamps. I have noticed some days I was getting more eggs. (9- hens and some days I would have 11 eggs) should I turn lights out.
Hi Amanda,
Please don’t turn the lights off mid season- it could cause them to molt.
Please read my latest article on what to do with lights during winter 🙂
Claire
I love this post, it helps me decide on what chicken to get for both eggs and meat.. I am planning of getting a chicken – rhode island red. Atleast 10 for start up. And hopefully will be able to see the chicken hatch for the first time 🙂
We have one Golden Comet who loves my wife. Follows here like the Pied Piper(-: She lays 6-7 eggs per week. All large to extra large brown eggs. Every once in a while she will lay a jumbo egg. Couldn’t ask for a better layer/pet. Am planning to get 3 or 4 more b4 winter sets in.
My family of 7 has 8 chickens of mixed breeds. We always have plenty of eggs and occasionally give away a couple dozen eggs when we have too many. Thank you for all the great information and suggestions.
We have 8 fairly young Redrock chicks. They weren’t sexed when we bought them,and are now trying to distinguish between the Hens and the Roosters. But we definitely have at least 3 Roosters. They are all close to a bit over 12 weeks old now,and very outgoing and friendly.
2 Isa browns n a Rhode island red. They lay 1 a day. Isa browns eggs are huge!
I have 3 buff orpington, 3 speckled sussex, and 1 americauna. They are 7 mo old and have been laying for about a month now. Today I went out to the coop, after not checking for 2 days due to the holidays. Got a dozen eggs! Seems pretty good for December at 38 degree weather.
I’m looking into getting my first chicken. We live in the city and I prefer to start with just 1. Do chickens live well alone or do they really need to live with other hens? I’m looking at a Golden Comet?
Hi Cheri,
They are social animals, so shouldn’t really be kept on their own. You should get at least 2.
Claire
Hi! I got my first chickens in August. I have two Easter eggers that just started laying about two months ago. One lays every day and the other most days. I can tell because ones eggs are green and others are white. My hens are beautiful girls. I live in small town where I can’t let them free range, but let them out to walk around the yard with me. They will eat out my hand and crawl in my lap for food. Haha! Love my girls! Thanks for all the information. Have learned a lot from you.
I’m new to raising chickens. I got 4 barred rocks, 4 silver Wyandotte, 4 gold sex link, & 4 Black sex link. They are 6 & 4 weeks old. I’m starting to think I may have over done it when they finally start laying. Can I sell eggs? Also, do I need to worry about ferral cats hunting them if I let them in the yard?
On another note, the Barred Rocks & Silver Laced Wyandottes are super friendly! The sex links can be a little stand-offish but still love to eat out of my hand.
Hi Wendy,
Yes you can sell your eggs! However if your friends and family are anything like mine you won’t have any left anyway 🙂
Take a look at our article on predators here for more information about feral cats:
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/keep-chickens-safe-from-predators/
Claire
I have 2 Rhode Island Reds, 1 Leg horn and I average 2-3 eggs daily. They are about 10 months old. My Leghorn went through a molt at about 5 months old and just started laying about a month ago
Have 5 hens and 1 rooster…Plymouth Rocks going into their first winter…usually 5 eggs, occasionally only 4.
I am looking to get 3 hybrids but we live in middle Tennesee and are worried about the winter months. Are these Golden Comets going to be okay with near-freezing temperatures outside? Are there certain things I can do to keep them warm?
Hi Jenny,
Yes golden comets will be fine in Tennesee 🙂 We have a winter guide you should read:
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/the-definitive-guide-to-keeping-chickens-in-winter/
Claire
I come to know that Australorp is the top most eggs laying breed. ………But I’m shocked by reading this article. There is not australorp in the top 10. Please guide me. I have about 100 australorp (2months) chicks. I’m from Pakistan
Do not worry. Provider a nutritious diet and proper care and your Australorps will become egg producing machines. Please read this article to get educated on them as they grow rapidly. 100 Chickens will keep you busy! https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/australorp-chickens-a-comprehensive-care-guide/
How cold of temperature can hens handle? I live in the midwest where it often is in the teens during the winter time.
You can find all the information regarding cold temperatures right here https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/how-cold-is-too-cold-for-my-chickens/
Claire
Wow! This site is awesome! My husband and I are about to get baby chicks for our two girls to raise and we have been looking online to get help on how to raise healthy chickens and am telling ya, this site got all the answers we need. Thank you so much and now we know where to come when we need more help?
Thank you for your kind words. Please spread the word and share the site with others.
Claire
I my looking for hybrid chickens
Abram try ISA BROWN they are very good egg layers they have Rhode island red and Rhode island white and some leghorn but there is a mystery to what else they have in them the males are white at birth and the females are red at birth
Brilliant read. Very rare nowadays as most people just write a quick article just to get more views. This one is different! Both informative and helpful. Thank you!
the “sussex”is actullay a cloumbian wyandotte some of this informtion is wrong that’sussex’is a columbain wyandote ive had chinckens science ive been abe to walk and i know the breeds thats a columbian wyandotte
There is often confusion here. The one you see is like a Columbian Wyandotte, but is actually a “Light Sussex”, there is Red, Buff, Light, Brown, Silver, White Sussex breeds. You can read all about it here: https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/sussex-chicken/
A friend of ours bought a dozen double yolk eggs. He is wondering if there is chickens that lay them? I am an “old timer” chicken raiser and never heard of such a fowl that laid double yolks. I was wondering if in the kindling, if you still do that” they may keep the double ones in a area of there own. From the pic. he sent they looked smaller in size. Interesting. Thanks for any info. you can give me…
See our article on double yolk eggs here: https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/double-yolk-eggs-and-other-egg-anomalies/
please i want to know if i can get this types of birds
I just got 8 Red Cross hens, they are about 17/18 weeks old. When will they start laying eggs?
See our guide on egg laying timing. https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/when-will-my-chicken-start-laying-eggs/
I have 9 laying chickens. Pretty sure it’s about 4 different breeds and I get 5-6 eggs a day
Raising 10 now 9 Easter eggers. 1 damaged (animal?) leg broken @ thigh bloodied up managed to live for 2 weeks (on 1 leg @used wing as crutch ) animal came back and pull 2by4 dog cage off a high perch – door opened baby girl gone! Had she managed to grow could she laid eggs and survive in my 10by10 pen with the other babies and 3 adult Red Islands that are left.
Our local avian vet tells me that a natural chicken lays about 15 eggs a year but humans have bred them to lay hundreds instead. That is why a chicken lives only 3-6 years instead of a natural 15-18 years. So much of their energy goes into egg production that it shorten their lives.
On top of that, we want bigger eggs (have you seen them at the supermarkets?) but there has to be a limit. It’s like a woman giving birth to a bowling ball!
I love the eggs from our hens but we should not treat them as just laying machines. We keep ours all their lives, well past their egg-laying period.
That’s interesting. It has become quite the trend. But I have had experience with some living 9 years.
Claire
Just purchased a coop for chickens. Hoping to start this next spring. We are in WI… what are good laying birds that would be friendly with our 5yo? We plan on having around 3 chickens in the coop to start and hope to build runs to let them move around more. Would road island reds be ok in a commercial coop built for about 5-6 chickens?
If you are putting 3 chickens in a coop made for 5-6 there is enough space for them. I like your idea about building runs.
Here are some “good” laying birds or ones that have good egg production: https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/beginner-hens-that-lay-lots-of-eggs/
Claire
Thinking about being first-time chicken keepers… It sounds like Rhode Island and Buffs are great first hens. These might be silly questions, but…
1) Is it okay to only get 1 hen or is it best to have more than 1 so they have a ‘friend’?
2) Will they fight?
3) How high can they fly? We have 6ft high fence around property.
Thank you for any and all advice!
Yes, it is possible they could fly over the 6ft but many clip their wings to make sure they don’t.
I advise to have another chicken for the first to give her company. Chickens tend to get bored and it gives her someone to play with. I think she will be happier with a partner. I can’t know for sure if they will fight but try to still do a proper introduction process.
https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/how-to-introduce-new-chickens-to-your-existing-flock/
Here’s an article on flying too: https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/can-chickens-fly/
Claire
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Is there any specific considerations for colder climates? I’m starting a homestead in northern Idaho and wonder about the cold temperatures. Are there breeds that are bred for the cold?
I have an Americauna that I got last year, but last year she didn’t start laying till she was 9 months old, is this normal or not?
we have two rhode island reds and two that i’m pretty sure are golden comets. they have two coops they can go in and out of and a run of about 15′ x 25′. during the summer, i let them free range for 3-4 hours a day, but now that it’s cold (and occasionally snowy), they’re staying in the pen nearly every day.
during the summer and fall, they laid 3-4 eggs/day. i expected them to take a winter vacation, but here it is nearly christmas, and i’m still getting an average of 2 eggs per day.
is this common? we even have a tarp over the run to prevent snow from getting in, so they don’t get that much light. i don’t want to overwork them.
i feed them homemade scratch and our leftover veggie and fruit trimmings, with oyster shells for calcium.
I have 3 hens.
2 Wyandotte’s
1 Silkie
They all were laying 1 a day.
Since it’s winter and not enough light , the Silkie has slowed way down to 1 or 2 a week.
Thanks for this article.
My hens are still laying even in Canadian winter. I don’t give them any artificial light ever.
Does this mean that their health will progressively get worse, as you mentioned at the end of the article?
🙁
Are these kind of hens egg can be fertilized?
We are a gaggle of volunteers and starting a new
scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with helpful information to work on. You’ve performed an impressive process and our whole group shall be thankful to you.
I have 105 hens and I only get about 35-40 eggs per day…
Majority of them have lost their feathers due to pecking each other.
What can I possibly be doing wrong or not being doing that is not making them lay..
That’s a lot of hens!
Is it possible they don’t have enough space.
This entry was posted in Chickens and tagged best egg laying chicken, chickens, Egg Laying Chickens .
Do you need to have a rooster around for laying chickens to produce eggs?
I have a hen similar to the golden comet but with feather on her legs laying 2 eggs à day for the last month…….can you tell me why? Thanks
My hybrid girls are all very friendly and have laid at least one, sometimes two eggs per day. That said, personality really varies between my three ladies. One roams the neighborhood, follows me around the yard and likes to be held, while the other two are a bit more cautious. All three seem to have no fear of our cat or dog and will chase the cat in the yard. Really fun animals to have around 🙂
I would love to have some chicks and breeding chicken
Want to buy babby hen? which is more egg lying. where should I get it if anybody have knowledge please shere me
I love my buff orpington hens I have 6 and they are very friendly and dont mind my cats. I get 3 eggs a day one just started laying yesterday so I should get 4 a day.
I get 3 eggs a day my hens just started I have buff yesterday I got 4 eggs so I should get 4 eggs a day I have 6 hens. They are brown eggs small for now
I’m pretty new to chicken keeping, love this blog, so much information.
I got 4 Whiting True Blue
Girls from Murray a little over a year ago. These girls lay a big blue egg nearly every day. They’re quiet, but not particularly outgoing. Lovely ladies! Never seen them mentioned in your articles, sure hope you can find the time to check them out. I don’t ever plan to not have them in my flock. My DIL is planning to add some to her flock this spring.
Hi I am completely not sure if I should get a Rhode Island red or a Plymouth rock which do you prefer
There are some interesting deadlines on this article but I don’t know if I see all of them heart to heart. There is some validity however I’ll take hold opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we want more! Added to FeedBurner as properly
I have 4 golden buffs from Meyer hatchery (their version of the red sexlink). They are such amazing birds! Usually we’ll get an egg a day from each of them! They’re sweet and funny, and I would definitely recommend them to any first time chicken owner!
I need wyndotte fresh and fertile hatching eggs if any body have please contact me
I was reading in your article that the chicken and holding the record for the most eggs in one year was the black at 352 but two sections down when you’re talking about white leghorns you state that breed held the record at 371 eggs per year. Which one is correct?
We have Barnevelders, Blue Australorps, Easter Eggers and Novagens. The best layers we have are Novagens which started laying the earliest of all the breeds and lay almost every day, large to jumbo brown eggs. Their egg color stays a nice milk chocolate brown, with no speckles. None of the other chicken breeds eggs are as large. I can only assume that since they are such heavy layers this early, that they will taper off sooner than the other breeds, too. The Barnevelders are the next best of our producers, but their eggs aren’t as large as our Novagens.
Chickens need around 20 grams of protein every day for them to keep laying eggs. If their diet isn’t providing them with this protein, they won’t lay many eggs.https://www.arshinefeed.com/
it’s sounds cool
What about Golden Comets? They lay eggs most days, are not broody and are very friendly.
Chickens need around 20 grams of protein every day for them to keep laying eggs. If their diet isn’t providing them with this protein, they won’t lay many eggs.
it’s sounds cool