When it comes to raising chickens for eggs, not all breeds are created equal. While some chickens may lay a high number of eggs, others may produce fewer but larger eggs, or eggs with unique colors.
In this article, I will introduce you to 15 of the best egg-laying chicken breeds available. I’ve also included the price of the baby chicks, as well as which hatchery sells them!
So whether you’re a seasoned chicken keeper or just getting started with your first flock, read on to discover some of the top egg-laying chicken breeds around, and potentially order yours today!
| Breed | Eggs/Year | Eggs/Week | Egg Color | Price | Hatchery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Comet | 280-320 | 5-6 | Brown | $4.00 | Cackle |
| Leghorn | 280-320 | 5-6 | White | $4.00 | Cackle |
| Isa Brown | 280-350 | 5-7 | Brown | $4.50 | Hoovers |
| Rhode Island Red | 250-300 | 4-6 | Brown | $4.00 | Cackle |
| Sussex | 250-300 | 4-6 | Brown | $4.20 | Cackle |
| Plymouth Rock | 200-280 | 4-5 | Brown | $4.00 | Cackle |
| Ameraucana | 200-280 | 4-5 | Blue/Green | $4.50 | Mcmurray |
| Ancona | 200-280 | 4-5 | White | $5.00 | California |
| Australorp | 250-300 | 5-6 | Brown | $4.00 | Cackle |
| Sapphire Gem | 250-280 | 5-6 | Brown | $5.75 | Hoovers |
| Hamburg | 200-250 | 4-5 | White/Tinted | $5.00 | Mcmurray |
| Barnevelder | 180-200 | 3-4 | Brown | $5.75 | Hoovers |
| Marans | 150-200 | 3-4 | Dark Brown | $5.70 | Hoovers |
| Buff Orpington | 150-200 | 3-4 | Brown | $4.00 | Cackle |
| Delaware | 200-280 | 4-5 | Brown | $4.20 | Cackle |
1. Golden Comet
The golden comet can lay anywhere from 280-320 golden brown eggs per year or 5-6 eggs per week! Golden Comet is a type of sex-linked hybrid chicken breed that is known for its excellent egg-laying abilities. They are a popular choice for backyard chicken keepers due to their friendly and docile nature, as well as their consistent egg production. Golden Comets were bred for laying, and it shows!
Golden Comets are a special breed to me since I grew up raising hundreds of them in 4H. If you’re interested in breeding some of your own, you’ll need a White Rock Hen and a New Hampshire Red Rooster. Check out my article on Golden Comets, if you’d like to learn more!
If you’re interested in purchasing some Golden Comets, I highly suggest checking out the Cackle Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $4.00 per baby chick.
2. Leghorn
Leghorns are active and energetic birds that do well in free-range environments, and they are known for their ability to lay large white eggs, with an average of 280 to 320 eggs per year, which is around 5 to 6 eggs per week. Leghorns are usually white in color, although some other color varieties exist, including brown and black. There’s a reason why most egg production facilities choose the White Leghorns!
My Grandpa swore these were the best laying hens around and for good reason. To see a complete guide, check out my White Leghorn Article!
If you’re interested in purchasing some Leghorns, I highly suggest checking out the Cackle Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $4.00 per baby chick.
3. Isa Brown
Isa Brown hens lay anywhere from 280-350 eggs per year, which is 5-7 eggs per week! The Isa Brown chicken is another hybrid sex-linked breed of chicken that lays an extraordinary amount of large brown eggs per year.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Isa Browns, I highly suggest checking out Hoovers Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $4.50 per baby chick.
4. Rhode Island Red
Rhode Island Red hens are excellent layers, known for producing large brown eggs with an average of 250 to 300 eggs per year, which is around 4 to 6 eggs per week. Rhode Island Red chickens are known for their deep, rich, mahogany-colored feathers, which can appear almost black in certain lighting conditions.
This breed is very popular amongst the 4H, as I raised a few hundred of them myself this way. I learned quite a bit in the process, so if you’d like to check out my Rhode Island Red Article, go for it!
If you’re interested in purchasing some Rhode Island Reds, I highly suggest checking out Cackle Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $4.00 per baby chick.
5. Sussex
Sussex hens are known for their consistent egg-laying abilities, producing large brown eggs with an average of 250 to 300 eggs per year, which is around 4 to 6 eggs per week. Sussex chickens have distinctive white, speckled, or red-colored plumage, and a medium-sized, rose-shaped comb. Sussex chickens are easy to care for, and their friendly and docile nature makes them a popular choice for backyard chicken keepers.
A fun fact about Sussex chickens is that they are believed to be the first bred chickens in Britain around AD 43, making them one of the oldest known breeds!
The Sussex breed made the top ten list for best breeds for cold environments, to see what other breeds made it, check out my Top Ten Chicken Breeds for Cold Climates article.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Sussex Chickens, I highly suggest checking out Cackle Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $4.20 per baby chick.
6. Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock hens are excellent layers, known for producing large brown eggs with an average of 200 to 280 eggs per year, which is around 4 to 5 eggs per week. Plymouth Rocks, also known as Barred Rocks, have a distinctive barred pattern on their feathers, with black and white stripes running vertically down their body.
Plymouth Rocks were first crossbred in the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts in the 19th century (Which is how they got their name!). As far as Plymouth Rocks go, they can survive even the harshest of weathers, to learn how, check out my article on “Are Plymouth Rocks Cold Hardy?“.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Plymouth Rocks, I highly suggest checking out Cackle Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $4.00 per baby chick.
7. Ameraucana
Ameraucana hens are known for their excellent egg-laying abilities, producing large blue or green eggs with an average of 200 to 280 eggs per year, which is around 4 to 5 eggs per week. Due to the color of their eggs, some people refer to Ameraucanas as Easter Eggers!
Ameraucana chickens have a distinctive appearance, with a beard and muffs that cover their ears, a pea comb, and a full tail. They come in a variety of colors, including black, blue, wheaten, and brown/red.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Ameraucanas, I highly suggest checking out Mcmurray Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $4.50 per baby chick.
8. Ancona
Ancona hens are good layers, with the ability to lay around 200-280 white eggs per year, which is around 4-5 eggs per week. Ancona chickens are a breed of chicken that originated in Italy and are known for their striking black and white feather pattern. They are a medium-sized breed that is primarily raised for egg production.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Anconas, I highly suggest checking out the California Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $5.00 per baby chick.
9. Australorp
In terms of egg production, Australorps are known for being excellent layers, with the ability to lay around 250-300 brown eggs per year, which is about 5-6 eggs per week. Australorps are a breed of chicken that originated in Australia and are known for their black feathers with a greenish-purple sheen. They are also known for being docile and friendly, making them a popular choice for backyard chicken keepers. If you’re interested in seeing a complete guide to Australorps, check out my Australorp Guide!
Australorps actually hold the world record for the most eggs in a single year! In 1922, an Australorp hen named “Molly” laid 364 eggs in 365 days, which is a remarkable achievement for any breed of chicken.
The Australorps actually made the top 5 breeds for hot weather, check that article out here: The Top 5 Chicken Breeds for Hot Weather.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Australorps, I highly suggest checking out Cackle Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $4.00 per baby chick.
10. Sapphire Gem
The Sapphire Gem typically lays around 250-280 large brown eggs per year, which is about 5-6 eggs per week. The Sapphire gem chicken (the one on the right), also known as the Blue Plymouth Rock, or Sapphire Blue Plymouth Rock is beautiful chicken with lavender and blue feathers. They are a relatively new variety of Plymouth Rock, which is one of the oldest chicken breeds in America.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Sapphire Gems, I highly suggest checking out Hoovers Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $5.75 per baby chick.
11. Hamburg
Hamburgs are known for being good layers, with the ability to lay around 200-250 white or tinted eggs per year, which is 4-5 per week. Hamburg chickens are a breed of chicken that originated in Germany and are known for their distinctive spangled or dotted feathers in shades of black, silver, or gold. These birds at one point were kept as ornamental birds in gardens and estates!
If you’re interested in purchasing some Hamburgs, I highly suggest checking out Mcmurray Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $5.00 per baby chick.
12. Barnevelder
Barnevelder hens are good layers, with the ability to lay around 180-200 large brown eggs per year, which is 3-4 eggs per week. Barnevelder chickens are a breed of chicken that originated in the Netherlands and are known for their striking black-and-white or brown-and-white feather pattern.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Barnevelders, I highly suggest checking out Hoovers Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $5.75 per baby chick.
13. Marans
Marans hens are good layers, with the ability to lay around 150-200 eggs per year, which is about 3-4 eggs per week. Marans are known for laying eggs with rich, dark brown shells that are highly prized by many backyard chicken keepers and egg enthusiasts.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Marans, I highly suggest checking out Hoovers Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $5.70 per baby chick.
14. Buff Orpington
Orpington hens are good layers, with the ability to lay around 150-200 large brown eggs per year or 3-4 eggs per week. Orpingtons come in a variety of colors, including black, blue, buff, and white. Orpingtons are also known for their docile and friendly nature. I could always come closer to picking up Orpingtons over any other breed.
If you’re looking for a breed of chicken to raise their young, look no further, Orpingtons are known as one of the most broody breeds around. If you’d like to learn more about Orpingtons, check out my Orpington Article.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Buff Orpingtons, I highly suggest checking out Cackle Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $4.00 per baby chick.
15. Delaware
Delaware hens are good layers, with the ability to lay around 200-280 brown eggs per year, which is around 4-5 eggs per week. Delaware chickens are a breed of chicken that was developed in the United States in the 1940s. Delaware chickens have distinctive white feathers with black barring on their necks and tails and look very similar to the Sussex Chicken breed.
If you’re interested in purchasing some Delawares, I highly suggest checking out Cackle Hatchery! At the writing of this article, they are $4.20 per baby chick.
Can You Buy Chickens Locally?
Generally, yes you can buy chickens locally. I personally went to my local Tractor Supply and they had 4 breeds available at the time. Unfortunately, they didn’t have a single breed that was on this list.
I then asked the representative over the farm area if they could order some chickens for me, and they informed me to go to their website to order them. Once there, I realized they were actually sending me to hoovers hatchery! I then asked when they would have some Rhode Island Reds and they said they are never sure what breeds they are going to have delivered the following week.
Also, in my hometown, I was required to purchase at least 6 baby chicks. Some of the online hatcheries, such as Cackle and California hatcheries only require you to purchase 3.
While there, I noticed every breed they had in stock was $4.50. So you’re not going to get a better price at the local stores, unfortunately.
While you can go to your local store and attempt to get the breed you want, you may have to wait quite a while for them to arrive, if they ever do. I suggest just purchasing from an online hatchery so you can get what you want when you want.
I’ve mentioned the four hatcheries Cackle, California, Hoovers, and Mcmurray. Make sure to check them all if one of them is out of stock of the breed you’re wanting.
This article was originally published on farmapt.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.