Top 5 Best Chickens to Raise for Eggs
Chickens come in a number of different breeds. They have been selectively bred over time to generate particular qualities such as good egg laying. Some chicken breeds however are more appropriate for particular jobs than others for example egg laying versus meat quality.
If your looking for good egg laying chicken breeds then there’s a lot of breeds to choose from. The wide variety of good egg laying chicken breeds is especially helpful for those just beginning backyard egg raising. With this in mind, here’s a closer look at some of the best egg laying chicken breeds for raising lots of eggs.
So what are the good egg laying chicken breeds?
The Best Chickens to Raise for Eggs are the Australorp, Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, Leghorn & White Faced Black Spanish Chickens.
Australorp
The Aussie native Australorp is an excellent choice as one of the best chickens to raise for eggs. They are friendly, gentle chickens that will be great with kids and those not used to handling birds.
It’s not surprising that Australorp’s are popular among those looking for egg laying chickens, as they have a great reputation as a top egg-layer. One record-breaking hen reportedly laid an astounding 364 eggs in a single year. Most Australorp hens will provide around 250 annually, most of which are likely to be brown eggs. They are also very pretty birds, boasting green, black and even iridescent feathers.
Rhode Island Red Chickens
The Rhode Island Red was originally developed in the United States but has also been well embraced worldwide. It is a docile breed that produces large brown eggs. These lovely birds make excellent layers, offering, on average, 200-250 eggs on an annual basis.
The breed comes in either an industrial and heritage variation. The industrial birds are better at producing high egg production while the heritage form produces both high quality eggs and meat.
Plymouth Rock Chicken
In the past when chicken breeding was very commonplace Plymouth Rock Chickens were found in almost every working class American backyard. The Plymouth Rock Chicken, as the name suggests, is named after Plymouth Rock, the traditional site of disembarkation of the Mayflower Pilgrims when the United States was colonized.
This type of bird is gentle and easy to handle and requires minimal care. Plymouth Rock hens can lay roughly four eggs per week – about 200 eggs a year. Apart from being good egg layers, Plymouth Rock hens are also well regarded for their meat quality.
Leghorn Chickens
The Leghorn is also a great chicken to raise for eggs. Leghorns are well-known for their ability to efficiently convert feed into eggs. The efficiency of egg production makes the Leghorn the standout chicken of the commercial egg industry, able to produce 275-300 eggs per year. The breed was named after a town in Italy from where it originated.
Leghorns come in either a “commercial” form or a “heritage” form. The heritage form is usually the better suited variety for backyard egg production. Leghorns, however, are not the simplest birds for beginners to handle, and so can be more difficult to manage for both adults or children if they’re new to backyard egg raising.
White Faced Black Spanish Chickens
Looking for a pretty, and unusual, chicken who is also one of the best chickens to raise for eggs? Then a White Faced Black Spanish might be a great choice. This chicken variety was one of the first chickens to be imported to the United States, and dates back to around the 1850’s. Its reputation as a reliable egg layer aside, this bird is stunningly attractive due to the contrast between its black body and white face.
Once you have your coop set up in your garden you can enjoy your chickens. Have fun choosing one of the Best Chickens to Raise for Eggs for your family.
