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With the soaring price of eggs, more and more people have become interested in getting their own backyard chickens. Personally, I love to see my friends and family considering raising chickens for eggs — my flock is a bright spot in my life, and it doesn’t hurt that they provide a source of supplementary income via our roadside farm stand. Raising chickens can be incredibly rewarding, but there are a few things you’ll want to know before you jump in feet first.
Let’s get two things out of the way early: Raising chickens for eggs isn’t fast, nor is it cheap. You’re going to have to invest quite a bit of money up front to get your flock started, and assuming you’re buying baby chicks, it usually takes around six months before they’re consistently laying. If you’re OK with these two caveats, here’s how I recommend getting started.
The 4 Best Chicken Breeds for Eggs
If your main goal in raising chickens is to have a lot of eggs, you’re going to want high-production chicken breeds. The chicken breeds that lay the most eggs include ISA Browns, Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, and Australorps.
1. ISA Browns
The Good Stuff
- Typically lay 4-5 large brown eggs per week
- Start laying as early as 16 weeks
- Lay eggs year-round
- Very friendly, calm, and sociable
- Seldom go broody
The Bad Stuff
- Shorter lifespan than other breeds
- Tend to look ‘ratty’ as they get older
- Don’t breed true
- Stop laying sooner than other breeds
These adorable red chickens were the first breed I ever purchased, and to this day, we always keep several in our flock. Why? Simply put, they are egg-laying machines and keep our egg business running.
ISA Browns start laying eggs earlier than other breeds — often as early as 16 weeks — and in their prime, each bird will lay 5 or 6 brown eggs each week. That’s basically an egg a day! So if you have 6 adult ISA Brown chickens, you’ll generally get 5 or 6 eggs daily. They lay year-round, producing eggs even in the winter, and their eggs are substantially larger than other breeds.
ISA Browns are also a sex-link breed, which means males and females are different colors at birth. As such, there’s virtually no risk of getting an unwanted rooster. Additionally, these birds are incredibly friendly and sociable, making them quite endearing to have around the yard.
That said, there are a few downsides to ISA Browns. Because they’re bred specifically for high egg production, they tend to “fizzle out” faster than other chickens. They generally only live three to four years, stop laying eggs after around two years, and often look “ratty” as they age. They’re also a hybrid breed, which means they don’t “breed true” — in other words, eggs from your ISA Browns won’t produce new birds with the same high egg production.
One last note about this breed: Personally, I call them ISA Browns, the name coined by the Institut de Sélection Animale (ISA) in France, which first created the breed. However, other hatcheries have their own similar hybrid breeds that go by different names.
Where to buy ISA Brown chickens:
2. Leghorns
The Good Stuff
- Typically lay 4-5 large white eggs per week
- Start laying as early as 18 weeks
- Lay eggs year-round
- Smaller birds require less feed
- Seldom go broody
The Bad Stuff
- Unfriendly/flighty personalities
- Large combs are prone to frostbite
- Very good at flying
Leghorns are the other best chicken breed for egg production. These white chickens are easily recognizable — they’re small, white birds with oversized red combs. Many people like Leghorns because they don’t eat as much as other birds, yet they still lay 5 or more large white eggs per week. So if you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, Leghorns are a solid pick.
Personally, I have a love-hate relationship with this breed. I do love that they produce so many eggs, but in my experience, they’re not friendly birds. They tend to be very flighty and don’t want to be picked up, and they’re also quite good at flying, due to their smaller stature. We have a 5-foot fence to protect our flock, and our Leghorns have no problem flying right over it. As such, we’ve lost several to predators. Still, if you want a lot of large, white eggs, Leghorns are the way to go.
Where to buy Leghorn chickens:
3. Rhode Island Reds
The Good Stuff
- Typically lay 4+ large brown eggs per week
- Dual-purpose bird (can also be used for meat)
- Longer lifespan
- Lay eggs year-round
- Very hardy in different environments
The Bad Stuff
- Takes slightly longer to start laying
- Not as friendly as ISA Browns
As a lifelong Rhode Islander, I have a soft spot in my heart for these next birds. Rhode Island Reds are similar to ISA Browns in appearance and egg-laying ability, but they’re technically a dual-purpose breed that can also be used for meat. Most RI Reds will produce 250-300 eggs per year — slightly lower than ISA Browns, but still more than other breeds — and their eggs are large and brown.
There are a few benefits of choosing RI Red chickens over a breed like ISA Browns. They have longer lifespans, often living 5+ years, and they’re very hardy. They’ll easily adapt to cold or hot conditions, and they do just as while free-ranging and in confinement. They also breed true, so you can hatch more RI Reds from your own eggs (assuming you have a RI Red rooster, of course).
Personally, I’ve found that Rhode Island Red chickens are especially friendly — mine have always been a bit standoffish. However, other people have raised very friendly and outgoing Reds, so maybe it’s just a matter of interacting with them often.
Where to buy Rhode Island Red chickens:
4. Australorps
The Good Stuff
- Typically lay 4+ brown eggs per week
- Lay eggs year-round
- Calm, quiet temperament
- Dual-purpose bird (can also be used for meat)
The Bad Stuff
- Slower to mature
- More likely to become broody
- Less tolerant to extreme heat
Of all the chickens on this list, Australorps are the only one that I’ve never personally owned, but after reading about them, I’m definitely tempted! These pretty black birds are consistently praised for their calm, quiet demeanor, and many people say they’re a great breed for first-time chicken owners, children, or those who live in suburban areas.
In addition to their great personalities, Australorps are impressive egg producers. They’ll lay more than 200 light brown eggs per year, and they don’t slow down production in the winter. Because they’re on the bigger side, you can also use them as a meat chicken, if desired.
Australorps do have a few downsides worth noting. They’re less tolerant than other breeds to heat, so you’ll want to provide them with ample shade and fresh water in the summer. They’re also more likely to become broody (during which they’ll stop laying eggs), and they tend to mature at around 20 weeks — longer than other high-production breeds.
Where to buy Black Australorp chickens:
FAQs
Where can you buy these chicken breeds?
Because egg-laying chickens are so popular, all four of these breeds are generally easy to find in the spring. You can call your local Tractor Supply (or other farm supply store) to see if they’re planning to sell any, and many locations will special-order breeds for you, if needed.
Personally, I’ve also had great results ordering day-old chicks directly from hatcheries. My favorite is Meyer Hatchery, which is located in Ohio, but there are several other reputable companies that will ship chicks to you.
How much does it cost to raise chickens?
Raising chickens can be quite a costly endeavor, especially in the first six months. You’re going to need to invest in a chicken coop, which can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $1,000+. You’ll also need to purchase the chicks themselves, which are typically $5-$10 a piece, depending on location and breed. If you want to skip the chick phase and purchase older birds, that cost will increase to $20+ per head.
Then there’s the waiting period until your chickens start laying. Most high-production breeds will lay their first eggs between 18 and 20 weeks of age, which means you’ll need to feed them for around 5 months before you get any return on investment.
Here’s a quick breakdown of feed costs: In general, each bird needs 1/4 pound of feed per day, so with a flock of six, you’ll be going through 1.5 pounds of food daily. A 50-pound bag of feed is around $20 where I live, and it will last you around a month with 6 birds. That means you’ll spend at least $100 in feed before your birds start laying, and of course, a larger flock will incur more expenses.
How many eggs will six chickens lay in a week?
With any of the high-production chicken breeds above, you can expect to get at least four eggs per week from each bird. That means with six chickens, you’ll be getting at least 24 eggs per week — but likely more!
Just keep in mind that egg production can fluctuate due to many factors. Chickens may slow down or stop laying due to stress, the weather, time of year, and other environmental conditions. They also lay fewer eggs as they get older — their peak laying years are typically between ages 1 to 3.
Do you need a rooster when raising chickens for eggs?
Nope! This is a common misconception about raising chickens. Your hens will lay eggs regardless of whether you have a rooster in your flock, and for first-time chicken owners, I typically recommend just getting hens. Roosters are loud and sometimes aggressive — both with hens and people — so it’s often easier to do without.
That said, there are some benefits to adding a rooster to your flock. They’ll protect your hens while free-ranging, and with a rooster, you’ll get fertilized eggs that can be hatched into more chickens. (And who doesn‘t want more chickens?!)
Is it worth raising your own chickens for eggs?
Raising chickens is a fun and rewarding experience, and receiving fresh eggs every day is the cherry on top of the cake. If your family goes through a lot of eggs, raising chickens may save you money in the long run, but keep in mind that it does cost quite a bit upfront to start a new flock.
However, I’m willing to bet that once you get chickens, you and your family will quickly fall in love with your birds — and that’s priceless!