There are a number of different chicken breeds to select from when you are building your flock and after many generations of breeding they have been known for different traits. Some birds are better egg layers and others are better for meat. If you are selecting birds for egg laying then you have a variety of other choices to make so you have the best results.
Many chickens are known to be docile and friendly within their breed and with other types of birds however there are some that are easily agitated and others that make quite a bit of noise. Roosters are known for making the most noise but a large flock of hens can give a rooster a run for their money. For most homesteaders or backyard chicken farmers it is best to stick to chickens that are easy going and relatively quiet.
Other things to look for is the age at which the hen starts laying eggs. Some breeds might start laying eggs at week 15 to 18 while others take until week 22 or longer. So while you can expect about half a year before any chickens will start laying eggs selecting a breed that matures later means you could be waiting another 2 months or more for egg production to begin depending on the breed you select. Why is this important? Because the longer that you have to wait for production to begin and then the weeks until production equalizes or stabilizes means cost and time. It also means that you will have a shorter time overall when you consider birds will eventually get too old to lay eggs dependably. This and the fact that winter seasons and time for molting will take many weeks off production and lower yields in colder months.
Size of the eggs is probably most important but some people also like white, brown or easter egg colored eggs. In reality they all taste the same so size really is the most important factor. A larger chicken will lay a larger egg but larger chickens need more room so you will need larger pens and a bigger area for them to roam. You will also have to provide more feed for a larger chicken and this can be a factor when you calculate your expenses.
The number of eggs that your chicken will lay per year is as important as the sizes of the eggs. The original breed of bird from Southeast Asia that was breed into the modern chicken normally laid 1 egg a month but most modern breeds will lay about an egg a day ranging from about 250 to 300 depending on the breed. Now you can see that 300 eggs is still 65 less than a full year and that is due to many normal factors. If the chickens have diet problems such as lower protein levels or if they are stressed or in the cold of winter then they will lay fewer eggs than you might expect from them. All in all don’t expect an egg every day but for the most part you can expect one most days depending on the breed of the chicken.
Which Chicken Breeds Are The Best Egg Layers?
White Leghorn chickens are a smaller bird that lays large white eggs. They are a very common choice for layers and they will do well in moderate cold weather. This chicken is the choice of commercial egg hatcheries. They will lay high quality eggs dependably in hot or cold conditions. They are not the friendliest and are flighty but not a rude bird. They are good free range birds.
Gold Orpington is a yellowish bird and they are good layers. You can expect between 250 and 300 brown eggs per year. They are also good broody birds that will sit on their eggs. Being a larger bird they are also not bad for meat but they do take a bit more feed.
The Rhode Island Red is a favorite of many people. They are a relatively docile bird that will dependably lay about 260 eggs per year.They are also pretty disease resistant so they don’t normally get sick. They lay a medium to large sized brown egg and they are also good breeder birds if you want them to raise their fertilized eggs. They can be a bit bossy with other birds so you have to keep an eye on them.
The Americana Chicken is an Easter Egg Chicken that has a lower production rate of 200-250 eggs per year.
The Golden Comet Chicken is one of the best chickens for cold weather and they are good for free range conditions. They will lay 250 – 300 eggs. They are friendly with other breeds and other animals.
The Plymouth Rock Chicken will lay a lot of eggs closer to 300 eggs. They are a very friendly bird and the roosters are also very friendly.
The Red Star Chicken is a very friendly bird that lays 300 eggs a year. A good breed for a small backyard and for homes with children.
The Black Australorp Not as hearty in winter months but good layers of 250 or more eggs per year. This is one of a few breeds that was developed in Australia. They lay large brown eggs and like to hang out on their nesting boxes so they are good birds for raising chicks.