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The Best High-Production Egg-Laying Chickens
Quick Answer: Which Chicken Breeds Lay the Most Eggs?
White Leghorns, Red Sex Links, Asher Grey, Black Sex Links, and Amberlinks are among the best chickens for egg production.
White Leghorns lay more eggs than any other chicken, laying an egg almost every day of the year. Red Sex Links, Asher Grey, Black Sex Links, and Amberlinks are excellent layers as well, but tend to lay slightly fewer eggs than White Leghorns.
The best choice depends on whether you prefer white or brown eggs, as well as the temperament and personality you want in your flock.
High-Production Egg Layer Comparison
| Bird | Laying Maturity | Eggs per Year | Egg Size | Egg Color | Plumage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Leghorn | 18-20 weeks | 280-335 | Large to extra large | White | Solid white |
| Red Sex Link | 16-20 weeks | 285-300 | Large to extra large | Brown | Reddish gold or brown with white highlights |
| Asher Grey | 22-24 weeks | 280-300 | Large | Light brown | Slate grey with darker head and neck feathers |
| Black Sex Link | Around 22 weeks | 280-300 | Large | Light to medium brown | Black with reddish-gold neck feathers |
| Amberlink | About 18-22 weeks | 285-300 | Large to extra large | Brown | Creamy white with amber or reddish-brown highlights |
| Black Australorp | About 20-24 weeks | 250-300 | Large | Light brown | Glossy black with a blue-green sheen |
Egg production and laying maturity are estimates under optimal care and climate conditions. Actual results vary based on genetics, nutrition, daylight, health, and flock management.
Our List of the the Best Egg Layers
These breeds have been bred for high egg production and are less likely to slow down during the fall and winter months.
White Leghorn
- Eggs per year: 280-335
- Egg Characteristics: Large to extra-large, pure white eggs
Bird Characteristics: The White Leghorn is an all-white purebred chicken with roots in Italy. It has a lightweight, slender body and a characteristically large comb. This breed has one of the best feed-to-egg conversion ratios among laying breeds. In other words, it produces a high number of eggs relative to the amount of feed it consumes, making it an efficient and economical choice for egg production.
White Leghorns have a tendency to be high-strung due to their active, wilder ancestry. This means that the birds tend to be predator-aware, but can also be less likely to be friendly and social.
Despite this, we have had customers claim that their White Leghorns are among the friendliest birds of their mixed flock!
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Red Sex Link
- Eggs per year: 285-300
- Egg Characteristics: Large to extra-large, medium brown eggs
Bird Characteristics: Red Sex Links are hybrid chickens bred so males and females can be easily distinguished at hatch. The original cross is between a Rhode Island Red rooster and a White Leghorn hen to create chicks that can be color sexed right after hatching. Nowadays, there are many strains of Red Sex Links — ISA Brown, Novogen Brown, and other genetic lines that have improved the cross to create a lightweight, excellent layer of Grade A eggs. Red Sex Links tend to be personable birds that fit right in with a mixed flock. These birds are typically reddish brown with white-tipped hackle and tail feathers.
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Asher Grey
- Eggs per year: 280-300
- Egg Characteristics: Large, light brown eggs
Bird Characteristics: Asher Greys are a new breed of high-production layer with prolific egg-laying abilities and a striking appearance. Their plumage fades from a dark stormy grey to a lighter slate grey down the ends of their bodies. Some chickens may have flecks of gold throughout their hackle feathers. Their dark features and dependable egg-laying abilities make them stand out against other grey colored chickens. Asher Greys are a dual-purpose breed with friendly, outgoing personalities. They tend to get along very well with their flockmates.
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Black Sex Link
- Eggs per year: 280-300
- Egg Characteristics: Large medium brown
Bird Characteristics: Black Sex Links are a cross between two very popular heritage breeds — Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds. Like Red Sex Links, they can be easily color sexed after hatch. They tend to have larger bodies and boisterous, friendly personalities, similar to the Barred Rock. They have shiny black bodies and reddish gold hackle feathers.
Amberlink
- Eggs per year: 285-300
- Egg Characteristics: Large, medium-dark brown eggs
Bird Characteristics: Amberlinks are a cross between a Rhode Island Red hen and a White Plymouth Rock or ISA Brown rooster. They are very similar to the Red Sex Link. They are another chicken that can be color sexed at hatch. They are mainly white with amber streaks running through their feathers. Amberlinks are typically calm, friendly, and easy to handle.
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Black Australorp
- Eggs per year: 250-300
- Egg Characteristics: Large, light-brown eggs
Bird Characteristics: Black Australorps are an Australian heritage breed developed from Black Orpingtons and were carefully bred to create a better egg laying hen. They are on the heavier side, and are considered dual-purpose. Australorps are friendly, easy to manage, and well suited to beginners. They are also cold-hardy, heat tolerant, and adaptable to backyard and free-range environments.
Other High-Producing Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds
While the breeds above are our top choices for high egg production, they are not the only good options. The following breeds also lay well and may be a better fit if you are looking for additional traits, such as colorful eggs or a different appearance.
Myers Poultry Easter Eggers
- Eggs per year: 300-310
- Egg Characteristics: Large; blue, sometimes green, and very rarely brown or cream eggs
Bird Characteristics: Easter Eggers are known for their colorful eggs, but not the most consistent egg laying abilities. In order to boost egg production, a blue egg layer has been bred with a white leghorn-type of chicken. These birds appear similar to White Leghorns and may have a tuft of feathers behind their comb. They may be flightier than other breeds.
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Myers Poultry Sage Olive Eggers
- Eggs per year: 290-300
- Egg Characteristics: Large to extra-large; green, olive, rarely light or dark brown
Bird Characteristics: Sage Olive Eggers tend to display a mix of feather colors and patterns, but many have gray and tan feathering with large single combs or pea combs. The majority of the hatchlings will grow to be black with reddish brown and gold flecking, and some will present as a mostly red bird.
Chocolate Eggers
- Eggs per year: 250-300
- Egg Characteristics: Large, chocolate-colored eggs
Bird Characteristics: Chocolate Eggers are a cross between a Black Copper Marans rooster and a Rhode Island Red hen. The resulting cross between two heritage breeds creates a sturdy, adaptable bird that is friendly and outgoing. Most Chocolate Eggers are black with hackle feathers flecked with reddish brown and gold. Some may have feathered feet.
How Long Do High-Production Chickens Lay Eggs?
High-production chickens lay the most eggs during their first one to two years of laying. By two to three years of age, you can expect fewer eggs as production gradually declines. This does not mean your hens stop laying altogether. Healthy chickens can continue producing eggs for several more years, just at a lower rate.
The annual egg estimates in this guide reflect young hens raised with optimal care, not the number they will lay every year throughout their lives. Breed, nutrition, daylight, health, and seasonal molt all influence how long a hen remains productive.
Plan Ahead
If a steady supply of eggs is important to your farm or homestead, staggering the ages of your hens is a good idea. Raising a new group of chicks each year or every other year gives younger hens time to begin laying while your older birds slow down.
Ready to keep your fridge stocked with fresh eggs? Browse our egg layer chicks and find the right birds for your flock.
