What chickens are going to lay eggs for you all year long? If you have limited space to keep chickens, then you need to make sure that you choose the best egg laying chickens for your home. I have more than 30 chickens and think that eggs are one of nature’s most perfect foods. They provide fat, protein and carbs to keep you full all day long. Because it’s important to have a food supply on hand in an emergency situation, it’s a good idea to keep chickens at your home who will supply you with the eggs that you need all year long.
#1 Rhode Island Red (The Best Brown Egg Layer Chickens)
These are some of the most popular because they not only produce a lot of eggs in the year, but they are also very tough and durable. This means that you don’t have to worry so much about coddling your Rhode Island Red chicken. They generally can lay around 250 eggs a year, which makes them great laying chickens.
Their hens lay eggs that are medium in size and brown, which makes them very attractive to some people, including myself. Surprisingly, their appearance is a little contrary to their name, as these chickens have black and brown feathers that give them a much darker and less red appearance. These hens lay eggs from around 18-20 weeks old, although there are some chickens who will begin to lay eggs when they are younger. Generally, you will get around 5-6 eggs each week from a Rhode Island Red, and they will gradually increase in size as the hen gets older.
Because they are known for being able to take care of themselves, they are a great chicken for a backyard flock that you don’t want to have to spend a lot of time worrying about. Additionally, they tend to be very friendly, which makes them a great choice for a family with children, as they are very unlikely to cause a lot of problems.
Check out this Rhode Island Red here.
#2 Buff Orpington (The Best Large Egg Laying Chickens)
If you want really large eggs from your chickens, then you need to consider having Buff Orpington chickens in your flock. These hens lay eggs that are larger than eggs from most other breeds, making them the best laying hens if you like your eggs bigger than normal. While these birds do come in a bantam size as well, if you want the largest eggs possible, then you need to opt for a standard chicken.
They are incredibly calm and docile, which makes them easy to work with and decreases any fear you have over issues with your chickens. They have a lot of thick feathers that help to protect them in the cold, but if their feathers get wet, they can become chilled and may die.
Buff Orpingtons tend to lay around 180 eggs each year and are great at going broody, which is ideal if you want to be able to hatch your own eggs. In fact, I have found that these chickens will willingly accept another chicken’s eggs, which makes them perfect for taking care of an abandoned nest.
One thing that I have found with these chickens is that they tend to be lazy and love to eat, which means that you need to be careful to ensure that they get enough exercise and don’t overeat. You don’t want your chickens to be unhealthy.
See how snuggly these chickens are here.
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Photo by lifewithchickens_
#3 Australorp (The Best Egg Laying Chickens for Cold Climate)
If you want chickens laying all year long, then you need to opt for egg hens who aren’t going to be negatively affected by a cold climate, and the best choice is the Australorp. These hens lay eggs no matter how cold it is, and you don’t have to worry about how you are going to keep them warm, as they have ample feathers to protect them from the chilly air.
You can expect around 250 eggs a year from your Australorp, which means that these hens are going to be some of the most productive that you can find. They produce medium eggs that are light brown. While you can expect around 5 eggs each week in your backyard, these chickens have been known to greatly increase their egg production when they are kept in an industrial location, due to the increase in feed and the lighting used to promote more eggs.
Generally speaking, they are fairly good mothers, but I have found that they will not go broody nearly as often as Buff Orpingtons, so if you want to raise chicks, then you need to take that into consideration. Not only are these great laying chickens, but I have also found that they are very easy going, don’t need a lot of extra work or special treatment, and will live for around 6-10 years without any major problems.
Check out an Australorp here.
#4 Golden Comet (The Best Egg Laying Chickens for Beginners)
While Gold Comets were originally bred for commercial egg production, if you are able to get your hands on some of these hybrid hens, you will find that they are great layers and will be a welcome addition to your backyard flock. They not only can lay a lot of eggs each year without consuming a lot of feed, but they are incredibly friendly and easygoing.
I have found that you can expect around 280 eggs each year from your Golden Comet and that they are going to be brown and medium in size. The laying hens start egg production from the time that they are around 16 weeks old, but their productivity will decrease sharply once they hit two years old. Additionally, they rarely become broody, and their eggs will not produce a true Golden Comet, as they are a hybrid breed.
The reason these hens are such a great choice for beginners is that they are incredibly friendly and don’t mind being picked up. I know some people who treat their Golden Comets more like pets, as the bird prefers to socialize with people rather than spending time with other chickens. Even when you keep them in a large flock, they are very peaceful and prefer not to squabble with other chickens.
See some Golden Comet chicks here.
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Photo by Jamie L Godwin
#5 Plymouth Rock (The Best Egg Laying Bantam Chickens)
Not only are Plymouth Rock hens great at egg laying, but they are also incredibly calm and reliable. You will easily get more than 200 eggs each year from your Plymouth Rock bantam, and they are common in backyard flocks, due to their pleasant demeanor and good egg laying capabilities.
I love these chickens, not only because they do a great job laying eggs all year long, but also because they are incredibly attractive and easy to take care of. Unlike other chickens that need extra upkeep and care to look their best and be as healthy as possible, Plymouth Rock bantams have feathers that won’t easily tangle, so you don’t need to worry about catching them and taking care of them.
If you have children who are going to want to be involved in raising chickens, then this is a great choice for your family. Not only are the laying hens incredibly active in producing the best eggs, but they are also very laid back and not at all aggressive, which makes them a welcome addition to any flock. I have found that they are a great chicken if you have children who want to be able to hold and squeeze the birds, but you don’t want to worry about the safety of the chicken or the child.
Check out how beautiful these chickens are here.
#6 Wyandotte (The Best Egg Laying and Meat Chickens)
This is a great dual-purpose chicken that you can use for meat or keep for eggs. Not only are they very hardy and beautiful, but they make good egg laying hens that tend to lay eggs even in cooler weather. They average around 200 eggs a year, which may seem low when you are looking for a layer, but is a lot for a bird that also packs on enough weight to be used for meat.
One thing that you have to know when you choose a dual purpose chicken is that you will have a larger chicken that’s great for meat, but they will not lay as many eggs as a layer will. If you want a chicken that is perfect for both meat production and eggs, then the Wyandotte hens are a great choice. These laying chickens are incredibly docile and go broody very quickly and easily, which means that you can easily hatch more chickens if desired.
Even though these are good egg laying chickens, they are always also very friendly. Not only are they very talkative to each other, but they will often follow you around in the garden while you work. If you are just getting started and want the best dual purpose chicken available, then the Wyandotte is one to consider.
See how gorgeous these chickens are here. 
#7 Andalusian (The Best Egg Laying Chickens for Hot Climate)
While blue Andalusian chickens are very common, there are other colors for you to choose from when you want to add these great egg laying hens to your flock. Their eggs are large and white, and they are an excellent choice if you are going to forego a run and allow your chickens to free range as much as possible. Because they are so large and fast, they can easily stay ahead of the flock and are able to protect themselves fairly easily.
I think that these chickens tend to be a little flighty, but I haven’t ever found an Andalusian to be aggressive. Additionally, both the males and laying hens are great at foraging for themselves, which means that you will cut down on feed costs. These chickens lay eggs all year, although their production does drop in the winter.
While there are some chickens who really struggle in hot weather, Andalusians are better suited to warmer climates than they are to colder ones. Not only are they hardy, but they can handle hot temperatures without becoming distressed, which means that you don’t have to worry about their health during hot summer months. Not only are these chickens great at egg laying, but they can be used for meat as well, if necessary.
Check out the combs on these gorgeous Andalusian chickens.
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Photo by Eggucation
#8 White Leghorns (The Best Kind of Egg Laying Chickens…Period!)
This is the best egg laying chicken available, and for good reason. Not only are these chickens great at laying a lot of eggs, but they lay for many years of their lives, unlike some other types of chickens. You can expect between 280-320 eggs each year from these egg hens, and they will continue to lay well into their fourth year of laying. Additionally, their eggs will keep getting larger as the chicken ages, and you can end up with extra large eggs by the time they finish their laying cycle.
Unfortunately, I have found that these great laying hens are not a good choice if you are looking for a hen that will easily go broody. Because of that, you will either need to use the incubator to hatch eggs or give them to another chicken, like a Buff Orpington. The chicks grow up very quickly and feather fast, which means that you don’t have to worry about health problems.
In general, white leghorns aren’t just great at laying the most and the best eggs, they also don’t have a lot of health problems. They are incredibly robust and active, and they do well free ranging, so they are a great choice. Because they love to free range, you can actually spend less money on feed than if you were to opt for another kind of chicken.
See how gorgeous the White Leghorn is here.
Now You Choose the Best Egg Laying Chickens
Did you learn from this list which of the 8 best egg laying chickens is right for you? I hope you can use this information when you are deciding what chickens to include in your backyard flock. I found that it was important to choose a chicken based not only on their good egg laying abilities but also on the climate where you live so that the chickens will be able to do their best work. Let me know what you think in the comments below, and please share this article with someone you think could benefit from learning about choosing the right chickens for their home.