Chicken eggs are a staple in many households. They are also a great source of protein and other nutrients. But which breed of chicken lays the most eggs? It is not as simple as it sounds, because multiple factors determine how many eggs a chicken will lay. You have to consider things such as breed, temperament, size, and age of the chicken. Additionally, you should not forget about your chickens’ safety and peace, provided with a proper Automatic Coop door solution.
As a chicken and egg lover, you might be wondering which chicken breeds lay the most eggs. Read further to find out how to enjoy farm-fresh yummy eggs every day.
Do farm eggs really taste better than eggs from the store?
Farm eggs are incomparably better than eggs sold on store shelves. This is immediately clearwhen we lay the egg on a hot pan. Eggs produced by free-range chickens have a good quality solid egg white, strong-colored yolk, great taste, and smell to make your mouth water immediately! The difference is not only in taste but also in nutritional value.
Chickens that graze outdoors are more relaxed animals and find just about everything they need for their diet in the wild. They peck worms, insects, plants, snails, seeds and with this diet, they can produce the healthiest eggs.
What makes the eggs so nutritious?
We now know that home-grown eggs are the best choice. Let’s take a brief look at their nutritional content. The egg has a lot of healthy unsaturated fats, most of which are found in the yolk. Fats account for about eleven percent of weight. Yolk also contains a lot of carotenoids, vitamins, and iron.
Protein contains important amino acids and vitamins A, D, E, and B. It also contains many minerals, including phosphorus, calcium, iron, selenium, and zinc. Vitamins and minerals are essential for our bodies to function healthily and to provide the nutrients for growth and repair of our bones, teeth, skin and organs. Farm eggs are much richer in all these substances we need in the diet.
Therefore eggs are an important part of our daily diet and with the help of the right chicken breeds you can pick them up daily from your chicken coop on your backyard or homestead.
So, which chickens are true egg-laying machines?
Australorps
Australorps chickens are among the top producers of eggs. They were bred specifically for egg production and can lay between 250 and 300 medium-colored eggs per year. An Australorp hen lays 364 eggs in a calendar year without additional lighting in Australia. Despite their high egg production, they are generally easy to keep and do not require special housing.
Rhode Island Red
The Rhode Island Red is the most popular dual-purpose chicken breed in America and in the world. These birds can be raised indoors or out and produce superior-quality eggs. Rhode Island Red chickens are great egg producers but are not instinctual brooders. Each hen will lay between 260 and 280 large brown eggs per year, depending on the strain.
Leghorn
The white Leghorn chicken is the most common breed and lays many eggs. It is raised in large numbers in the United States, Canada, and England. Therefore, this breed is particularly good at providing white eggs and is the breed of choice for many people who wish to raise chickens for meat or eggs. The leghorn can lay 280-320 eggs per year.
Speckled Sussex
The Speckled Sussex chicken is one of the oldest poultry breed, dating back to the Romans. This breed has been widely bred and is one of the most egg-producing chicken breeds. These chickens lay around 200 eggs a year, which is excellent for baking and making bread. Sussex will usually start laying at approximately 20 weeks old and give you around 4-5 eggs every week.
Ameruacana
Known as an “easter chicken”, Ameraucana can produce a large number of eggs in a variety of different colors. Ameraucana production can reach a number of 250 eggs per year, which is an additional reason why this specific bread is super popular with homesteaders all across the globe.
Now that you have a supply of fresh farm eggs, you can check out our recipes for preparing delicious dishes.
Don’t forget to share your chickens raising experiences in our Facebook group Chicken&Egg Lovers.
