Breed
England Dual purpose
Orpington
A full-feathered English breed with a calm reputation and many color varieties.
Egg color: Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
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57 breeds and mixed-breed categories
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Breed
England Egg layers
Cream Legbar
A crested, autosexing blue-egg layer: learn its markings, laying expectations, size and keeping needs.
Egg color: Blue to blue-green; shade varies
Adaptable with dry shelter, shade and comb protection
Breed
United States Dual purpose
Wyandotte
An American breed with a rounded shape and a wide range of striking feather patterns.
Egg color: Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
Breed
United States Dual purpose
Plymouth Rock
A familiar American farm breed available in barred and other varieties.
Egg color: Brown
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
United States Dual purpose
Brahma
A substantial feather-legged breed with a pea comb and an unmistakable brow.
Egg color: Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
Breed
United States Egg layers
Ameraucana
Blue eggs, a pea comb, and a distinctive bearded face make this American breed easy to love.
Egg color: Blue
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
Asian origins Ornamental & companions
Silkie
Distinctive feather texture and persistent broodiness make Silkies a memorable flock addition.
Egg color: Cream to tinted
Protected, dry conditions; shelter from rain and severe cold
Breed
United States Dual purpose
Rhode Island Red
An American farm breed with red plumage and a long history of brown-egg production.
Egg color: Brown
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
England Dual purpose
Sussex
A curious British farm breed with several varieties and a long table-bird history.
Egg color: Tan to Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
Breed
Italy Egg layers
Ancona
A lively white-egg layer with black feathers sprinkled in white.
Egg color: White
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
Spain Egg layers
Andalusian
Slate-blue plumage gives this energetic Mediterranean layer its signature look.
Egg color: Chalk-White
Warmer-climate candidate
Breed
South America Egg layers
Araucana
A blue-egg breed with a distinctive history and different standards around the world.
Egg color: Blue
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
Australia Dual purpose
Australorp
An Australian development of the Orpington, selected with productive laying in mind.
Egg color: Tinted to light brown
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
Netherlands Dual purpose
Barnevelder
A Dutch breed admired for brown eggs and beautifully patterned feathers.
Egg color: Brown
Hardy in temperate conditions; protect the single comb in hard freezes
Breed
United States Dual purpose
Buckeye
An Ohio original, developed by Nettie Metcalf, with rich red plumage and an inquisitive nature.
Egg color: Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
Breed
Belgium Egg layers
Campine
A small, energetic layer with striking barred plumage and a long Flemish history.
Egg color: White
Warmer-climate candidate
Breed
Canada Dual purpose
Chantecler
Developed in Quebec with Canadian winters in mind.
Egg color: Light to Pinkish-Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
Breed
China Ornamental & companions
Cochin
A heavily feathered favorite known for a gentle manner and strong sitting instincts.
Egg color: Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
Breed
England Meat breeds
Cornish
A broad-bodied heritage breed with a compact, muscular shape.
Egg color: Tinted
Warmer-climate candidate
Breed
France Dual purpose
Crevecoeur
An old Normandy breed with a crest, beard, and unusual V-shaped comb.
Egg color: White
Adaptable; keep the crest and beard dry in cold weather
Breed
Cuba Dual purpose
Cubalaya
A Cuban breed admired for its sweeping tail and suitability to heat and humidity.
Egg color: White to Tinted
Warmer-climate candidate
Breed
United States Dual purpose
Delaware
A white-bodied American breed with dark markings and a practical farm history.
Egg color: Brown
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
United States Dual purpose
Dominique
One of America's oldest breeds, with barred feathers and a low rose comb.
Egg color: Light to Dark Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
Breed
England Dual purpose
Dorking
A traditional British breed recognizable by five toes and a generous body.
Egg color: White to Cream
Adaptable with suitable housing
Mixed-breed category
Mixed ancestry Egg layers
Easter Egger
A diverse group of mixed-ancestry chickens associated with colorful eggs.
Egg color: Varies by parentage
Depends on parentage; mixed ancestry has no uniform hardiness
Breed
France Dual purpose
Faverolles
A French favorite with a beard, feathered legs, and five toes.
Egg color: Tinted to Light Brown
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
European origins Egg layers
Hamburg
A light, active layer with an ornamental appearance and several patterned varieties.
Egg color: White
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
United States Dual purpose
Holland
An American dual-purpose breed that brings white eggs to the homestead.
Egg color: White
Cooler-climate candidate
Breed
France Dual purpose
Houdan
A crested, bearded French breed with five toes and a gentle reputation.
Egg color: White
Warmer-climate candidate
Landrace
Iceland Dual purpose
Icelandic
A varied landrace shaped by centuries of Icelandic farm life.
Egg color: White to Cream or Light Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
Breed
United States Dual purpose
Java
An old American farm breed valued for calm behavior and foraging.
Egg color: Brown
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
United States Dual purpose
Jersey Giant
A notably large, usually mellow breed developed in New Jersey.
Egg color: Light Cream to Dark Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
Breed
France Dual purpose
La Fleche
A French breed with a distinctive horn-shaped comb and a history as a table bird.
Egg color: White to Cream
Warmer-climate candidate
Breed
Germany and Netherlands Egg layers
Lakenvelder
A small white-egg layer recognized by its contrasting dark neck and tail.
Egg color: White to Tinted
Moderate conditions preferred
Breed
China Dual purpose
Langshan
A tall Chinese breed with a calm reputation and feathered legs.
Egg color: Brown
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
Italy Egg layers
Leghorn
A light, energetic breed with a long history of white-egg production.
Egg color: White
Warmer-climate candidate
Breed
France Dual purpose
Marans
A French dual-purpose breed especially sought out by brown-egg enthusiasts.
Egg color: Brown
Adaptable; provide dry footing and protection in extremes
Breed
Spain Egg layers
Minorca
A sizable Mediterranean layer known for very large white eggs.
Egg color: Chalk White
Warmer-climate candidate
True bantam
Historic origins uncertain Ornamental & companions
Nankin
A small true bantam with an especially useful reputation as a broody hen.
Egg color: Creamy White
Warmer-climate candidate
Breed
United States Dual purpose
New Hampshire
An American breed selected from Rhode Island Red stock for earlier development.
Egg color: Tinted to Brown
Adaptable with suitable housing
Breed
European origins uncertain Ornamental & companions
Polish
An eye-catching crested breed that also lays white eggs.
Egg color: White
Warmer-climate candidate
Breed
Persia and Russia Meat breeds
Russian Orloff
A bearded breed associated with cold tolerance and an upright appearance.
Egg color: Light Brown
Cooler-climate candidate
True bantam
England Ornamental & companions
Sebright
A true bantam with finely laced feathers and a lively presence.
Egg color: Creamy White
Warmer-climate candidate
Breed
Netherlands Egg layers
Welsummer
A Dutch breed known for large brown eggs that may carry darker speckles.
Egg color: Brown, sometimes speckled
Adaptable; protect the single comb during severe cold
Named sex-link hybrid
United States; named supplier lines · Egg layers
Cinnamon Queen
A popular brown-egg hybrid with useful chick-color differences. The name belongs in your egg-layer research, with its supplier and parentage kept clear.
Egg color: Brown
Adaptable; protect the single comb in freezing weather
Named sex-link hybrid
United States; parentage varies by source · Egg layers
Golden Comet
A familiar brown-egg layer with golden-red and white plumage. Learn what the name tells you, and where different suppliers use different parent crosses.
Egg color: Brown
Adaptable with dry shelter, shade and comb protection
Commercial laying hybrid
France; internationally supplied commercial genetics · Egg layers
ISA Brown
A widely used commercial brown-egg layer. Separate backyard estimates from the genetics company's longer production-cycle targets before comparing the numbers.
Egg color: Brown
Adaptable across housing systems; daily weather protection still matters
Commercial laying hybrid
ISA-derived commercial laying stock · Egg layers
Amberlink
White and amber feathers, brown eggs and a mellow supplier description. This named hybrid deserves a clear identity of its own within the commercial laying family.
Egg color: Brown
Supplier describes heat and cold adaptability
Hybrid cross category
Multiple planned crosses; U.S. hatchery examples · Egg layers
Red Sex-Link
A family of color-sexable brown-egg crosses, including named Red Star stock. The cross matters more than treating every red hybrid name as interchangeable.
Egg color: Brown
Compare the actual supplier's line and your housing
Hybrid cross category
Multiple planned crosses; U.S. hatchery examples · Egg layers
Black Sex-Link
Dark-feathered brown-egg layers with first-generation chick markings. Black Star belongs here, with its named lines distinguished from a single universal cross.
Egg color: Light brown to brown
Adaptable stock; match the supplier and weather protection
True bantamCritical · U.S. 2026
European development; Asian ancestral stock · Ornamental & conservation
Booted Bantam
A tiny, unbearded bantam with elaborate feathered feet. Its identity, housing and mature proportions make it more than a color variation of d'Uccle.
Egg color: White, cream or tinted
Protect from cold and keep foot feathers dry
BreedCritical · U.S. 2026
Asia; long-established European standard development · Ornamental & conservation
Malay
One of the tallest chicken breeds, with close feathering and a compact comb. Plan for its carriage, movement needs and flock behavior before its impressive silhouette.
Egg color: Brown to tinted brown
Warm-weather candidate; ample movement and shelter
BreedCritical · U.S. 2026
Derbyshire and the Pennines, England · Dual purpose
Redcap
A historic English utility breed with a remarkable rose comb. Egg laying, foraging and slow-developing show traits belong together in its keeper profile.
Egg color: White to slightly tinted
Cooler-weather candidate; space and flight protection
BreedCritical · U.S. 2026
Spanish ancestry; historical Dutch and British development · Egg layers
White-Faced Black Spanish
Glossy black feathers and a striking white face distinguish this old Mediterranean layer. Its full facial development, sensitive features and breeding history deserve careful attention.
Egg color: Chalk white
Protect large comb and face; attentive care in heat and cold
BreedCritical · U.S. 2026
Indian subcontinent; distinct regional and national types · Ornamental & conservation
Aseel
A muscular, close-feathered breed with deep South Asian roots. Its conservation value comes with demanding flock-management needs and important regional distinctions.
Egg color: Off-white to light brown
Warm-weather candidate; specialist separation and shelter
BreedCritical · U.S. 2026
Catalonia, Spain; El Prat de Llobregat · Dual purpose
Catalana
A buff Mediterranean utility breed with slate legs and black tail feathers. Heat-oriented traits, pale eggs and a conservation story make it worth knowing beyond U.S. retail availability.
Egg color: White to tinted / very pale pink
Warm-weather forager; provide shade, water and winter protection
BreedCritical · U.S. 2026
Japan; ancestors associated with Thailand · Ornamental & conservation
Shamo
An upright Japanese breed with hard feathering and strong regional types. Impressive stature needs to be matched with practical housing and careful separation.
Egg color: Tinted to light brown
Roomy specialist housing; protect sparse feather coverage
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About this almanacBreed basics, sources & how to read the numbers.
A thoughtful starting point
Good questions. Better flock choices.
Explore breed history, identifying traits, production, housing priorities and breeding considerations. Follow the references for the facts behind each profile. Egg output, behavior, and hardiness vary with breeding lines, age, housing, and care.
Explore the breeder directoryA name is only the beginning.
A breed, a feather-color variety, a landrace, and a hybrid are different things. We label them so you can ask informed questions.
Sources, without the guesswork.
Every profile links to its references. Supplier-line estimates and source differences are explained. Photographs show individual birds and do not certify breed purity.
Room for more peeps.
Explore 57 detailed profiles covering breed history, appearance, egg expectations, development, flock behavior, housing, breeding and choosing your birds. Each includes numbered sources and practical keeper questions.
Read the numbers, know the bird
A reference you can check.
Each profile separates established breed traits from a named hatchery's estimates. Follow the numbered references to see where a figure comes from.
Egg counts have context.
An annual range is a reference estimate, not a promise. Age, season, broodiness, feeding and flock health affect laying. “Up to” and “fewer than” are limits, not the low end of a production range.
Extension: egg production ↗Compare the same kind of bird.
Adult hen and rooster weights differ from pullet, cockerel or market weights. Bantams need their own size standard. A variety's feather color and a strain's selection goals can change the comparison.
Conservancy: breed charts ↗Differences stay visible.
When references disagree, profiles name the line or standard rather than average unrelated figures. Easter Egger has no category-wide standard, and the cited Silkie references do not support one comparable annual egg count.
See an example: Easter Egger