🐓 Best Chicken Breeds for Eggs, Color, and Personality

By Brooks Family Homestead

Whether you're new to backyard chickens or expanding your flock, choosing the right breed can make all the difference. Some breeds lay more eggs, others come in fun colors, and a few have standout personalities that make them favorites on the farm. Here’s a helpful breakdown of some of the best chicken breeds to consider, along with egg color, yearly production, temperament, and size.

Raising chickens not only provides a reliable source of fresh eggs but also brings life and personality to your homestead. They help with pest control, provide fertilizer, and can even become family-friendly pets. Choosing breeds with qualities that match your needs ensures a happier, healthier flock—and fewer surprises down the road.

🥚 Top Laying Breeds & Their Stats

1. Rhode Island Red

• Egg Color: Brown

• Eggs per Year: 250–300

• Temperament: Hardy, active, independent

• Size: Large (hens ~6.5 lbs)

• Notes: Great all-purpose bird, very tolerant of cold and heat, and does well in free-range or coop setups.

2. Leghorn (White Leghorn)

• Egg Color: White

• Eggs per Year: 280–320

• Temperament: Flighty, alert, excellent foragers

• Size: Medium (hens ~4.5–5 lbs)

• Notes: One of the most prolific layers. Not as cuddly, but great for egg-focused keepers.

3. Plymouth Rock (Barred Rock)

• Egg Color: Brown

• Eggs per Year: 200–280

• Temperament: Friendly, docile, great for families

• Size: Large (hens ~7.5 lbs)

• Notes: Cold hardy and easy to handle—ideal for beginners or family farms.

4. Australorp

• Egg Color: Brown

• Eggs per Year: 250–300

• Temperament: Calm, gentle, easy to handle

• Size: Large (hens ~6.5–8 lbs)

• Notes: Holds the world record for egg laying! Adapts well to confinement and makes a sweet backyard bird.

5. Easter Egger

• Egg Color: Blue, green, sometimes pink

• Eggs per Year: 200–280

• Temperament: Friendly, curious, quirky

• Size: Medium (hens ~5–6 lbs)

• Notes: Not a recognized breed, but beloved for their “surprise” egg colors and fun personalities.

6. ISA Brown

• Egg Color: Light brown

• Eggs per Year: 300–330

• Temperament: Extremely friendly, docile, productive

• Size: Medium (hens ~5–6 lbs)

• Notes: Bred specifically for high production. Excellent choice if your main goal is a steady egg supply.

7. Buff Orpington

• Egg Color: Light brown

• Eggs per Year: 200–280

• Temperament: Extremely gentle, cuddly, great with kids

• Size: Large (hens ~7–8 lbs)

• Notes: Often called the “golden retriever” of chickens. Makes a great pet and a decent layer.

8. Black Copper Marans

• Egg Color: Deep chocolate brown

• Eggs per Year: 180–220

• Temperament: Calm, shy, observant

• Size: Medium-Large (hens ~6.5–7.5 lbs)

• Notes: Prized for their beautiful egg color. Slightly less productive but excellent for egg variety.

🎨 Egg Color Variety

• White: Leghorns, Andalusians, Anconas

• Brown: Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, Plymouth Rocks

• Blue/Green: Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas, Cream Legbars

• Dark Chocolate Brown: Marans (especially Black Copper Marans)

• Pinkish Tints: Some Easter Eggers and hybrids

A mixed flock means a colorful egg basket—which adds charm to every egg carton you give away or sell.

🐔 Things to Consider When Choosing a Breed

• Climate Tolerance:

  • Cold-hardy breeds: Australorp, Orpington, Barred Rock

  • Heat-tolerant breeds: Leghorn, Andalusian, Minorca

• Space Requirements:

  • Larger breeds like Orpingtons need more coop space.

  • Smaller or lighter breeds like Leghorns adapt to tighter quarters.

• Disposition:

  • Calm and friendly: Orpington, Australorp, ISA Brown

  • Independent or skittish: Leghorn, Marans

• Dual-Purpose vs. Layers:

  • Dual-purpose birds provide both eggs and meat (e.g., Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock).

  • Specialized layers produce more eggs but are less meaty.

• Broodiness:

  • Want chicks? Choose a broody hen like Orpington or Australorp.

  • Want eggs only? Look for breeds less prone to setting.

🪺 How Many Chickens Should You Get?

A good rule of thumb: 2–3 hens per person in your household if you want a consistent egg supply. Most hens lay 4–6 eggs per week at their peak.

If you’re planning to sell eggs, consider starting with 8–12 hens. Keep in mind that production dips in winter and as hens age.

🧺 Final Thoughts from Brooks Family Homestead

Raising chickens is one of the most rewarding ways to produce your own food, connect with nature, and teach kids about responsibility. Whether you’re in it for rainbow eggs, a calm coop vibe, or hard-working hens, the right breeds will set the tone.

At Brooks Family Homestead, we raise a variety of breeds and love seeing how their personalities mix and match. Let us know your favorites or if you’re just getting started—we’re happy to help.

Happy hatching and may your baskets be full! 🥚🐓🌾