Chickens
& Eggs Prevent Chicken Predators Don't let foxes, owls, hawks, possom or
raccoon destroy your birds. -- protect them from predators.
Buy Baby
Chickens All egg
laying chickens start as peeps,
and raising your own hens from the time they are baby chickens is a
great way to ensure they are gentle and familiar with you.
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Best
Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds There are many chicken varieties, and
all lay eggs, but only a handful are in the best egg-laying chicken breeds
category. All female chickens will lay edible eggs with
identical nutritional content, but some bird varieties have been bred
especially for their egg-laying capabilities and thus are superior
chickens for that purpose. For example, Leghorn hens are excellent for
consistent, nearly-daily laying and produce about 300 eggs per
year.
Many modern laying breeds contain some Leghorn in them. Some of the
best egg laying chicken breeds include:
 Leghorn
Rhode Island Reds (left)
Black Star
Red Star
Light Sussex
Plymouth Rock
Cuckoo Maran
Barred Rock
If you're looking for a good setting hen, one that will “go broody,”
that is, brood a clutch of eggs and care for the chicks that hatch,
you'll do well to consider the Cuckoo Maran, Rhode Island Red (but
not sex-linked or hybrid varieties), Light Sussex or Plymouth
Rock. Heritage breeds are good setting hens in general; modern breeds
intended for egg protection usually are not as they have had certain
traits and characteristics bred out of them.
A mixed flock of the best egg laying chicken breeds as well as some
rarer breeds is often a good way to accomplish your goals. You
might have Leghorn for egg production, some of which are for eating and
some which are saved for hatching. You can then use broody hens, who
are ready to set on their own clutch of eggs, to hatch other hens' eggs
simply by adding them to the brood hens' nests. Some of the best egg
laying chicken breeds will never sit on their own eggs, but others will
go broody and set on eggs very quickly. A combination of the two can
make an ideal flock.
Male offspring can be used for meat and for sale, while females can be
used for further egg production or if there is no more room, for sale
as young pullets. With a renewed interest in backyard chicken flocks,
there is a strong market for hens and offering your excess for sale can
produce a good side income. Ultimately, the best egg laying chicken
breeds depend on your purpose, whether you want steady egg production
or more chicks. Some small
chicken breeds can actually be very fun to include in your
flock, even though their egg production lags behind Leghorn and Barred
rocks and Rhode Island Reds and Whites.
To add some color and fun to your daily egg collection, consider including some Easter Egg Chickens when raising backyard chickens.
Some like to breed these Americounas with the best egg laying chicken
breeds to have both consistent egg production and fun, colored eggs.
Go back to Chicken
Breeds or browse chicken-related books, below. Need a good house for your hens? Check out these chicken coop plans that will enable you to build a superior chicken house and run for a fraction of the price compared to pre-built coops.
Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens
 Chickens The Chicken Health Handbook Keep Chickens: Tending Small Flocks
Chicken Coop Living Choosing and Keeping Chickens 
Egg Laying
Chickens Book Store
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