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Chicken Breeds Chart: 21 Breeds Compared by Eggs, Color and Hardiness

A printable chicken breeds chart comparing 21 backyard breeds by eggs per year, egg color, cold and heat hardiness and temperament.

Quick answer

Leghorns lay the most eggs of the 21 breeds in our chart at 280 to 320 a year, followed by Australorps, Rhode Island Reds and Sussex at 250 to 300. For cold winters and a calm flock, Australorps, Buff Orpingtons and Plymouth Rocks combine strong laying with a docile temperament.

  • Best layers: Leghorn, Australorp, Rhode Island Red, Sussex.
  • Colored eggs: Easter Egger and Ameraucana (blue or green), Marans and Welsummer (dark brown).
  • Best for cold: Australorp, Orpington, Wyandotte, Brahma, Chantecler.
  • Best for heat: Leghorn and Ancona.

Picking a breed is the biggest choice you make for a backyard flock. This chicken breeds chart compares 21 popular breeds on the five things most keepers care about: how many eggs they lay, what color the eggs are, how they handle cold and heat, and how friendly they are. You can print it or embed it on your own site.

Chicken Breeds Chart21 backyard breeds by eggs per year, egg color, hardiness and temperament
BreedEggs per yearEgg colorCold hardyHeat tolerantTemperament
Leghorn280 to 320WhiteFairExcellentFlighty
Australorp250 to 300BrownExcellentGoodDocile
Rhode Island Red250 to 300BrownExcellentGoodCalm
Sussex250 to 300Light brownExcellentGoodDocile, curious
Dominique230 to 275BrownGoodGoodActive
Ancona220 to 280WhiteGoodExcellentVery active
Buff Orpington200 to 280BrownExcellentGoodDocile, affectionate
Easter Egger200 to 280Blue, greenExcellentGoodVaries
Plymouth Rock200 to 250BrownExcellentGoodFriendly
Ameraucana200 to 250BlueExcellentNot ratedCalm, friendly
Wyandotte180 to 260BrownExcellentPoorDocile
Light Brahma180 to 240BrownExcellentGoodCalm, slow moving
Faverolles180 to 200TintedGoodGoodDocile but active
Barnevelder180 to 200Dark brownNot ratedNot ratedCalm, quiet
Jersey Giant175 to 185BrownExcellentFairDocile
Welsummer160 to 200Speckled dark brownNot ratedNot ratedFriendly
Delaware150 to 200BrownGoodGoodDocile
Marans150 to 200ChocolateFairFairReserved
Chantecler120 to 180BrownExcellentPoorDocile
CochinUp to 140BrownExcellentNot ratedDocile
SilkieLow, small eggsCreamGoodGoodDocile, friendly
Sources: Utah State University Extension, The Livestock Conservancy, UGA Extension, Rutgers, Cackle Hatchery. Chart by Cooped Up Life.

Embed this chart on your site

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Which chicken breeds lay the most eggs?

Eggs per year by breed (range midpoint)Eggs per year by breed (range midpoint)Leghorn280 to 320Australorp250 to 300Rhode Island Red250 to 300Sussex250 to 300Dominique230 to 275Ancona220 to 280Buff Orpington200 to 280Easter Egger200 to 280Plymouth Rock200 to 250Ameraucana200 to 250Wyandotte180 to 260Light Brahma180 to 240Faverolles180 to 200Barnevelder180 to 200Jersey Giant175 to 185Welsummer160 to 200Delaware150 to 200Marans150 to 200Chantecler120 to 180CochinUp to 140
Eggs per hen per year. Sources: Utah State, Livestock Conservancy and Cackle Hatchery.

Leghorns are the classic egg machine, laying 280 to 320 white eggs a year according to Utah State Extension. Australorps, Rhode Island Reds and Sussex follow at 250 to 300 brown eggs, and they are calmer and hardier in winter than Leghorns.

Heavy breeds like Cochins, Chantecler and Jersey Giants lay fewer eggs, often under 200 a year, but they make up for it with size, cold hardiness and gentle personalities. Silkies lay small eggs and are among the broodiest bantams.

What color eggs does each breed lay?

Egg color across the 21 breedsEgg color across the 21 breeds21breedsBrown 12Dark brown 3White 2Blue or green 2Cream or tinted 2
Number of breeds in our chart by egg shell color.

Most heritage breeds lay brown eggs. White eggs come mainly from Mediterranean breeds like the Leghorn and Ancona. For a colorful egg basket, add an Easter Egger or Ameraucana for blue and green, and a Marans or Welsummer for deep brown. Learn more in our guide to egg color by breed.

Which breeds are best for cold or hot climates?

ClimateBest breedsWhy
Cold wintersAustralorp, Buff Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Light Brahma, Chantecler, CochinRated best for cold by our sources; Wyandottes have rose combs and Chanteclers small combs that resist frostbite
Hot summersLeghorn, AnconaLightweight Mediterranean breeds rated best for hot climates
BothAustralorp, Rhode Island Red, Sussex, Delaware, FaverollesRated for both cold and heat by our sources

Leghorns handle heat well but their large single combs can get frostbite, as UGA Extension notes. Wyandottes are the reverse: Rutgers says they do well in cold but poorly in heat.

Three chickens of different breeds gathered around a wooden chair outdoors

Which chicken breeds are the friendliest?

For families and first time keepers, docile breeds are easier to handle. UGA calls the Orpington the big friendly bird and describes Australorps as quiet, docile and easily handled. Plymouth Rocks, Cochins, Brahmas, Delawares and Silkies are also known for calm temperaments.

Leghorns, Anconas and other Mediterranean breeds are more active and flighty. They forage well and lay heavily, but they are less likely to sit in your lap. Very docile breeds like Orpingtons can be bullied by more assertive birds in a mixed flock.

If you wantPick
The most eggsLeghorn, Australorp, Rhode Island Red
A calm family flockBuff Orpington, Australorp, Plymouth Rock, Cochin
Blue or green eggsEaster Egger, Ameraucana
Dark brown eggsMarans, Welsummer, Barnevelder
Meat and eggsDelaware, Jersey Giant, Sussex, Plymouth Rock
Small spacesSilkie and other bantams

Once you pick your breeds, use our coop size calculator to plan space, and read do bantams lay eggs if you are thinking about smaller birds. Our chicken statistics page has more numbers on backyard flocks.

How did we build this chart?

Eggs per year come from Utah State Extension where it lists the breed, then from The Livestock Conservancy and the Cackle Hatchery chart. Temperament and climate ratings come from the same sources plus UGA Extension and Rutgers. Where sources disagreed, we used the extension or conservancy figure.

Ratings are grouped as Excellent, Good, Fair or Poor. Not rated means none of our sources gave a climate rating for that breed. Individual birds and hatchery lines vary, and laying slows as hens age, so treat these numbers as typical ranges for young hens.

Frequently asked questions

Which chicken breed lays the most eggs?

The Leghorn, at about 280 to 320 white eggs a year according to Utah State University Extension. Australorps, Rhode Island Reds and Sussex lay about 250 to 300 brown eggs a year.

What is the best chicken breed for beginners?

Australorps, Buff Orpingtons and Plymouth Rocks are good first breeds. They are docile, handle cold well and lay about 200 to 300 eggs a year.

Which chickens lay blue or green eggs?

Ameraucanas lay blue eggs and Easter Eggers lay blue, green or sometimes pinkish eggs.

What is the best chicken breed for cold weather?

Australorps, Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Brahmas, Chanteclers and Cochins all rate highly for cold. Rose combs, like the Wyandotte has, are less prone to frostbite.

What is the best chicken breed for hot weather?

Leghorns and Anconas, two lightweight Mediterranean breeds, handle heat best. Australorps, Rhode Island Reds and Delawares also tolerate both heat and cold.

Can I print or share this chicken breeds chart?

Yes. Use the print button to print it, or copy the embed code to add it to your website with a credit link to Cooped Up Life.

How we gathered this data: In October 2026 we compiled breed data from Utah State University Extension, The Livestock Conservancy 2026 breed chart, University of Georgia Extension, Rutgers and Cackle Hatchery. Each row uses one primary source for eggs per year.

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