The best chicken breeds for beginners. The best egg-laying chicken breeds: descriptions, characteristics and reviews

When selecting egg breeds, the main emphasis is on such a characteristic as egg production (the number of eggs produced by one individual during the year). The weight of egg-laying chickens is usually small; they are not suitable for breeding for meat.

All chickens of egg breeds are distinguished by early sexual maturity (which “starts” the process of egg laying). On average, egg-laying breeds begin to lay eggs at the age of 4-5 months, while in meat breeds chickens lay eggs 2-3 months later. Other distinctive characteristics of egg-laying breeds are:

• light weight (up to 2.2 kg in females and up to 3 kg in males);
• activity and mobility due to rapid metabolism;
• good appetite (on average, a chicken lays an egg once every 25 hours, so she needs to constantly replenish her body with nutrition).

The egg production capacity of a particular individual is determined by the number of eggs in its body. This amount is established at birth of the chicken and does not change throughout life. The average number of eggs in the body of a female of egg-laying breeds is about 4 thousand, but this does not mean that a chicken will produce exactly that number of eggs during her life. It will take a laying hen 15 years to realize the required number of eggs. Chickens bred on private farms and poultry farms never live to this age. Peak egg production in laying hens occurs at 3-4 years of age. As a rule, after a decrease in productivity, individuals are discarded.

The record holder for the number of eggs laid is a representative of the Leghorn breed named Princess. In 1930, she produced 361 eggs, i.e. she laid almost every day. This is an impressive figure, considering that the egg production capacity of industrial breeds of laying hens is 200-220 pcs.

The most productive egg-bearing breeds are currently considered:

• Loman Brown;
• Rhode Island;
• Minorca;
• Sussex;

Early maturing laying hens Loman Brown

Loman Brown chickens are capable of producing about 280-300 eggs per year, and the eggs themselves are large (over 60 g). It is also one of the fastest laying breeds: females begin laying eggs already at 136 days of age. Maximum egg production starts at the age of 170-180 days.

Young hens Loman Brown

One of the disadvantages of the breed is the short duration of the peak of egg laying. It is a maximum of 80 weeks (for other breeds - from 100 weeks). Then the egg production of individuals rapidly decreases. Their maintenance becomes unprofitable and the livestock is renewed.

Laying hens of the Loman Brown breed are completely unpretentious in breeding: they calmly react to fluctuations in temperature conditions and adapt to almost any feed. The form of keeping (cage or walking) does not particularly affect egg production, which is another advantage of the breed.

Leghorn: champion of egg-laying breeds

Leghorn chickens demonstrate the highest productivity. She went through many stages of selection before it was possible to develop the current egg production indicators. Currently, the Leghorn is considered the most popular breed of chicken in the world for industrial breeding.

There are several varieties of the breed, the most common being the white Leghorn. One laying hen is capable of producing 300 eggs per year with an average weight of 56-58 g.

Adults are small in size: females up to 1.6 kg, males up to 2.6. Oviposition occurs at 22-24 weeks of life. Laying hens reach their peak egg production in the first year of life, then productivity begins to gradually decline. On large farms, chickens are kept for up to a year, then slaughtered, because... their maintenance becomes unprofitable.

Cage breeding is considered the optimal form of breeding: laying hens feel great in a closed space. The main condition for maintaining productivity is to ensure sufficient lighting in the premises.

Another advantage of the breed is low feed costs. Leghorns eat little and never overeat due to their metabolism. But at the same time, if the balance of proteins and minerals in the feed mixtures is disturbed, as well as if they are given insufficiently clean and fresh water, the chickens can significantly lose productivity.

Rhode Island: American Giant Layers

Among the egg-bearing types of chickens, representatives of the Rhode Island breed are considered giants; they are successfully raised both for eggs and for meat. The average weight of cockerels ranges from 3.1-3.8 kg, and individuals weighing over 4 kg are often found. Females weigh on average 2.5-2.9 kg. Individuals whose diet is dominated by green food reach the greatest weight.

Other characteristics of the breed:

• Egg production – up to 170 eggs per year;
• Egg weight – 58-63 g;
• Beginning of oviposition – 210 days;
• Hatchability – up to 75%.

Like representatives of the Loman Brown breed, Rhode Islanders are distinguished by their unpretentiousness in maintenance. They feel comfortable even in primitive poultry houses, without separate nests. The breed is resistant to low temperatures; with sufficient light and a balanced diet, egg production is maintained even in severe frosts. Rhode Island chickens have increased immunity to most diseases that affect the young of other egg-laying breeds.

Graceful minors

There are three lines of the breed: black Spanish Minorcas, whose gene pool is now almost exhausted, white-silver British and dwarf. The last line is experimental, the maximum weight of dwarf minors does not exceed 1 kg.

For industrial breeding, the British breed standard is currently used. Female British Minorcas weigh on average 2.3-2.5 kg, roosters - from 3.2 to 4. Along with the Rhode Island breed, Minorcas are equally well suited for both egg and meat breeding.

Minorka eggs are distinguished by the largest weight - up to 80 g. However, only laying hens in the second year of life are capable of producing eggs of such weight. Young animals that have just reached the age of oviposition produce eggs weighing up to 60 g. The egg production of young animals is higher than that of second years and is up to 170 pcs. per year, while individuals in the second year of life are capable of laying a maximum of 140.

A feature of Minorca chickens is the close dependence of productivity on the purity of the breed. Therefore, individuals with signs of deviation are discarded even before the onset of puberty.

Egg breed Minorca chickens
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Minorcas (both young and adult chickens) are very sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. To maintain productivity, it is important to keep livestock in dry and well-insulated poultry houses.

Noble beauties of the Sussexes

Individuals of this breed are distinguished by their elegant appearance. Chickens with a characteristic pattern on the neck and tail attract attention with their grace. There are many color options for individuals: Colombian, fawn, white, lavender, porcelain, brown, etc.

The most popular in Europe and Russia is Colombian. Representatives of this species are white with a dark “necklace” on the neck. The ends of the flight and tail feathers are also painted black.

The main characteristics of the breed are as follows:

• weight – 2.4-2.7 kg (females), 3-4 kg (males);
• egg weight – 56-58 g;
• beginning of oviposition – 5th month of life;
• productivity – 170-190 pcs.

The Sussex breed is very precocious: with proper care, young animals gain slaughter weight at 100-120 days of life. The breed's egg production depends on the time of year: in winter, productivity drops significantly, so on large farms chickens are often slaughtered with the onset of cold weather.

New Hampshire: "cousin" of the Rhode Island breed

These laying hens were bred by American breeders based on the Rhode Island breed. New Hampshire chickens weigh slightly less than their prototypes, but are also less voracious. The weight of the female is from 2.1 to 2.9 kg, the male – up to 3.75 kg.

New Hampshire laying hen eggs have a pleasant yellow-brown color, weight 1 pc. – up to 60 g. Maximum egg production is observed in the first year of life of individuals (up to 200 pcs), in the second – up to 160, in the third – up to 140. It is unprofitable to keep individuals older than three years.

Adult chickens and cockerels have a calm character and can coexist without problems with representatives of other breeds. New Hampshires can withstand temperature changes and weather vagaries. To maintain productivity, laying hens require a variety of nutrition; on feed alone, New Hampshire hens will quickly “deflate”. Their diet must include greens, grated root vegetables, and eggshells.

Russian White: the pride of domestic poultry farming

To develop this breed, Soviet breeders used White Leghorn roosters with females of local species. The breed standard is pure white plumage of individuals with a bright red crest and “earrings”. The live weight of females is from 1.6 to 1.8 kg, males - 2-2.5 kg.

Russian White belongs to the small-egg breeds (egg weight does not exceed 56 g), but it demonstrates good productivity (200-230 pieces per year). The egg production record for individual individuals is 300 eggs per year. The eggs produced are white and the shell is thin.

For best productivity, chickens should spend most of the daylight hours on the pasture. When kept in closed pens, it is important to maintain a microclimate that is comfortable for the birds: Russian Whites cannot tolerate humid air, so the humidity level should not rise above 70%. The temperature in the pen should not be allowed to drop below -2°C: the birds’ combs will immediately freeze, which will significantly affect egg production.

Early maturing laying hens Belarus 9-U

A cross of egg-laying chickens, adapted for growing in the climatic conditions of the middle zone. The breed is early maturing (the hens lay their first eggs on the 135th day of life), and keeping such birds is very profitable. An adult consumes no more than 115 g of feed per day.

Cross "Belarus 9-U"

The average weight of females is up to 2 kg, males are not much larger - up to 2.5 kg. Egg production of the breed is 250-260 pcs. Small eggs - 59-60 g.

Tetra: universal cross

A hybrid breed of laying hens, also suitable for raising for slaughter. Due to the meat and egg orientation of the breed, birds need a adjusted diet. It is imperative to observe the daily intake of calcium and protein by individuals, which is necessary for the regular formation of eggs. If the laying hens' diet is insufficient or unbalanced, this will quickly affect the health of the birds.

Tetra chickens on the run
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The breed's egg production is high - during the year the female is able to lay 230-250 eggs. The Tetra hybrid is relatively early ripening, egg laying begins already at the 21st week of life.

An adult female weighs 2 - 2.5 kg, a male - 2.8-3.5. Since the Tetra breed is a cross (hybrid), the size of the individuals is slightly larger than that of classic egg breeds.

Video - Laying hens Loman Brown and Hisex

Video - Keeping laying hens

Chicken breeds, of which there are more than 100 today, were created for different purposes in the process of many years of painstaking breeding work. More than eight thousand years ago, chickens were tamed by people, since then the breeds have evolved independently and were selected by humans for their best qualities. The modern catalog of breeds is replete with unusual names, but they are all different in their egg production, meat productivity, characteristics and appearance. To decide which breed to get, you need to get acquainted with its description and characteristics. Let's look at the most common breeds and their representatives.

Egg chickens, their description and cultivation features

The name itself speaks of their high productivity in terms of egg production. The catalog of egg hens consists of the following breeds:

• Leghorn chickens;
• Orlovskie chickens;
• Ukrainian earflaps.

Leghorn and Russian White chickens are especially popular, so let’s take a closer look at them.

Leghorn chickens

The description must begin with the fact that today this is the most common breed of chicken in the world. The color palette of their plumage is quite large, it has more than 20 colors and their shades, the most common among them are white, but there are black, red, etc. They are beautiful, they have a proportional body and head, a leaf-shaped crest, red earrings, a long neck and flesh-colored skin.

Despite the fact that the breed was developed in the 19th century, it is still used as breeding material to create new egg breeds. They are resistant to adverse natural conditions, easily adapt to a new environment and quickly gain weight. Chickens lay eggs 200 days a year, so they are considered a good business solution.

They are not picky about living conditions, live in cages or chicken coops, get along well with representatives of other breeds, as shown in the video below, but are susceptible to noise hysteria. In conditions of constant noise, the bird experiences stress, screams, fights, attacks can be repeated several times a day, which negatively affects its health and egg production.

Average weight of chicken, rooster:	1.5-2 kg - chicken, 2.3-2.5 kg - rooster.
Egg production per year:	300

Egg crosses created thanks to Leghorns are distinguished by high egg production rates.

Russian white chickens

Russian white chickens have increased egg production and high meat productivity. They are distinguished by strong immunity and immunity to infectious diseases. Their name corresponds to their appearance, they are white in color, large in constitution, they have red eyes, a medium head and long earrings. The rooster has a large, hanging comb, high legs and dense plumage. You can see what chickens of this breed look like in the video below. Work on this breed began back in 1929, and today chickens are distinguished by the rapid growth of their young and early egg laying.

Meat - egg chickens, their description and distinctive properties

The catalog of meat and egg breeds of chickens consists of:

• Moscow blacks;
• and other names of chickens.

Meat - egg-laying chickens have high meat and egg productivity, let's look at some breeds in more detail.

Kuchin anniversary chickens

The homeland of chickens is Russia. Chickens of this breed can be easily identified by their color, as shown in the photo; they are distinguished by black plumage with a golden mane. Chickens are very popular among poultry farmers because of their productivity and unpretentiousness to living conditions (see video).

This breed is raised industrially for meat and eggs. The eggs are medium in size; one hen lays two eggs every three days. Chickens are kept free range, they have good immunity, the chickens are energetic, grow quickly and gain weight. You can see how chickens look and behave in the video below. These are new chickens; breeding work to create them began in the post-war years and was completed in 1990.

Adler silver chickens

This is a domestic breed. Colombian plumage coloring (see video) makes it easy to distinguish chickens from their relatives. They have high productivity rates, so they are very popular among the population. The chickens are small, medium in size, and have good meatiness. Growing them, as shown in the video below, is not difficult. Chickens are active, they have a good appetite, strong immunity and immunity to infectious diseases. The bird is not caged, adapts well to any conditions, and does not require special housing conditions. They begin to lay eggs at the age of 5 months; the eggs are tasty, but not large.

New chickens have become widespread in Russia. They have good egg production and meat production, so they are grown in homesteads and on farms. A typical representative of the meat-egg breed is considered (see video below). The homeland of chickens is Australia, but due to its productivity, the breed is popular all over the world.

This breed of bird is universal, and therefore indispensable in private farms. Chickens differ from specialized breeds in their endurance, low feed consumption and safety of livestock.

Meat breeds of chickens, their description and brief characteristics

Poultry farming developed simultaneously with the growth of cities. Catalog of meat chickens, lists several breeds:

• Plymouthrock breed;

Plymouthrock and Cochin are most widespread due to their rapid growth and low feed consumption, so we will pay special attention to them.

Plymouth rock chickens

This breed of chicken was bred in America in the 19th century, and appeared in Russia back in 1911. As shown in the photo, the chickens have distinctive colors, thick feathers, red eyes and a small crest. Chickens are not large, but are used for meat and eggs. The body is proportional, as shown in the video below, they have a bright red crest, light yellow paws and red eyes. Chickens have excellent immunity and adaptation to adverse weather conditions. They love free range and have an affectionate and obedient character.

Cochin chickens

Chickens come from China. Having appeared there in the mid-19th century, the breed quickly spread throughout the world. The chicken’s body is powerful, as can be seen in the photo, covered with thick feathers from legs to head. The bird can be kept in cages or free-range. Despite the fact that the breed is meat, the egg production of chickens is high. The bird comes in black, fawn, golden and other colors. As shown in the video below,

a majestic appearance serves as their distinctive external feature. The fawn Cochin looks original: their thick plumage protects chickens even in the coldest winters.

You can listen to a story about the difference between the Cochin breed and its relatives by watching the video.

Fighting breeds of chickens

The catalog of chickens would be incomplete without representatives of fighting breeds (see photo): Malay, Moscow, English, etc. chickens are new to our country, since this type of competition, which appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, was immediately banned in Russia and Europe. You can get to know the wonderful fighters, for example, representatives of the Azil breed, in the video below. They have their own special tactics, thanks to which they win more often than they lose. What position to take, how to calculate the height of the jump - in this they have no equal.

The breeds participating in “cockfighting” are new to Russian poultry farming, but exciting competitions that demonstrate the strength, temperament and assertiveness of chickens are becoming increasingly popular.

Decorative breeds of chickens

The purpose of creating decorative breeds was to satisfy the aesthetic needs of wealthy people. Phoenix chickens were iconic, lived in temples and palaces, were shown to guests as a curiosity, and were considered the pride of the state. Having arrived in Russia from Japan and China, these beautiful birds were used to create more colorful, original and sophisticated breeds.

Modern ornamental chickens are new discoveries in poultry farming, following the fighting breeds. As shown in the photo, they have a petite appearance and exotic appearance. decorative ones, for example, such as in the video below, cannot but amaze with their beauty and grace. Whatever breed of ornamental chickens you get, their “hairstyles,” combs and tails are beyond praise and worthy of the best compliments. The Dutch White Crested is a new breed that appeared in our country not so long ago, but already has its fans in different parts of the world. Decide for yourself what kind of bird you should get, taking into account your taste preferences.

Are new breeds of chickens being developed now?

Of course. To do this, the best breeds of chickens are selected and parental pairs are formed from them. New breeds are carriers of specified properties, have greater productivity, immunity to diseases and excellent taste of products.

First, you need to think carefully about why you need chickens, what products you want to get from them, and only then look for the answer to the question: “What breed should you use for this?”

Chicken is not always just an egg or meat. After all, once you look at a chicken from a non-consumer point of view, it immediately becomes noticeable that this bird is quite good-looking. A fluffy tail, a beautiful comb - why not decorate your household? Decorative and rare breeds of chickens have long become an independent trend in poultry farming. That's why we decided that now is the time to make a rating of the most unusual and elite chickens!

First place

We give first place in our ranking to one of the rarest breeds in the world, the number of heads of which amounts to only a few hundred. The rare breed is called Ga Dong Tao. These chickens come from Vietnam and only live in their homeland. The breed was originally a fighting breed, the size of the birds is average: a rooster weighs 3-4 kg, and a chicken 2.5-3 kg. A distinctive feature of unusual creatures, for which we actually gave them primacy in our rating, are thick, one might say, even ugly legs.

In general, the Ga Dong Tao is a stocky, broad-chested bird with short wings and a long neck. The toes on thick legs are shortened and it should be noted that this feature does not at all make the breed attractive. The fact is that Ga Dong Tao fighting cocks were bred not only for spectacular fights, but also for meat. And in Vietnam, where chicken legs are a delicacy, chickens with especially thick and fleshy limbs were selected. And thus contributed to the formation of such an unusual quality in chickens.

Second place

We gave silver in our rating to the no less unusual breed Ayam Tsemani, which means “black rooster”. Actually, that says it all, because these chickens are completely black. They have black feathers, a comb, a beak, paws, eyes, but what is especially striking is that even their bones, meat and blood are black! I must say that the coal-black chickens look somewhat ominous. Unusual rare chickens originate from the island of Sumatra.

Apart from their unusual color, Ayam Tsemani chickens have nothing special to boast about; their egg production is low, and their weight is also small - about 1.5 kg. Therefore, the breed is rare; they are kept only by lovers and connoisseurs of everything unusual. After all, a rooster dressed in blue-black walking through the courtyard cannot help but surprise!

Third place

Beautiful, rare and unusual Phoenix chickens took bronze in our rating! The unusual thing about these eastern birds is their very long tail. Its minimum length is 3 m, but restless breeders are still working on the maximum. At this stage, a rooster with an 11-meter tail has been obtained! Phoenix chickens originate from the Far East; in China and Japan they have their own role in mythology; long-tailed birds are valued and revered there.

It is believed that incredible roosters roamed the imperial palaces, and having a long-tailed bird at home was always considered a guarantee of incredible luck. Having an ornamental breed on your farm is not so easy; in Japan, the sale of Phoenix roosters is still prohibited, and killing a sacred bird is punishable by law!

Fourth place

Another ancient breed has found its place in our ranking - this time we will talk about the Chinese silky chicken.

Attractive hens with a solid history have a number of incredible features:

• their feathers are not interlocked, so they look more like fur or wool;
• the silky hen does not have juvenile molt;
• on the head of unusual birds there is a fur cap that covers the entire head of the chicken and falls over the eyes;
• the skin of birds, as well as the earlobes and beak, have a bluish tint;
• Silk chickens have five toes on their feet.

Chinese silk chicken belongs to the decorative trend. In a year, she is capable of laying only 80 eggs, and her weight rarely exceeds 1.5 kg. Therefore, its main purpose is to decorate the courtyard, and they have been doing this for quite a long time. The first information about the breed can be found in Aristotle, who wrote about them as chickens with unusual “cat hair.” Which, by the way, is cut by some breeders of the breed.

Fifth place

We divided the fifth and sixth places between a whole category - Polish crested chickens. These rare breeds of chickens are represented by Paduan and Dutch white-crested chickens, we gave the first fifth place, the second sixth.

There is some misunderstanding why, for example, Dutch white-crested chickens are also called Polish. There may be several explanations for this. The mentioned chickens are united by a feather cap, slightly different in pomp and shape. Therefore, according to one version, all crested chickens began to be called Polish, because their “headdress” resembled the hat of a Polish soldier.

According to another version, the name Polish Crested came from the word “poll” - hair in translation. There is another opinion: according to him, Poland served as a bridge between Europe and the East. Allegedly, there is information about the movement of the ancestors of modern forelock chickens from Asia through the territory of modern Poland.

At the same time, Italy, namely the city of Padua, was recognized as the homeland of the Paduans, because even in the Roman Empire unusual crested chickens were known. The video below shows a selection of photos of beautiful Paduan chickens.

Paduans are rare ornamental chickens. Paduans are elegant and graceful, their crest is very fluffy and spherical. It covers the entire head of the bird, this is facilitated by the lack of a comb in this breed, but there is a beautiful feathered beard. The color of the plumage can be varied, from classic black or white to unusual bright options. In terms of productivity, Paduans are also classified as meat and egg breeders, with a productivity of 120 eggs and a weight of 1.5-2.5 kg.

Sixth place

Dutch white-crested hens are considered one of the national symbols of Holland. There is an opinion that in the distant 15th century they were an ordinary meat and egg breed, however, breeders, having decided to improve the appearance of the chickens, poured into them the blood of Polish Corydalis. Perhaps this is also why all crested chickens are called Polish. The Dutch white-crested hen has an extraordinary appearance - all of its plumage has a rich black color and only the lush crest stands out as white.

We can find beautiful tufted chickens in the paintings of animal artists of the 17th century. And some breeders over time began to call crested birds chickens with a hairstyle, and each “hairstyle” is unique in its own way. Naturally, the Dutch White-crested is primarily a decorative breed. Having such a specimen on your farm is happiness for the breeder-collector. However, the beauty hen should provide you with 140 eggs.

Seventh place

In seventh place is the rare old breed of Westphalian Totleger chickens. This German breed was once a frequent resident of farms. However, with the advent of many highly productive crosses, the old breeds gradually began to fade into the background. Alas, the same fate befell the beautiful birds of the Westphalian Totlegers. Their peculiarity is that Westphalian laying hens retain the ability to lay eggs until their death; it was for this quality that they were previously valued.

Westphalian chickens have a beautiful streamlined body shape, abundant and loose plumage. Roosters have especially long feathers on the collar area, the feathers of which fall all the way to the back of the bird. The productive qualities of the bird are average, the weight of the rooster is about 2 kg, and the weight of the hen is about 1.5 kg. Egg production is at the level of 150 eggs. The breed is maintained by a small number of dedicated breeders or those who appreciate and love rare breeds.

Eighth place

Another rare European breed in our ranking in eighth place is the Lakenfelder. These beautiful chickens from Belgium were even on the verge of extinction until the population began to be maintained artificially. Connoisseurs of the breed are engaged in maintaining it due to its unusual exterior characteristics.

The neck and collar of these chickens are painted black, although the rest of the chicken remains white. There may be patches of black on the tail; in roosters it can be almost completely black. But to achieve such a standardized coloring of Lakenfelder hens, you need to be patient, because many chickens are born pure black or pure white.

And only some of them will be half and half black and white. Therefore, we advise only professionals to breed rare Lakenfelder hens, so that not a single hen or cockerel goes to waste. It must be said that the egg productivity of black and white laying hens is not bad - 180 eggs per year, with a hen weighing about 2 kg.

Ninth place

This time it’s the turn to talk about the breed of Breda chickens. Also once popular in Dutch farmsteads, the breed is now very few in number. These chickens have a number of features, for example, there is no plumage on the head of these birds, and instead of a rudimentary crest, a symbolic crest grows. Because of this, Breda's chickens are sometimes called "crow's head". The feathering on the legs of chickens, and especially Breda roosters, grows very abundantly.

Breda roosters are generally very well feathered, especially their tail. The breed is considered very hardy and healthy. In addition, Breda chickens can become real pets. They have a calm disposition, they quickly get used to people, and can become practically tame. The productive qualities of unusual hens are very good: you can expect about 160 eggs with a laying hen weighing 2-3 kg. At the same time, everyone who tried Breda’s meat noted its unusual taste, unlike the taste of chicken meat we are used to.

Tenth place

Rounding out the top ten rare and elite chicken breeds is a variety with the beautiful name Wyandotte. The standard for Wyandotte chickens was established in 1883 in the USA, a country recognized as the birthplace of beautiful birds. Wyandotte chickens come in as many as 15 different colors. Moreover, each chicken is colored differently, and the feathers have a spectacular edging. The most common color is white Wyandotte, which also has an unusual pink comb.

The productive qualities of Wyandotte chickens are quite good: the weight of the cockerel is 3-3.5 kg, and the weight of the hen is 2.5 kg. Egg production is 150-180 eggs, that is, the Wyandotte breed belongs to the meat and egg breed. This beautiful breed is very rare in our country. Bred only in some collection farms to maintain the gene pool of unusual birds.

Eleventh place

Our rating continues with a truly natural wonder. We are talking about Bald Israeli chickens, specially bred by Professor Avigdor Kohaner. The professor explained his research by saying that in the Israeli heat, chickens don’t need plumage at all, and after 25 years of vigorous activity, he managed to “turn off” the unnecessary gene. Of course, bald chickens with reddish skin are unlikely to decorate any chicken coop, because their appearance, to put it mildly, is specific.

So far, the meat breed is not at all widespread. After all, some breeders are wary of them, and conservationists even rebel against such experiments on birds.

Twelfth place

In twelfth place we placed another rare European breed, the Barnevelder. Nowadays you rarely see these beautiful birds in farmsteads. This breed has a unique plumage that no other breed has. Each feather has a double edge and looks like lace. We can say that Barnevelder chickens have very good prospects for mass breeding. Indeed, in addition to their spectacular appearance, they can offer the owner about 180 very large (about 80 g) eggs and 3-3.5 kg of meat.

Thirteenth place

In the “unlucky” thirteenth place are chickens of the Dominic breed. This breed is considered the oldest American breed, because its roots go back to the times of colonization of the New World. Now the once popular breed is being replaced by new highly productive crosses, and the same thing is happening in Europe. In particular, Dominic became the basis for the emergence of the Plymouthrock breed, which is much more common today and serves as the genetic material for many broiler breeds.

Dominique chickens, which were bred by early American settlers, have beautiful black and white cuckoo plumage and a rose-shaped comb. Their plumage is so lush that from the outside they look like a striped ball of feathers. They belong to the meat-egg type, laying hens produce approximately 180 eggs per year, and weigh 2-2.5 kg. Roosters are heavier - their average weight is 3.2 kg.

Fourteenth place

In fourteenth place are another unusual creation of the chicken world - Icelandic Landrace chickens. Their uniqueness is that these birds are able to withstand severe frosts. This feature is formed by long centuries spent in the harsh Icelandic climate. The Vikings also brought chickens to Iceland for breeding, but many of them could not survive in the harsh climate. And those that withstood the test of frost later became the national Icelandic breed. The plumage of northern hens can be varied.

Icelandic Ladras are very active and freedom-loving chickens, they do not accept cage housing, and they lay eggs almost all year round; frost is not a hindrance to them. As a result, you can definitely expect approximately 200 eggs per year from northern hens. In this case, the weight of the chickens is 2.5-3 kg. By the way, this breed is so accustomed to the harsh climate that they do not take root at all in southern latitudes, it is too hot for them there.

Fifteenth place

Our rating is completed by the English Red-Capped Chicken. This is a very rare breed of chickens, the decoration and feature of which is an unusual comb in the shape of a rose-cap. Unusual chickens have long been bred in the UK, but now they are also being replaced by new crosses and breeds. Red-capped hens were bred for eggs, which they produced 150-200 per year - previously a very good indicator and average by modern standards.

Several English collectors are now involved in maintaining the breed, who prevent the breed from completely disappearing from the face of the Earth.

Photo gallery

Video “Rare breeds of chickens”

Do you want to collect fresh eggs or even dozens of them every day? Laying hens of the Loman Brown or Kuchinskaya Yubileiny breed will help you achieve this goal. In our article you will learn about the productivity of these and many other species. Check out the descriptions of the most popular breeds to help you decide exactly which one to choose and which one is right for you!

Loman Brown

This is one of the most common breeds of laying hens. It was developed by a German company with the same name and has earned its popularity due to its good productivity and low maintenance costs. Such characteristics make it possible to successfully use it both in large farms and for home maintenance. It is worth noting that this breed is calm and not shy. The survival rate of chickens is at least 98%, which makes it possible to successfully breed them.

Productivity

Loman Brown laying hens are considered one of the best in the world in egg production. The first eggs can be expected from them already at the age of 5 months. By the thirtieth week of life, they reach their maximum productivity, producing 280-290 eggs per year. The eggs have a hard brown shell and weigh on average 64 grams.

Leghorn

This breed is rightfully considered the most productive. Chickens of this species are bred exclusively for egg production. As you can see in the photo, most birds of this breed are white, but other colors are also found. Their main disadvantage is increased timidity. For example, in too noisy environments they may succumb to noise hysteria.

Noise hysteria will lead to aggression and a drop in egg production. Therefore, it is recommended to keep such chickens in quiet places that are away from roads and other sources of noise.

Productivity

Leghorn hens are the best egg producers in the world. On average, they can produce about 300 eggs per year, but under optimal conditions this number can be increased. Their eggs are not too large, they are white, and the average weight is 56 grams. But at the same time, they are very high quality and have a strong shell.

Kuchin anniversary

This breed can be called truly universal, because it is suitable for both egg and meat production. These laying hens have average egg production rates and are unpretentious in their diet and living conditions. They do equally well in cages or free-range, so you can choose either type of housing.

Kuchinsky Jubilee is perfect for farmers who do not have much experience in raising chickens. As you can see in the photo, most representatives of this species are brown in color.

Productivity

On average, you can get about 220 eggs per year from the Kuchin Jubilee. Of course, this is far from a record figure, but given the extremely low cost of maintenance, as well as the high quality of meat, this breed can be called one of the optimal ones. The eggs are beige in color and have a hard shell, and their weight is about 60 g.

Minorca

These birds have beautiful black plumage and are quite large in size, which is noticeable in the photo. If you are interested in egg breeds of chickens that lay the largest eggs, then be sure to pay attention to Minorca. This species is not suitable for meat, because despite its large size, its meat does not have a good taste. When purchasing these birds, you should pay attention to their appearance. The closer it is to the standard, the higher the performance will be.

Productivity

These laying hens have an average egg production, producing about 250-260 eggs per year. But at the same time, the average weight of each egg is about 90 g. And sometimes you can find real giants that weigh 115-120 grams. By age 3, the number of eggs produced decreases, but their size and quality increase.

Hamburg

The main difference of this breed is its magnificent appearance. Often these beautiful birds are bred solely for decorative purposes. This is not surprising, because looking at the photos and videos one cannot help but notice their exquisite beauty. But this species also has many other positive qualities. They are unpretentious to keep and have good egg production rates. Due to their small size, these chickens do not require much food, which means keeping them will be financially profitable.

Productivity

The eggs of Hamburg laying hens are medium in size and weigh about 60 grams. You can get about 170 pieces per year. The shell is most often brown and quite hard. The product has high taste and nutritional value.

Italian partridge

This species is one of the most ancient, its age is more than two thousand years. However, the wide spread of this breed of laying hens occurred only in the 19th century. An important advantage of the breed is its resistance to diseases and temperature changes. Italian partridge roosters are quite large and significantly larger than hens, as can be seen in the photo. This breed can be considered universal, as it is excellent for both egg and meat production.

Productivity

Like many other egg breeds, the Italian Partridge produces about 220 eggs per year. Their average weight is 60 g, with white and brown being found in approximately equal numbers. Under good conditions, laying hens quickly gain weight and can improve egg production.

Russian white

These laying hens were bred in the USSR and got their name due to their color. During the selection process, local egg breeds of chickens were crossed with the white Leghorn. The result was small, white, egg-laying birds with good resistance to temperature changes. This species is very easy to keep, as Russian Whites get along well both in cages and on free grazing.

Productivity

The eggs of this breed are white and weigh about 56 grams. In a year you can get about 260 pieces, but some laying hens can bring up to 300. Thanks to the good productivity and unpretentiousness of the birds, they can be kept both for industrial production and in small farms.

Photo gallery

Video “Different types of laying hens on the farm”

In this video you can see what breeds of the best laying hens are, and also learn about the conditions for keeping them on a large farm.