Top 10 Outstanding Chicken Breeds Known for Producing Nutrient-Rich Brown Eggs
Chicken breeds that lay brown eggs come in a variety of shades and have distinct characteristics that make them unique. Here's a look at some popular brown egg-laying breeds and what sets them apart.
The Welsummer: Terracotta Treasures
The Welsummer is a Dutch breed known for its calm and friendly temperament, making it a great choice for both free-ranging and confinement. This breed lays large, dark reddish-brown (often referred to as terracotta-colored) eggs, sometimes with speckles. The Welsummer is cold hardy and well-suited to various environments 1, 4.
Rhode Island Red: Dependable and Dark Brown
Rhode Island Reds are excellent layers, rarely broody, and cold hardy, making them adaptable to various environments, including free range. They produce large, medium brown eggs, which can be darker reddish-brown in some variants. This American breed is a reliable choice for backyard and commercial settings 1, 2.
Wyandotte: Beauty and Brown Eggs
The Wyandotte is a large American breed developed in the late 1800s. It is cold hardy, friendly, and can be used both for egg production and as a bird for the table. This breed lays light to medium brown large eggs, sometimes with speckles. Wyandottes are also known for their good brooding abilities 1.
Barred Rock (Plymouth Rock): Medium Brown Eggs and Cold Hardiness
Barred Rock (also known as Plymouth Rock) chickens are dependable layers, cold hardy, and suitable for free-range or pastured poultry settings. They lay nice medium brown eggs. This breed is a popular choice for backyard flocks and commercial operations alike 3.
Buff Orpington: Pinkish Eggs and Gentle Temperament
Buff Orpingtons can lay pinkish eggs if they have a heavy bloom, but generally lay brown eggs with a range of shades depending on genetics. They are known for their gentle temperaments and cold hardiness. This English breed is well-rounded and does well in both confinement and free-range situations 3.
ISA Brown: Prolific Producers of Dark Pink to Light Brown Eggs
ISA Brown is a hybrid breed famous for high productivity (up to about 300 eggs/year) with dark pink to light brown eggs averaging 60 grams. They are prolific layers focused on production efficiency 2.
Orloff: Light Brown Eggs and Russian Origins
Orloff is a Russian-origin ornamental breed laying light brown eggs (160-180 per year). It is strong, cold hardy, with distinctive plumage and a quiet disposition 2.
These breeds show variability in the shade of brown eggs they lay, influenced by genetics and sometimes environment. Most are cold hardy and suitable for both backyard and commercial use, with some breeds also valued for their appearance or dual-purpose qualities (egg and meat) 1, 2, 3.
Hens and Calcium: Laying the Foundation for Eggs
It's important to note that hens need calcium to produce eggs, and adding free choice eggshells or oysters shells can help if they are not getting enough 5.
Other Notable Brown Egg-Laying Breeds
- Serama: The smallest breed of chicken, weighing as little as six ounces, lays tiny eggs that range in color from almost white to dark brown. Serama hens lay all year round 6.
- Silkies: An ancient breed believed to originate in China, known for their ornamental appearance and being excellent broodies. Silkies lay a small cream-colored egg, and when not brooding will give you about three eggs a week 7.
- Jersey Giant: Developed in New Jersey, this is a big bird that lays a large, light to medium brown egg 8.
- Marans: A French breed known for its deep chocolate egg color, with the Black Copper and Cuckoo varieties being common in the United States 9.
- Penedesenca: A Spanish breed that lays a dark chocolate brown egg that can sometimes be speckled, despite having white earlobes 10.
- Brahma: Known for their large size, Brahma roosters can weigh up to 18 pounds and lay a large, light brown egg 11.
In summary, if you want a variety of brown egg shades along with good laying capacity and friendly or hardy characteristics, the Welsummer, Rhode Island Red, Wyandotte, Barred Rock, and Buff Orpington are excellent choices. For prolific brown egg layers with consistent performance, ISA Browns are notable 1, 2, 3.
- The Welsummer, with its terracotta-colored eggs and cold hardiness, is a great choice for various environments and is known for its calm and friendly temperament.
- ISA Brown, a hybrid breed, is renowned for its high productivity in egg laying, producing dark pink to light brown eggs averaging 60 grams each.
- A small yet notable brown egg-laying breed is the Serama, which lays tiny eggs ranging in color from almost white to dark brown and is known for constant lay all year round.
