Explore the productivity and beauty of extra-large egg-laying chickens at Stromberg’s. These are chicken breeds that lay jumbo-sized eggs for small farm operations, hobbyists, and families. With their unmatched egg production, you will surely get a consistent supply of extra-large eggs that other chicken breeds can’t match.
As a backyard chicken keeper, you likely want hens that lay large, jumbo eggs for all your baking and cooking needs. But with so many chicken breeds to choose from, how do you know which ones lay the biggest eggs? In this guide, we’ll look at the top chicken breeds known for laying extra-large and jumbo sized eggs.
What is Considered a Jumbo Egg?
Before we talk about breeds, let’s talk about what a “jumbo egg” really is. Eggs are categorized by weight not size. From smallest to largest, here is a list of egg sizes.
- Peewee – Less than 1.5 ounces per egg
- Small – 1.5 ounces per egg
- Medium – 1.75 ounces per egg
- Large – 2 ounces per egg
- Extra Large – 2.25 ounces per egg
- Jumbo – 2.5 ounces or more per egg
An egg has to weigh at least 2 pounds to be called jumbo. 5 ounces. That’s a big egg!.
Top Chicken Breeds for Jumbo Eggs
Now let’s look at some of the top chicken breeds known for laying massive jumbo eggs on a consistent basis
1. Jersey Giant
One of the best breeds for jumbo eggs is the Jersey Giant, which lays eggs that weigh 2 pounds. 5-3 ounces on average. Hens weigh 8 to 10 pounds and lay 3 to 4 eggs a week. They are a big bird. Their eggs are a dark brown color.
2. New Hampshire
Another excellent jumbo egg layer is the New Hampshire breed. Even though these birds aren’t as big as Jersey Giants, they still lay very big brown eggs that weigh 2 pounds. 5-3 ounces. They are productive layers, averaging 4 eggs per week.
3. Brahma
Brahmas are gentle giants known for their massive size But they also lay surprisingly large eggs on a frequent basis. Their jumbo brown eggs typically weigh around 25 ounces. The only downside is Brahmas tend to be broody.
4. Cochin
The Cochin is another big fluffy chicken that delivers when it comes to jumbo egg production. Their large brown eggs weigh 2.5-3 ounces on average. Cochins have a very calm temperament that makes them great pets.
5. Marans
Marans may not be as widely known, but they lay beautiful dark chocolate brown eggs that are extra large to jumbo sized. You can expect eggs weighing 2.5 ounces and up from this French heritage breed.
6. Orpington
Orpingtons are quintessential backyard chickens, and are also fantastic layers of large brown eggs. Their jumbo sized eggs typically weigh around 2.75 ounces. Orpingtons are docile, cold hardy, and come in several color varieties.
7. Sussex
Another dual purpose heritage breed, the Sussex is an underrated jumbo egg layer. Their large brown eggs routinely weigh 2.5 ounces or more. Sussex hens are calm and friendly while also being good sitters.
8. Ameraucana
Ameraucanas stand out for their brightly colored blue or green eggs. But they also lay surprisingly massive eggs, easily reaching jumbo sizes of 2.5-3 ounces. They are active foragers and come in several color varieties.
9. Barnevelder
The Barnevelder may not be a common backyard chicken, but it’s a heritage breed prized for its dark brown eggs. Their egg size is considered extra large to jumbo. Barnevelders have a dual purpose body type.
10. Welsummer
Hailing from Holland, Welsummers are known for laying deep reddish brown eggs that often reach jumbo proportions. Their eggs weigh 2.5 ounces on average. This rare breed has an autosexing feature making cockerels easy to identify.
Other Considerations for Jumbo Egg Layers
When evaluating chicken breeds for jumbo egg potential, there are a few other factors to keep in mind:
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Age – All hens lay smaller eggs at first. Egg size increases as the hen ages and reaches full maturity. Full egg size may not be attained until age 1.
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Diet – Nutrition impacts egg size. Ensuring your hens get enough protein, calcium, and other nutrients helps maximize egg mass.
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Genetics – Even within a breed, certain strains or bloodlines are bred to prioritize large egg size more than others.
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Individual Variation – While breeds are known for certain average egg sizes, each hen still varies. One may lay slightly smaller or larger eggs than her sister.
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Egg Color – Many jumbo egg layers have brown eggs. But white egg layers like Jersey Giants exist too. Color preference is personal.
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Dual Purpose – Some of the best jumbo layers are heavyweight dual purpose breeds. But smaller egg specialists like Leghorns can also lay large eggs.
The Bottom Line on Jumbo Egg Layers
When it comes to consistently massive, jumbo sized eggs, heritage breeds like Jersey Giants, New Hampshires, Brahmas, Cochins, and Orpingtons are your best bets. Focus on selecting healthy hens from good breeding lines, feeding a quality diet, and allowing them time to fully mature. With the right breed and care, those chicken egg recipes requiring jumbos will be no problem for your flock!
Efficient and Economical Egg Production
Investing in extra-large egg-laying chickens is a smart choice because of their excellent feed-to-egg ratio. You get more bang for your buck in egg production. Look at Red Sex Links, for instance. They are a popular chicken breed because of their prolific laying ability and feed efficiency. Their hardiness in all-weather environments makes them a manageable hybrid breed.
If you get extra-large chickens that lay eggs, you will need fewer of them to meet your egg needs. This will save you space and money in the long run.
Chicken Breeds That Lay Extra Large Eggs
Extra-large egg layers are developed specifically for egg production. They lay eggs that are larger than average, often weighing 2. 5 ounces or more. Bielefelders are the perfect example. These purebred brown egg layers produce up to 230 eggs annually. They are also dual-purpose birds. This means they don’t just typically lay large eggs. They also have large body sizes that provide a substantial amount of meat.
There are many more birds in our collection that can do more than one thing, like Black and White Jersey Giants, which can lay up to 280 big brown eggs a year.
Meet the Sturdy Layers: Top 10 Chickens for Consistently Large Eggs
FAQ
What chicken breeds lay jumbo eggs?
Several chicken breeds are known for laying jumbo-sized eggs. These include Leghorns, Minorcas, Jersey Giants, Brahmas, and Delawares.
What chicken lays 364 eggs a year?
The Australorp Chicken is renowned for its impressive egg production. These chickens can lay up to 364 eggs annually, with one exceptional hen setting the world record by laying 364 eggs in a single year. Generally, you can expect an Australorp to produce between 250 and 300 large eggs each year.
What chickens lay jumbo double yolk eggs?
There is no one special breed that lays double yolkers. Occasionally a hen may lay a double yolker when her ovaries release two yolks at once, rather than one at a time. This tends to happen more often when hens are young and have just begun laying.
What causes chickens to lay jumbo eggs?
How big the eggs are will depend on the hen’s breed (some breeds just lay bigger eggs than others), its age, and how healthy and well-fed it is.