Whether you are an old cock or the new chick on the chicken farmer block, there are always exciting new things to learn about chickens. If you are interested in what breeds of chickens lay white eggs, how often they lay white eggs, their personalities, and their traits, then you have chosen the right flock!
White eggs are in high demand, and we will discuss the ladies that produce them in more detail below. We chose the seven most popular white eggers depending on the number of eggs they produce per year and have included a remarkably interesting eighth due to her extraordinary features.
Eight Chickens That Lay White Eggs
Admittedly, more than eight chicken breeds lay white eggs, but we will focus on the following due to popular demand, exciting facts, exceptional egg laying, and other traits.
1. White Leghorn
White leghorns are the most popular white eggers widely used to produce eggs commercially. These chickens mature early and produce up to three hundred large or jumbo-sized white eggs yearly. They live between four and six years. These ladies lay well into their fourth year, laying larger eggs as they age. White leghorns produce the bulk of white eggs sold in grocery stores.
The breed originated in Italy and was introduced to the USA in 1828. They are considered “industrial” hens as they are exceptional egg producers. Even though there are twelve varieties of leghorns, the white ones are the most popular.
White Leghorns are easily recognizable by their beautiful white feathers, bright red comb and wattles, white earlobes, red eyes, yellow beaks, and legs. But, did you know that the animation character Foghorn Leghorn in the movie Looney Tunes is a very witty and, dare we say, cocky leghorn rooster? Consider yourself informed.
2. Ancona
Another white egger with roots in Italy is the Ancona. They are also known as black or mottled leghorns and were recognized in 1898 by the American Poultry Association. These very alert birds lay eggs from as young as twenty weeks old and can produce up to two hundred and eighty medium to large eggs per year. These easy-to-keep, year-round layers are brilliant and love to spread their wings and fly!
This medium to large birds are covered in white dotted black feathers; they have clean yellow legs, white earlobes, red eyes, and yellow beaks. They tend to be highly chatty, and your neighbors may lodge a noise complaint against you.
Ancona chickens have been named a heritage breed, which means they have not been interbred and have been around for centuries.
3. Holland
Hollands are available in two varieties, namely white hollands and barred hollands. Both are avid layers and produce two hundred to two hundred and forty large white eggs annually. Hollands was developed and bred in New Jersey, the USA, in 1930. These hens are good egg layers and mothers that brood over their eggs and chicks.
Hollands are either white or barred and are dual-purpose breeds that produce eggs and meat. Both have bright red wattles and combs, with the white hollands having white skin and the barred chickens having yellow skin. They are perfect backyard chickens that quickly adapt to any environment, but they do not do well in close confinement and may fight due to frustration.
4. Andalusian
Andalusians entered America from Andalusia, Spain, between 1850 and 1855. Each hen can produce more than one hundred and fifty medium to large white eggs per year and live between five and eight years. Even though their bodies are small and light, they do not lack in personality or confidence. These hens are not broody, and their curiosity often motivates them to fly and explore. However, they do not do well in confined spaces and should not be considered pets.
The most recognized Andalusian has blue-colored feathers. These birds are heat tolerant and cold hardy, enabling them to survive in rugged terrain.
A fascinating fact is that the Andalusian breed carries a dilution gene that, in layman’s terms, means the gene causes their blue feathers to “lighten” with each new generation unless you keep breeding with black Andalusian only. When white or black feathered Andalusians enter the gene pool, the feathers will lighten due to the dilution gene.
5. Polish Chicken
The Polish chicken breed sports “afro-looking” head feathers, enhancing their appearance and making them even more popular. They produce for an extended period during the year, and hens lay in the vicinity of two hundred small white eggs yearly. Bigger chicken breeds often pick up on these skittish chickens. They arrived in America in 1850 and were extremely popular for their docile nature, making them lovable and easy to keep.
Polish chickens are available in white, silver, golden, blue, and black. The newest color variation is tolbunt, a beautiful mixture of black, brown, and white. Although friendly and calm, these chickens need their personal space. Otherwise, they will become aggressive towards one another.
6. Black Minorca
The large, proud Black Minorca breed hailed from Spain and was first introduced to the USA by Mr. JJ Fultz in 1884 and 1885 by Mr. Francis A Mortimer. This breed is not cold-hardy since they originate from warmer climates. However, they are great foragers that do not do well in confined spaces.
The hens lay on average one hundred and twenty large white eggs per year in colder climates. In warmer climates, the average egg production may rise to two hundred and twenty eggs, and producing double-yoked eggs are not unusual in this breed.
Minorca chickens have blue, black, buff, or white feathers, white earlobes, and red combs and wattles. These birds are curious, friendly, and alert but not very broody. This breed may not lay as many eggs as others, but they sure lay some of the largest white eggs weighing up to sixty-five grams.
7. Egyptian Fayoumi
Egyptian Fayoumi chickens have been on the egg-laying scene for three thousand years. They originated from the Fayoumi district, which is situated close to the Nile river in Egypt. They are fondly referred to as Pharoah chickens and are the ultimate survival chicken breed.
These chickens are incredibly resistant to diseases and can survive in harsh, warm environments. Their small, light bodies enable them to be quick and flighty, which protects them well against danger. This breed matures extremely fast, and the young cockerels may start to crow at five weeks, while the hens will start laying at four and a half to five months of age.
You can expect a hen to lay up to two hundred, small, white eggs with a light pink hue. Even though the eggs are on the smaller side of the scale they have a bigger yolk to white ratio than other chicken eggs. Research found that these eggs contain lower cholesterol levels than average chicken eggs.
Sturdy grey legs carry the light birds, their combs and wattles are red, their beaks are dark horn brown, and they have fantastic sight through sharp dark eyes. The earlobes are red with a white spot, and their feathers are silver penciled.
Egyptian Fayoumi chickens are naturally very resistant to diseases. Therefore, it is understandable that a professor from Iowa University brought fertilized Fayoumi eggs to the USA to study them.
There are no variations of the fayoumi chicken breed. They are cost-effective to raise, thrive in hot climates, are great foragers, produce eggs regularly, and mature fast. However, it is not an easy chicken to keep cooped since they prefer to be independent, and their curiosity will often urge them to scale fences. In addition, they love to perch in trees and lay their eggs all over, which means the egg hunt is on every day!
The Egyptian Fayoumi breed has ancient breed status since it has been around for the last three thousand years. The Fayoumi is rated the most popular chicken breed in Egypt.
8. Ayam Cemani
Have you ever heard of the Ayam Cemani chicken? These extraordinary chickens may not lay mounds of white eggs annually, but they are so interesting and attractive that we deemed it necessary to add them to the list of chickens that lay white eggs.
Allow us to introduce the Ayam Cemani chicken. This chicken is blue-black from its combs to its toes, bones, heart, beak, meat, skin, feathers, and intestines. A genetic mutation causes their black appearance. This breed is indigenous to Indonesia and is also known as “Goth chickens,” “the Lamborghini of poultry,” and “Sith Lord birds.”
It is unsure about how these chickens spread across the globe. The popular belief is that visitors were intrigued by the breed, bought them, and took them to their home countries. Unfortunately, it is challenging to find these chickens in the USA due to avian flu scares.
This breed has a lifespan of six to eight years; the hens are docile and good mothers, while the roosters will vigorously defend their flock. Unfortunately, the hens will not win any egg-laying contest since they produce only about eighty eggs per year. One will expect them to lay black eggs, but these ladies produce white eggs with a cream/pink tint.
The hens also stop laying for extended periods and then commence laying again, which explains the low egg production. Did we mention that their blood is not black but a deeper red than usual and that their bone marrow is also black?
The Ayam Cemani is not your typical pet bird but does well with people and is a famous “ornamental” chicken if your budget can accommodate their price. Unfortunately, Ayam Cemani chickens are rare and if you can locate them you will need to dig deep into your pockets to acquire them as they are costly.
How To Determine What Color Eggs A Hen Will Lay
It is possible to determine the color of eggs a hen will lay by looking at her physical appearance. However, the secret lies in the color of their earlobes! If you can determine the color of a hen’s earlobes, you can tell if she will produce white eggs.
White Leghorn chickens are good examples of chickens that lay white eggs and also present large white earlobes. The gene determining the color of a chicken’s earlobes also determines the color of the eggs a hen will produce.
An exception to the rule is the black Ayam Cemani chicken that has black earlobes but lay white eggs. Another exciting deviation to this rule is the Araucana breed that has shades of green or blue earlobes and lays blue and green-hued eggs!
Remember that the white earlobes indicating white eggs and red or darker colored earlobes indicating brown eggs only apply to commercial egg layers and may not apply to all types of chicken breeds.
How To Locate A Chicken’s Earlobe
If you want to determine what color eggs to expect from your hens, you should try locating their earlobes. Some chickens have prominent earlobes that are often confused for wattles, while others’ earlobes may be smaller or even covered by feathers.
The earlobes are right under the ear canal on both sides of the head, representing a flap of skin. Roosters usually have more prominent earlobes than hens, and earlobes continue growing with age.
Do Roosters Or Hens Determine The Color Of Eggs?
This article is all about the hens for they lay the eggs! Roosters have nothing to do with the color of eggs hens produce. Roosters are present for reproduction, but hens do not need roosters to lay eggs.
Michigan State University has found that the genetics of the hen determines the color of the eggs the hen will produce. Egg color is breed-dependent, and a white egger will lay nothing but white eggs.
Conclusion
Old Mc Donald must have a lot of fun with all the animals on his farm, especially if he has different breeds of chickens clucking here, clucking there, and laying their eggs everywhere!
David Cameron is a passionate chicken enthusiast. Growing up, he always wanted to be a veterinarian and loved animals. After graduating from veterinary school, David spent over 40 years as an equine veterinarian. He and his wife retired a few years ago and moved to North Carolina. Here, David’s love of chickens grew even more – he now has 7 chickens and 6 quail. If you have any questions about chickens, feel free to reach out.