What chickens lay eggs in winter? Many chicken breeds can lay eggs in winter with the use of artificial light and supplemental heat. However, these six breeds outshine other winter egg layers and have friendly personalities to boot.
#1 Golden Comet: Dependable Year-Round Layer
If you’re wondering what chickens lay eggs in winter, look no further than the Golden Comet. These hens are hands down the best winter egg layers for those looking to start an egg business, or for families who eat a lot of eggs.
The only downside to this breed as a winter egg layer is that their production lifespan is short, so hens need to be replaced every two or so years to keep egg production high.
A dependable year-round layer, Golden Comets produce an average of three hundred plus large brown eggs. Hens are usually early morning layers, making it convenient to let hens out in the run earlier in the morning without having unnecessary egg hunts.
Golden Comets are friendly, sociable, and enjoy interacting with their handlers. These sweet hens thrive on human attention, so if raising them also as pets, be prepared to spend a little extra time with them.
#2 Brahma: Superior Winter-Layer
If you have ever researched what chickens lay eggs in winter, you have probably noticed that the Brahma is one of the top winter egg layers. But did you know? Brahmas lay most of their eggs from October through May.
While this large breed rarely lays during the hot summer months, they are a dependable winter layer, averaging two hundred medium-large brown eggs annually. Brahmas are such good winter egg producers, the American Livestock Conservancy reports them as being “a superior winter-layer.”
Brahma hens are calm, easy-going, and tend to get along well with other chickens in a mixed flock. Despite their large size, the breed often acts as a peacemaker in flock disputes. The breed is also patient and tolerant in the coop.
With their handlers, Brahmas are friendly and make good pets for children and novices. A gentle giant, the Brahma is a good addition to any flock with its sweet and fun-loving personality.
#3 Salmon Faverolles: Friendly and Affectionate Winter Egg Layers
What chickens lay eggs in winter, and sport a fifth toe? The Salmon Faverolles. These delightful hens are a wonderful addition to the backyard flock as they dependably lay eggs throughout the cold winter months without the use of artificial light or heat.
While they may produce fewer eggs than other heritage breeds (about one hundred and fifty medium-sized cream-colored eggs annually), the Salmon Faverolles is a steady winter egg layer and during the coldest months will out-produce other breeds in the henhouse.
Friendly, sociable, interactive and affectionate, Salmon Faverolles make ideal pets. They love to interact with humans and are not considered to be an independent breed. (Meaning, they must have human interaction.)
The breed’s calm and gentle demeanor puts them at a disadvantage in a mixed flock, as they are frequently bullied.
#4 Orpingtons: Novice and Kid-Friendly
Orpingtons probably come to mind when considering what chickens lay eggs in winter. These fluffy hens are good winter layers, producing eggs during the winter when other breeds have halted egg production.
During the first year of laying, Orpington pullets will lay an egg every day without the use of artificial light. After the first molt, Orpington hens will continue to produce eggs throughout winter, but production will decrease. Therefore, artificial light is needed for those looking to see a consistent flow of eggs year-round.
Producing an average of two hundred to two hundred and fifty large brown eggs annually, Orpington hens are dependable layers.
Orpingtons are gentle, calm, active, friendly, and affectionate. With their people-loving personalities, the Orpington is a good breed for children and novices.
While the breed can be bullied when housed with more aggressive breeds, they often dominate the top of the pecking order when housed with other docile chickens.
#5 Plymouth Rock: Quirky and Curious
An iconic American breed, Plymouth Rocks are often overlooked when considering what chickens lay eggs in winter, as they lack the dense feathering of many of the breeds mentioned above. However, these hens are one of the best heritage breeds for year-round egg production.
Producing two hundred to two hundred and eighty large brown eggs annually, the Plymouth Rock often stops laying in late summer/early fall to molt before egg production picks up again in the late fall or winter months.
During the winter months, young laying pullets produce an egg almost daily without the use of artificial lighting. Mature Plymouth Rock hens will produce eggs throughout the winter months, but for daily egg production, adding supplemental lighting to the coop may be necessary to keep egg numbers consistent.
Docile, quirky, curious, and sweet, Plymouth Rock hens are a great addition to the backyard flock. They make good pets if handled frequently as chicks, but it can take them longer to become friendly and trusting than other, more sociable breeds. Therefore, they are not recommended for children or novices.
#6 Rhode Island Red: Year-Round Layers
It’s not surprising when researching what chickens lay eggs in winter, that the Rhode Island Red is one of the best winter egg layers. This hardy breed consistently produces eggs year-round and will even lay throughout the cold winter months with the use of artificial light.
Excellent egg layers, the Rhode Island Red is one of the top egg-producing heritage breeds, with each hen averaging 270 large, light brown eggs annually.
Friendly, calm, and curious, the Rhode Island Red does not require as much human attention as other breeds, but that doesn’t mean they should be overlooked as a pet chicken. While they may appear to have more of a standoff personality, they enjoy snuggling for a few moments with their favorite human and following them around the yard.
Bear in mind that Rhode Island Reds can be noisy, so they may not be the best choice for flock owners with neighbors close by.
Final Thoughts on Winter Egg Layers
What chickens lay eggs in winter? The breeds mentioned above are just a few of the best winter egg layers for backyard flock owners. With their good winter production and friendly personalities, these six breeds will make a wonderful addition to the backyard flock.
This article about what chickens lay eggs in winter was written for Hobby Farms and Chickens magazines. Click here to subscribe.
