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Breed shortlist
The heaviest-laying breeds
The top of any laying list belongs to hybrids bred for production. Pure breeds lay fewer eggs a year, and usually for more years.
How the list is made
Breeds that lay at least 250 eggs a year at the top of their typical range, highest first. 15 breeds in the catalogue qualify, and 14 of them can be ordered today. Sorted by how many listings are in stock.
| Breed | Eggs a year | Egg colour | Temperament | Climate | In stock | Pullets from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novogen White | 300–320 | white | Active | Copes with heat | 0 of 1 | — |
| Red Sex Link | 280–320 | brown | Friendly | Hardy | 6 of 9 | $5.99Cackle Hatchery |
| Leghorn | 280–320 | white | Flighty | Copes with heat; large comb can frostbite | 3 of 3 | $5.99Cackle Hatchery |
| Amberlink | 270–300 | light brown | Friendly | Hardy | 1 of 1 | $6.60Townline Hatchery |
| Black Sex Link | 250–300 | brown | Calm | Cold hardy | 3 of 3 | $5.99Cackle Hatchery |
| Rhode Island Red | 250–300 | brown | Active | Cold hardy and copes with heat | 3 of 3 | $5.99Cackle Hatchery |
| Australorp | 250–300 | brown | Calm | Cold hardy | 2 of 2 | $5.99Cackle Hatchery |
| Austra White | 250–300 | tinted | Calm | Copes with heat | 1 of 1 | $5.99Cackle Hatchery |
| Plymouth Rock | 200–280 | brown | Calm | Cold hardy | 8 of 8 | $5.99Cackle Hatchery |
| Easter Egger | 200–280 | blue, green | Friendly | Cold hardy; most have a pea comb | 4 of 4 | $6.49Cackle Hatchery |
| Delaware | 200–280 | brown | Calm | Cold hardy | 1 of 3 | $6.49Cackle Hatchery |
| Dominique | 230–275 | brown | Calm | Cold hardy; rose comb | 2 of 2 | $6.49Cackle Hatchery |
| Sussex | 200–250 | light brown | Friendly | Cold hardy | 3 of 4 | $6.49Cackle Hatchery |
| Hamburg | 200–250 | white | Flighty | Cold hardy; rose comb | 1 of 1 | — |
| Olive Egger | 180–250 | olive | Calm | Cold hardy | 2 of 3 | $7.35Townline Hatchery |
Traits are general to each breed, from the breed standards and long-running references; a hatchery's own line can differ. "In stock" counts the breed's varieties that can be ordered today, and the pullet price is the cheapest sexed pullet among them.
What the numbers mean
A yearly range is for a hen in her first or second laying year, kept with enough light and feed. Every hen lays less each year after that, and most stop for a few weeks in the autumn moult. Hybrids such as the sex links start strong and fall off sooner; that is the trade for their first two years.
Figures on this page were computed from the catalogue reading of October 25, 2026.