So… What Breed Of Chickens Lay Jumbo Eggs Then?

So you are looking for a chicken that can pop out as many eggs as you can eat right?

The bigger the better?

So really you are asking what breed of chickens lay jumbo eggs right.

Here’s the answer…

What Breed Of Chickens Lay Jumbo Eggs

When I think of what breed of chickens lay jumbo eggs my thoughts go straight to the hen that has a reputation for laying the most eggs.

And not only does this breed lay the most eggs, but they are also one of the breeds that are laying one of the biggest eggs around.

And that’s is the Leghorn Hen.

I am sure that you have heard of the Leghorn chickens before.

And they are prevalent as the number one industrial laying hen for the industry.

In fact, the Leghorn has an outstanding reputation as a layer and is also a reliable egg layer at that.

We will never know for sure about the really true origins of this hard-working Italian fowl.

But these hens have made the egg industry what it is today.

These hens have been laying for the egg industry forever during the 1900s.

I hate the fact that these intelligent hens have been the victim of the commercial caged egg industry.

And it is still going today in some areas and, people are becoming aware of the chicken’s light instead of just seeing eggs in an egg container and not ever thinking where they come from.

But that is another article to get carried away on, and we are talking about the eggs that these leghorn hens can lay here.

The Jumbo Egg

Large eggs are known as jumbo eggs.

You are really looking at the jumbo white egg category.

When it comes to what breed of chickens lay jumbo eggs?

The Leghorn chicken breed is a good choice for exactly this egg-laying size.

You will find that most of the eggs that you buy in a grocery store are produced by the white leghorn variety.

Depending on the leghorns are, of course, these hens can often lay 250-280 eggs per year, and many of these eggs are of the jumbo size.

Now there’s an egg for your table.

Because of their egg-laying ability…

These leghorn hens are also highly sought after by, you guessed it, the poultry industry.

Of course, laying larger eggs would not have anything to do with it?
You bet it does!

So, from the beginning of the hens laying cycle, they are putting out a fair number of eggs.

And by the time the hen reaches the age of four, her eggs would be considered “extra-large” by industry standards.

How Long Do Leghorns Lay Eggs

Considering how long a chicken lives, and this can vary amongst chickens breeds.

Even if they are big chicken breeds or the bantam variety.

It is really uncertain because with the industry they only want the hen for their ultimate capacity of laying eggs, so they are discarded from the egg-laying industry fairly early.

See also The Pasture Raised Egg - How Good Is It For You Really
Usually, after a year they get rid of them.

So the lucky ones are rehomed to backyard chicken owners and serve them well.

But that does not mean that your leghorn hen will not keep laying.

They do and for many years to come as well.

So what breed of chickens lay jumbo eggs, leghorns do!

So really think about this breed for your layers in your back garden.

How often Do Leghorns Lay Eggs

Leghorn chickens lay about 4 plus eggs per week.

Now I am not saying that they will only lay four days out of seven, it can be more and how healthy your hens are.

But remember you can not be greedy…

Even you hens need their days off.

As the energy put onto their systems in producing these eggs would be strained.
We all need time out you know…

What Size Eggs Do Leghorns Lay

As we have discussed, the leghorn will lay the biggest of all chicken breeds, I am not saying that there are not other chicken breeds that can lay eggs as big.

But not as often and not so many.

Your leghorn her is an egg-laying machine.

She can lay white shelled eggs around 55g (or 2 ounces) each.

Those eggs do get larger as she gets older and matures.

So her eggs start right off as large, and yes…

Just might become that extra-large egg by the end of her laying cycle.

Leghorns have really been bred to lay eggs.

So for this reason, they are not bred to go broody, as this would put them off their laying cycle.

But I am not saying that the odd leghorn hen might not go broody.

There have been stranger things.

I have never had any of my leghorn hens go broody on me though…

Can A Chicken Lay 2 Eggs A Day?

Now there’s wishful thinking…

But in fact, it has been known to happen.

So if you have only two hens and do the math looking at your eggs one day and find three.

You do not have to think that you are going mad, and really did go down to the chicken coop the other day and collect the eggs.

How Old Are Chickens Before They Stop Laying Eggs?

That’s a tricky one…

Chickens have different life spans.

But generally, as your backyard hens naturally age they will start to lay fewer eggs.

Look around 6 or 7 years of age and then a well-deserved retirement shortly after.

Many chickens can live several years into their egg retirement age.

As you could say that their average life expectancy can be between 8 and 10 years of age, or longer or course…

Can You Get An Egg Inside An Egg?

The egg inside an egg is called double-yolkers.

And I have had these such eggs.

What a surprise it is to break open the egg and find out that there are two yolks in there.

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And there can also be an indication, I find that if the egg is larger – sort of elongated in size or odd-shaped.

Then I would expect to find that it is a double-yolker.

Two for the price of one you could say…

How does it happen?

It is due to a counter-peristalsis contraction.

This happens when an egg is pushed back up into the chicken’s reproductive system…

WOW!

And therefore it becomes embedded in another newly forming egg

Is Raising Chickens Cheaper Than Buying Eggs?

If you did not know, organic, free-range eggs command a premium.

They are more expensive than caged eggs.

What breed of chickens lays jumbo eggs? We know the answer, but it is also why they are used in battery cages, and that is sad because of this very reason.

But I refuse to buy caged eggs and keep the commercially caged egg organisation a penny of my money for their barbaric act of caging hens as they do.

So you could say I spend a little bit more on my shop-bought eggs, and well worth the money.

Say if you spend $7 weekly for a dozen farmers market eggs, then yes, raising chickens probably will save you some money.

Especially if you subsidise your chickens feed with food from your kitchen and do not go spending on commercial chicken food all of the time, and feeding them little else which you shouldn’t anyway…

Your spending will come down a little.

How Much Should I Pay For A Laying Hen?

If you want to buy a laying hen right off, then you are going to have to spend more as she is productive and therefore worth more to the owner.

You did ask what breed of chickens lay jumbo eggs… So you do need to put out a little more for these beauties.

A laying hen can cost you anywhere from $10 for the mixed breed variety of hen to a whopping $100 for a purebred hen from a hatchery.

Now don’t faint at the purebred laying hen here.

They are this price because they are purebreds and therefore used for shows, or when bread these prepared chicken can command a lot of money.

So you have to pay out to get money back here.

There are certain breeds, like the all-black chicken Ayam Cemani.

Now this one can cost you up to $5,000!

Now I see you FAINT!

Now that I have explained what breed of chickens lay jumbo eggs, are you going to go out to buy some, they are not that expensive.

And I would encourage you to buy some x-battery leghorn hens first.

They will give you the eggs you need and will be cheap to buy.

Look in your area, I am sure you will find somewhere that rehomes these hens.

You will be giving them a second chance at a life they never knew existed.

And that is to become a backyard chicken.