9 Chickens That Lay White Eggs for Your Homestead

If you’re in the quest for the perfect rainbow of chicken egg colors, you need some chickens that lay white eggs in your flock.

Surprisingly, despite the commonality of white eggs in grocery stores, most backyard chickens don’t lay white eggs. Truthfully, I’ve only had two chickens that lay white eggs – the rest lay brown, blue, or green eggs! I love all sorts of different colors in my egg basket.

Some people prefer white eggs, but it’s important to note – no matter what egg color you have, their flavor won’t change.

However, white eggs are lovely, and you might be surprised by the different shades of white your flock produces! Like brown egg layers, white eggs tend to come in different shades. Some of the shades of white have a blue tint, while others might have a slight brown tint, causing them to look slightly pink.

Why Do Some Chickens Lay White Eggs?

Do you ever wonder why some chickens lay white eggs and others lay brown, green, or blue eggs?

It all has to do with chicken genetics! Different chicken breeds lay different egg colors. Backyard breeders like myself may cross genetics and come up with some fun eggshell colors.

Genetics is truly like a scientist. This is how some chickens have feathered feet or why one chicken might have a large comb rather than a small comb.

9 Chickens That Lay White Eggs

Several breeds of chickens lay white eggs. You’ll find that many Mediterranean breeds are white egg layers, and many of these breeds are smaller and require less feed than their brown egg layers counterparts.

Let’s take a look at some breeds you can raise for the perfect egg basket!

1. White Leghorn Chickens

Leghorn chickens are a domesticated breed of chicken that lay white eggs. They are the largest of all European chickens and have attractive, rust-colored plumage.

White and brown leghorns have a reputation for producing a high number of large, white eggs.That’s why some homesteaders consider them the ideal chicken for small farms; they produce a lot of eggs! Expect to get around 260 eggs per year – that’s not bad!

Expect your Leghorns to be very friendly; these are even-tempered, docile birds who do well arounds kids and humans in general. I noticed our leghorns were a bit skittish at times, but their overall personality is darn adorable.

This is a popular breed for a backyard flock, especially those who want white egg layers.

They adapt well to most climates and can live in both hot and cold seasons without issue. However, you will need to use some petroleum jelly to prevent frostbite on their large combs, especially the roosters.

However, there is a downside to this dependable birds. White leghorns have a high mortality rate among their young – around 50% die during incubation. So, if you’re trying to hatch eggs at home, this might not be the best breed for you.

2. Polish Chickens

Polish chickens are another breed of chicken that lay white eggs. They have short legs and often appear to be top heavy because of their large, oval-shaped head. It’s easy to spot these chickens; we had one, and my husband called in the afro chicken because of the hair on top of its head.

Polish Chickens typically sport a gray coloration with white accents around the neck and face, but there are several other color variations. Some variations include:

Black Crested White
White Crested Black
Golden
Silver
White
Buff
Laced

Polish chickens began in Poland when European breeds, such as Minorcas and Leghorns, mixed with Asiatic game breeds, such as the Langshan and Brahma. This led to the breed we know today as the Polish chicken.

Originally, farmers kept Polish chickens as a meat bird, but they quickly realized this chickens lay large amounts of eggs. Farmers also liked that Polish Chickens could withstand both hot and cold climates well without requiring too much extra care or food.

Polish Chickens can adapt well to most climates, but do best in cooler weather as they have a tendency toward frostbite. Generally speaking, if it can handle a Leghorn Chicken, it is probably okay for a Polish Chicken as well .

An average, healthy Polish Chicken will lay around 220 eggs per year with an average around 160 eggs.

Polish chickens are often very protective mothers as they fiercely guard their young. They are also very protective mothers when their babies are hatched and will not hesitate to attack if they feel that their young are in danger.

If you’re looking the ultimate broody mama, a Polish hen could be it for you!

3. Ancona Chickens

Ancona chickens are a breed of chicken that lay white eggs. They are slender birds with long, flat tails and stand around 16-17 inches tall. Their legs are also very long which makes them great foragers though they require more protection from the elements than other breeds .

Ancona Chickens developed in Italy after crossing several different types of chickens together including the Sicilian Buttercup, Malay game fowl, Sebright bantam and Leghorn chicken . The resulting cross was then selectively bred to create the Ancona Chicken known today.

On average, Anconas lay about 170 eggs per year but may produce up to 250 eggs!

Anconas are a very hardy breed and can withstand many different climates including hot, dry areas and cold, wet regions. They also require less food than other types of chickens.

4. Hamburg Chicken

Hamburg chickens lay white eggs as well. However, they are used as a base for several breeds and hybrids like: Hamburgs, Orpingtons and Brahmas. This particular type of chicken is similar to the Sussex Chicken in appearance though it typically has black spots or stripes on its feathers .

A healthy standard-sized Hamburg Chicken will lay about 200 eggs per year.

Like many other types of chickens, Hamburg Chickens don’t do well in very hot weather. They also need a barn or run if they are to be kept outside all of the time and become aggressive around other livestock when there is not enough room for them to graze and eat .

Hamburg Chickens can adapt well to most climates but require less food than other types of chickens.

5. Andalusian Chickens

Andalusian chickens are a breed of chicken that lay brown or white eggs. They have a very unique appearance with black feathers on their backs and tails . On their chests, Andalusians have white or light colored feathers that stretch from one side to the other similar to the color pattern on a Holstein cow .

Andalusian chickens can adapt well to most climates though they usually prefer living in warmer areas as they have less feathering than other breeds.

Typically, standard-sized Andalusian hens will lay almost 300 eggs per year while the Giant variety will produce about 200-250 eggs in a given year .

Andalusian Chickens are great for pets who enjoy watching chickens roam about the yard, but have tendency to become aggressive when they are not allowed enough room to graze . They also require less food than other types of chickens, more than likely because of their tendency to prefer to forage and free range as often as possible.

6. California White Chickens

California White chickens are a type of chicken that are named after the state where they are found. We believe this breed originated from two different breeds: Leghorns and Rhode Island Red.

These chickens typically lay around 220 eggs per year, however, there is no set standard for this breed as it has been crossed with other types of chickens.

These chickens will typically not experience broody tendencies until they reach around 12 weeks of age even though they begin laying their first batch at 6 or 7 weeks of age .

7. Minorca Chickens

Minorca Chickens are a breed of chicken that lay white eggs . They have black mottling on their feathers, so it’s easy to spot these beautiful birds.

These hens lay about 200 eggs per year!

Minorcas are considered to be an aggressive breed, which is why they are not often raised around people. When they become broody, the Minorca Chickens have been known to sit on their eggs for several days at a time and emit a chirp that indicates it’s time to be cared for by its mother.

Minorca chickens can adapt well to most climates and typically prefer living in warmer areas though still require shelter from the rain and cold like all other breeds of chicken. They also enjoy roaming about and seeing what is going on outside.

So, in general, if you can’t let your birds free range and have kids running around your yard, I don’t suggest this breed for you.

8. Campine Chickens

Campine Chickens are considered to be a rare breed of chicken that is known for their distinctive red speckles on both the male and female Campines .

Their eggs are white in color with bright yellow yolks. They lay about 140 eggs per year, but this number varies depending on the age and size of the hen as well as weather conditions

These birds require around 50 square feet to survive in which is about the size of a normal sized bedroom. Campine chickens are also very friendly and tend not to be aggressive like other varieties.

They do not require much food either, perfect for people who are looking to keep chickens but don’t have much space or time to feed their birds every day. Though these chickens enjoy staying outdoors, they still need shelter that provides both warmth and protection from the rain , climate changes, predators, etc.

They like roosting high up, so take that into consideration!

Campines are considered to be one of the quieter breeds of chicken but can still produce an audible sound when danger or other types of disturbances come into play .

9. Lakenvelder Chickens

Lakenvelders are beautiful chickens that lay white eggs. Their eggs tend to be lighter and smaller than other breeds. Lakenvelders are relatively small in size and have an average weight of just over 4 pounds when fully grown .

The hens generally start laying eggs between the ages of 8 to 12 months. They tend to be fairly docile, but Lakenvelder roosters are known for being quite aggressive. I would suggest keeping little kids away from them.

Lakenvelders can typically lay around 160 eggs per year which makes them on par with some breeds of chicken, such as the Rhode Island Red .

In terms of coloration, they can come in a variety of colors and patterns, though most will usually only have black spots on their feathers whereas others may be completely black or white. Also keep in mind that their baby chicks often display a different pattern from what the parents look like; don’t use patterns to determine gender.

Some hens even go through a molting process that removes all of their feathers at once before growing them back during a new molt later on down the road. This happens when they are stressed out due to changes in their environment or are looking to get rid of parasites somehow.

FAQs about Chickens that Lay White Eggs

What is The Difference Between White and Brown Eggs?

The only difference is the eggshell color! The main deciding factor is genetics; some chicken breeds lay darker shells. You have brown egg layers, white egg layers, blue egg layers, and olive eggers! Plus, every shade in between.

Are Brown Eggs Better Than White Eggs?

Before I had chickens, I assumed brown eggs were better than white eggs because most of the stores locally only sold brown organic eggs. This often leads people to believe that eggshell color has something to do with the quality.

However, that’s not true; it’s a total myth.

When it comes to eggs, all eggs are good for you, and if you want to increase the nutrient level, feed your chickens better food and give them access to free ranging time.

9 Chickens That Lay White Eggs for Your Homestead

If you’re in the quest for the perfect rainbow of chicken egg colors, you need some chickens that lay white eggs in your flock.

Why Do Some Chickens Lay White Eggs?