Largest Chicken Breed

Chickens come in all different sizes. Bantams can be just a few pounds, while others reach double digits. The largest chicken breed is the Jersey Giant, but you may find some pretty huge chickens of other breeds. Here are five of the largest chicken breeds out there!

1. Jersey Giant

The Jersey Giant is aptly named. These hens may come in at over ten pounds. Known to be extremely friendly chickens, these are truly gentle giants. Jersey Giants enjoy being held, pet, and shown some affection. They’re great birds for kids and families!

Perhaps because of their size, these chickens are not great layers. They will lay a decent amount of eggs, but are absolutely not one of the best-laying hens. However, they’re friendly, hardy, and fun to keep!

2. Brahma

The Brahma is another large breed, often weighing in at almost ten pounds. One chicken gained some popularity on the Internet for it’s size, and it was a Brahma variety. These lovely ladies can grow quite big!

Brahmas are pretty good egg-layers, lay brown eggs, and are super robust. Like the Jersey Giant, these are friendly hens usually, and quite docile. They’re relatively quiet, easy to handle, and friendly toward children.

3. Cochin

The Cochin is another pretty large breed of chicken. These are relatively rare birds, and often come in at 8-10 lbs. In addition to their weight, the Cochin is extremely fluffy. This makes a Cochin hen look even bigger than she actually is! These are truly beautiful gentle giants.

The Cochin lays small brown tinted eggs, and lays at a fairly decent rate. They’re cold hardy, docile, and pretty easily handled. We have a Cochin ourselves and she’s a true lover. They’re really one of the fluffiest and softest birds you’ll see, and make a wonderful addition to a backyard flock if you can find one!

4. Cornish Game

The Cornish Game Hen is a pretty well known bird. They often come in just short of ten pounds, and are used primarily for their meat. The Cornish Game is also known to be one of the calmest and least active of the game birds. This makes them decent for backyard keeping, especially compared to other game birds.

The Cornish Game lays relatively few eggs, usually around 100-150 a year. Their eggs are small, but they do mature and start laying early. If you’re looking for a meaty chicken, this is a good route to go. However, these are not ideal chickens to keep if you are interested in getting eggs!

5. Orpington

We love Orpingtons, and they are certainly one of the biggest breeds of chicken! Coming in at 8-10 pounds, these big beauties are covered in extensive feathering. Like the Cochin, they appear even bigger than they are. They may even fluff out while brooding, making them appear larger.

Orpingtons are considered dual-purpose chickens, and they lay some pretty large eggs. They lay year-round, and lay at a pretty good rate. If you don’t have an Orpington in your backyard flock, we recommend considering one! They’re one of the largest chicken breeds, easily handled, and great layers.

For more information on chickens, check out our Chicken Keeping Resource Guide with FAQ’s, book recommendations, information about different breeds, and all you need to know about coops, runs, feed, and more!