Which lays more eggs, the Australorp or the Leghorn?

The Leghorn typically lays more: 280–320 eggs a year against the Australorp's 250–300. Strain matters, though — hatchery lines of any breed usually out-lay show lines.

Which starts laying first, the Australorp or the Leghorn?

The Leghorn usually starts sooner, at 16–18 weeks old; the Australorp typically starts at 20–24 weeks. Daylight is the wildcard for both — a fall-hatched pullet often waits for lengthening spring days regardless of breed.

Can you keep Australorps and Leghorns together?

Yes. Both need the same feed, coop, and run, and mixed-breed backyard flocks are the norm. Size the housing to the more demanding bird: plan on 4 sq ft of coop floor per bird for this pairing, plus run space.

What color eggs do Australorps and Leghorns lay?

The Australorp lays brown eggs and the Leghorn lays white — keeping both gives you a two-tone basket.

Australorp vs Leghorn: Which Chicken Breed Should You Get?

The short answer: the Leghorn lays more (280–320 eggs a year vs 250–300) and starts sooner, at 16–18 weeks.

Figures reviewed against hatchery and breed-registry guidance · Last reviewed July 2026

Side by side

	Australorp	Leghorn
Eggs per year	≈ 250–300	≈ 280–320
Egg color	brown	white
First egg	20–24 weeks	16–18 weeks
Size class	standard	standard
Coop floor per bird	4 sq ft	4 sq ft

The two record-setting layer breeds, opposite in temperament: the Leghorn is light, active, and flighty; the Australorp is heavy, glossy, and calm. Their output is nearly identical.

Australorp in brief

The Australian Orpington, and holder of old-time laying records (a hen credited with 364 eggs in 365 days). Docile, glossy black, and steady in winter.

More detail: when do Australorp chickens start laying?

Leghorn in brief

The commercial white-egg layer. Leghorns are light, active, economical eaters and among the earliest breeds to lay — but flighty, and rarely broody.

More detail: when do Leghorn chickens start laying?

Which should you pick?

Pick the Australorp for brown eggs from a docile bird that also lays steadily through winter.

Pick the Leghorn for white eggs, an earlier start (16–18 weeks vs 20–24), and an economical eater — if you can live with the drama.

And honestly, most keepers don't have to choose. Both breeds eat the same feed and share a coop happily, so a couple of each is a common answer — use the coop size calculator to size the setup for your total flock, and the first egg calculator to see when each breed will start laying from your chicks' hatch date.

Frequently asked questions

Which lays more eggs, the Australorp or the Leghorn?: The Leghorn typically lays more: 280–320 eggs a year against the Australorp's 250–300. Strain matters, though — hatchery lines of any breed usually out-lay show lines.
Which starts laying first, the Australorp or the Leghorn?: The Leghorn usually starts sooner, at 16–18 weeks old; the Australorp typically starts at 20–24 weeks. Daylight is the wildcard for both — a fall-hatched pullet often waits for lengthening spring days regardless of breed.
Can you keep Australorps and Leghorns together?: Yes. Both need the same feed, coop, and run, and mixed-breed backyard flocks are the norm. Size the housing to the more demanding bird: plan on 4 sq ft of coop floor per bird for this pairing, plus run space.
What color eggs do Australorps and Leghorns lay?: The Australorp lays brown eggs and the Leghorn lays white — keeping both gives you a two-tone basket.

More breed matchups

Sources

First-egg age and egg counts are the consensus of multiple hatchery and breed-registry sources (no extension service tabulates per-breed figures), cross-checked and last reviewed July 2026.

The Livestock Conservancy — Chicken breed profiles