Which lays more eggs, the Leghorn or the Hamburg?

The Leghorn typically lays more: 280–320 eggs a year against the Hamburg's 200–220. Strain matters, though — hatchery lines of any breed usually out-lay show lines.

Which starts laying first, the Leghorn or the Hamburg?

The Leghorn usually starts sooner, at 16–18 weeks old; the Hamburg typically starts at 18–22 weeks. Daylight is the wildcard for both — a fall-hatched pullet often waits for lengthening spring days regardless of breed.

Can you keep Leghorns and Hamburgs 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 Leghorns and Hamburgs lay?

Both lay white eggs, so this pairing won't diversify your egg basket — blue- and green-egg layers like the Easter Egger are the usual way to add color.

Leghorn vs Hamburg: Which Chicken Breed Should You Get?

The short answer: the Leghorn lays more (280–320 eggs a year vs 200–220) and starts sooner, at 16–18 weeks.

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

Side by side

	Leghorn	Hamburg
Eggs per year	≈ 280–320	≈ 200–220
Egg color	white	white
First egg	16–18 weeks	18–22 weeks
Size class	standard	standard
Coop floor per bird	4 sq ft	4 sq ft

Two old European everyday layers: the Hamburg was once called the “Dutch Everyday Layer” — a small white egg nearly every day — while the Leghorn simply lays more, and larger.

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?

Hamburg in brief

An old European breed once called the "Dutch Everyday Layer" — small white eggs, nearly every day, from a bird that would rather forage than sit in a run.

More detail: when do Hamburg chickens start laying?

Which should you pick?

Pick the Leghorn for count and egg size.

Pick the Hamburg for a near-daily small white egg from an independent bird that would rather forage than sit in a run.

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 Leghorn or the Hamburg?: The Leghorn typically lays more: 280–320 eggs a year against the Hamburg's 200–220. Strain matters, though — hatchery lines of any breed usually out-lay show lines.
Which starts laying first, the Leghorn or the Hamburg?: The Leghorn usually starts sooner, at 16–18 weeks old; the Hamburg typically starts at 18–22 weeks. Daylight is the wildcard for both — a fall-hatched pullet often waits for lengthening spring days regardless of breed.
Can you keep Leghorns and Hamburgs 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 Leghorns and Hamburgs lay?: Both lay white eggs, so this pairing won't diversify your egg basket — blue- and green-egg layers like the Easter Egger are the usual way to add color.

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