Which lays more eggs, the Silkie or the Cochin?

The Cochin typically lays more: 150–180 eggs a year against the Silkie's 100–120. Strain matters, though — hatchery lines of any breed usually out-lay show lines.

Which starts laying first, the Silkie or the Cochin?

About the same age: 28–36 weeks for the Silkie and 28–36 for the Cochin. Daylight is the wildcard for both — a fall-hatched pullet often waits for lengthening spring days regardless of breed.

Can you keep Silkies and Cochins 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 6 sq ft of coop floor per bird for this pairing, plus run space.

What color eggs do Silkies and Cochins lay?

The Silkie lays cream eggs and the Cochin lays brown — keeping both gives you a two-tone basket.

Silkie vs Cochin: Which Chicken Breed Should You Get?

The short answer: the Cochin lays more (150–180 eggs a year vs 100–120), and both start laying around the same age (28–36 weeks vs 28–36).

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

Side by side

	Silkie	Cochin
Eggs per year	≈ 100–120	≈ 150–180
Egg color	cream	brown
First egg	28–36 weeks	28–36 weeks
Size class	bantam	heavy
Coop floor per bird	2 sq ft	6 sq ft

The two great broodies: Silkies are the strongest sitters in poultry — many keepers use them as living incubators — and Cochins are not far behind. Neither is here for the egg count.

Silkie in brief

Fur-like feathers, black skin, and the strongest broody instinct in the yard — Silkies are the slowest common breed to start laying, often 7–9 months, and many keepers use them as living incubators instead.

More detail: when do Silkie chickens start laying?

Cochin in brief

A walking feather duvet, kept for looks and personality more than production — among the slowest large breeds to lay, commonly 8–9 months, and quick to go broody.

More detail: when do Cochin chickens start laying?

Which should you pick?

Pick the Silkie for the strongest broody instinct in a small, bantam-size package that suits small yards.

Pick the Cochin if you want the fluff at full size, with a slightly better lay (150–180 a year vs the Silkie’s 100–120).

One practical note before you decide: these two breeds don't need the same housing. The Cochin is a heavy-class bird, so plan around 6 sq ft of coop floor per bird if it joins the flock — the coop size calculator handles mixed size classes.

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 Silkie or the Cochin?: The Cochin typically lays more: 150–180 eggs a year against the Silkie's 100–120. Strain matters, though — hatchery lines of any breed usually out-lay show lines.
Which starts laying first, the Silkie or the Cochin?: About the same age: 28–36 weeks for the Silkie and 28–36 for the Cochin. Daylight is the wildcard for both — a fall-hatched pullet often waits for lengthening spring days regardless of breed.
Can you keep Silkies and Cochins 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 6 sq ft of coop floor per bird for this pairing, plus run space.
What color eggs do Silkies and Cochins lay?: The Silkie lays cream eggs and the Cochin lays brown — 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