Have you ever wondered exactly how much a chicken weighs? The truth is chickens all have different weights depending on their breed and gender. There are a lot of different breeds of chickens and their average weights vary drastically from breed to breed.
The smallest adult chicken can be as small as 1.1 pounds while the largest can get up to 13 pounds depending on their breed; there are rare exceptions that go beyond this scale. A chicken’s potential weight is predetermined by their breed but feeding regimens and habitats can cause variants.
The varying weights of different chicken breeds offers chicken owners a variety of size options when deciding on what breed to raise. Smaller chickens typically produce smaller eggs while larger chickens produce bigger eggs. Large chickens are better for meat production while smaller chickens are more ornamental and visually appealing than financially lucrative for farmers.
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Heaviest Chicken breed
The Jersey giant chicken breed ranks as the heaviest chicken breed in America. Roosters can weigh in at a shocking 13 pounds while hens can reach up to 10 pounds. They were first bred sometime between the years of 1870 and 1890 as a potential replacement for the turkey on the dinner table. They are not only large, but they mature quickly, and they are considered a dual-purpose bird as they are both a proficient egg-layer and a great meat option.
Biggest Chicken on Record
The biggest chicken currently on record is a Cornish rock cross chicken that weighed a reported 24.18 pounds as an adult. It belonged to a breeder in Pennsylvania named Sue Ritter. (source)
Smallest Chicken Breed
The smallest chicken breed in the world is the Malaysian Serama bantam chicken that weighs up to 1.10 pounds and only as tall as 25 centimeters. They are great egg layers and tend to be rather hardy chickens despite their tiny size. They are known for their tiny statures and proud stance. (source)
Small Chicken Breeds
Sebright
The Sebright bantam chicken ranks on the smaller end of the weight spectrum. Roosters can weigh up to a minuscule 22 ounces while hens only reach 20 ounces at maximum. They are very docile and friendly chickens but the hens do not tend to be good egg setters or layers.
Nankin
Originating from England, the nankin rooster can weigh up to 24 ounces while hens may only reach 22 ounces. They are fair egg layers, producing only 90 to 100 eggs per year but they do tend to be docile chickens that are easy to care for.
Yokohama
Yokohama roosters typically weigh up to 4.5 pounds and hens can get up to 3.5 pounds. The hens make for poor egg layers and lay rather small eggs. They are most often utilized in shows and are more ornamental than productive on a farm.
Araucana
Originating from South America, the Araucana chicken is a docile chicken that lays blue-colored eggs. Roosters can weigh up to 5 pounds while hens can weigh up to 4 pounds. They can lay an astounding 200 or more eggs in a year and tend to be hardy chickens.
Lakenvelder
The lakenvelder breed originates from Holland and Germany. The roosters tend to weigh up to 5 pounds and hens get up to 4 pounds at adulthood. Hens can lay up to 200 eggs per year and tend to be very active.
Hamburg
The hamburg rooster gets up to 5 pounds as well and hens can reach 4 pounds at max. They are very active birds and can lay up to 225 eggs per year. Hens are notoriously bad egg setters and can be flighty at times. The Hamburg chicken breed originates from Holland.
Sultan
The sultan breed of chicken can reach up to 6 pounds if they are roosters and 4 pounds if they are hens. The hens are good eggs layers, producing anywhere from 150 to 200 eggs each year. They are relatively active chickens but tend to not be overly friendly. They are okay eggs setters but are not broody very often.
Medium-Sized Chicken Breeds
Leghorn
Originating from Italy, the hens can weigh up to 4.5 pounds and the roosters can get up to 6 pounds as adults. They are fantastic egg layers, producing up to 300 eggs annually in the right conditions. They are very active birds but they don’t tend to enjoy setting their own eggs.
Dominique
The dominique hen can weigh up to 5 pounds while the roosters can get up to 7.5 pounds. They hail from the United States and they are prolific egg layers that can lay up to 275 eggs in a year. They lay brown eggs and are very active chickens.
New Hampshire
The New Hampshire chicken breed originates from the United States. Roosters can weigh up to 8.5 pounds and hens can weigh up to 6.5 pounds. The hens lay extra large brown eggs and they tend to be very docile chickens. They are fair egg layers, producing around 100 eggs annually in good conditions.
Buckeye
The Buckeye hen can weigh up to 6.5 pounds on average and the roosters can weigh up to 9 pounds. They lay brown eggs and are great egg producers, laying up to 150 eggs each year. They are typically raised for meat and egg production.
Australorp
The australop hen hails from Australia and can weigh up to 6.5 pounds and the rooster can weigh up to 8.5 pounds. The hens are fantastic egg layers, producing about 250 eggs a year in the right conditions. They tend to be broody hens that often set their own eggs.
Delaware
The Delaware originated in the United States and hens can get up to 6.5 pounds while roosters can reach 8.5 pounds on average. The hens can lay around 200 eggs each year in the right conditions. They tend to be rather docile chickens that are good egg setters.
Rhode Island Red
The Rhode Island Red hen can weigh up to 6.5 pounds and the roosters can get up to 8.5 pounds in the right environment. They hail from the United States, hence their name. The hens are great egg layers producing around 250 or more eggs.
Wyandotte
The Wyandotte hen can reach 6.5 pounds while roosters can reach 8.5 pounds. These chickens make great egg layers, producing somewhere between 180 to 200 eggs in the right environment. They lay brown eggs and are typically docile birds.
Large Chicken Breeds
Remember, Jersey giant chickens rank at the top of the list weighing in at a potential 13 pounds for roosters and 10 pounds for hens. The rest of these chickens are some of the largest chicken breeds out there.
Brahma
Brahma hens can get up to 9.5 pounds and roosters can weigh up to 12 pounds on average. The hens are great egg layers and tend to be good egg setters. They originate from the United States and can around 140 or more eggs in a year.
Cochin
The cochin hen can reach a whopping 8.5 pounds while roosters can weigh up to 11 pounds on average. They are decent egg layers, producing around 140 eggs annually in the right conditions. They originate from China and tend to be docile birds.
Shamo
The shamo chicken is from Japan and roosters can weigh 11 pounds while hens can only get up to 7 pounds on average. The hens lay a pale brown egg but they are not good layers, producing only 60 to 100 eggs annually, even in the best condition. They are often aggressive to other chickens in the coop and are usually raised for meat or for their visual appeal.
Cornish
Cornish chickens originate from England and hens can weigh up to 8 pounds while the roosters can get up to 10.5 pounds in the right environment. They tend to be docile chickens and hens usually lay around 50-80 eggs each year. They are mainly raised for meat production.
Orpington
Orpington roosters can reach 10 pounds and hens can get up to 8 pounds. They hail from England and tend to be docile and friendly. The hens are great eggs layers, producing up to 200 eggs annually.
Plymouth Rock
The Plymouth Rock breed originates from the United States. A hen’s weight can get to up 7.5 pounds while the rooster can weigh up to 9.5 pounds on average. The hens lay brown eggs and they are very good egg layers, producing up to 200 eggs in the right conditions. They are very docile chickens and are an excellent backyard chicken choice.
Sussex
The Sussex breed is from England and the hens can reach 7 pounds while the roosters can get up to 9 pounds in the right environment. The hens lay tan and brown eggs. The Sussex chicken is a very good egg layer, producing up to 200 eggs annually. They are very docile and friendly birds.
Are roosters heavier than hens?
Usually, roosters tend to weigh more than hens of the same breed, unless there is a problem during the growing period. Roosters need to be large naturally to defend themselves against other roosters that will compete with them for hens in their coop.
Final Thoughts
A chicken’s weight varies according to the breed and predetermined genetics, as well as their feeding program. There are different breeds of chickens that are different weights so you can definitely find a chicken that will fit perfectly on your farm.
Resources:
- https://livestockconservancy.org/heritage/internal/jerseygiant
- https://livestockconservancy.org/images/uploads/docs/pickachicken.pdf