Discover the Biggest Chicken Breeds in the World

While chickens aren’t usually considered “large” animals, some breeds are surprisingly big, ranging from towering roosters to plump hens as heavy as a small dog. Whether you’re a seasoned chicken keeper looking for a new, impressive addition to your flock or simply curious about the sheer variety of these birds, these are some of the biggest chicken breeds you can find!

10. Plymouth Rock

The Plymouth Rock chicken is a true American original, developed in the United States through a mix of breeds like the Buff and White Cochins, Black Javas, Dominiques, Spanish, and Brahmas. This heritage helped create a remarkably adaptable chicken that quickly became quite popular. Plymouth Rock chickens are known for being hardy and versatile animals. They are excellent for both meat and egg production, and they have a docile and friendly nature. They generally get along well with other chicken breeds and with people. Some Plymouth Rocks are so personable that they are known to follow their owners around the yard, making them fantastic pets as well as productive livestock.

You’ll find Plymouth Rock chickens in several beautiful varieties, including Columbian, Silver Penciled, Buff, Barred, Blue, Partridge, and White. Roosters can reach up to 9.5 pounds, while hens typically weigh around 7.5 pounds. Hens are reliable layers, producing about 200 brown eggs per year.

9. German Langshan

The German Langshan is a striking chicken breed, known for its impressive size and elegant demeanor. Standing 24 to 32 inches tall, these chickens are truly “graceful giants.” Roosters can weigh up to 10 pounds, while hens reach around 7.5 pounds. They come in a variety of stunning colors, including barred, silver-blue, birchen, lemon-blue, black, white, and red.

Today, German Langshans are mostly bred for exhibitions and poultry shows, where their perfectly upright posture and gracefully long legs truly shine. However, they are also quite productive, with hens providing 150 to 200 brown eggs per year. Beyond their looks and laying prowess, German Langshans also have a calm and friendly temperament. Their hardy nature and easygoing disposition make them a good choice for people new to keeping chickens.

8. Orpington

Hailing from Britain, the Orpington chicken is a large and undeniably charming breed, instantly recognizable due to its dense, fluffy plumage that gives it a wonderfully soft appearance. This gentle exterior is well matched by the birds’ docile demeanor — Orpingtons are known for being friendly and rarely engage in squabbles with other chickens. In fact, many enthusiasts affectionately refer to them as the “golden retrievers of the chicken world” due to their sweet and amiable nature.

Developed in the late nineteenth century, the Orpington’s lineage can be traced back to a clever cross-breeding of Minorcas, Langshans, and Plymouth Rocks, resulting in a robust and versatile bird. Roosters weigh between 8 and 10.5 pounds, and hens come in at a solid 7 to 8 pounds. They are considered a dual-purpose breed for both egg and meat production. Hens lay around 150 to 200 brown eggs each year.

7. Cornish

Another substantial British breed is the Cornish chicken, a bird with a compact and incredibly muscular build. Originally developed specifically for meat production, these birds are heavyweights, with roosters tipping the scales at around 11 pounds and hens reaching 9.5 pounds. However, it takes them at least seven months to reach full maturity. Cornish chickens have short, sleek feathers and come in various colors, including buff, white-laced red, white, and dark. However, their sparse feathering means they aren’t well-suited to colder climates and may struggle to fully cover their eggs for brooding.

Despite their imposing size, Cornish chickens are generally calm and docile. If they’re well-socialized and handled regularly, they can even make good pets, especially the hens. Hens lay fewer than 160 small to medium-sized light brown or cream eggs each year.

6. Cochin

If you’re looking for a large, affectionate bird to add to your flock, the Cochin chicken is an ideal choice. These friendly and easy-going birds are often kept in mixed flocks and make wonderful pets for children. They’re known for being quite cuddly and can even be a bit lazy, so be sure to watch out for weight gain. Because of their relaxed nature, they are not the best at fending off predators, but they are perfectly happy in confined spaces and often prefer the comfort of a coop to a wide-open yard.

Cochins weigh up to 11 pounds and stand around 26 inches tall. Their large bodies are covered in heavy, fluffy feathers that extend all the way down their feet and toes, giving them a rounded, almost heart-shaped appearance. They also have a very strong broody instinct and are among the most dedicated broody hens out there. Interestingly, even roosters have been known to brood chicks from time to time! With proper care, Cochins can even serve as foster parents for turkey and duck eggs.

5. Malay

The Malay chicken is a rather imposing bird, with an impressive height and a slender, athletic build. Standing 26 to 36 inches tall, they exude a regal and formidable appearance. Malay chickens have short feathers that lie tightly against their bodies, accentuating their muscular frame and upright posture. They are rugged birds and thrive with plenty of space for exercise, which is essential for their health.

Malay chickens tend to be quite rough with one another and are not usually suitable companions for smaller or more delicate breeds. While hens are typically good mothers, their exceptionally long legs can sometimes make it difficult for them to sit comfortably on a nest. Hens lay medium to large, tinted brown eggs.

4. Shamo

The Shamo chicken is a magnificent and muscular breed from Japan, though its ancestors are believed to have originated in Siam (modern-day Thailand), India, and Pakistan. Roosters can weigh up to 12.4 pounds and hens around 7.5 pounds. Shamo chickens are tall, standing up to 30 inches with a very upright posture. Bred primarily for their meat and, in some regions, for their fighting prowess, Shamo chickens are renowned for their strength and endurance.

After World War II, Shamo chickens found their way to the United States when American soldiers famously brought young chicks back in their pockets. They quickly gained popularity in the country, especially in the southern states. Shamo chickens can be quite friendly with adult humans, but they are known for being territorial with other chickens of the same sex, as well as with small dogs and cats.

3. Brahma

The Brahma chicken is an American-bred “gentle giant.” They are incredibly friendly toward just about everyone and have outstanding maternal instincts, making them a fantastic addition to any mixed flock. However, Brahmas are primarily valued for their egg production and their striking appearance. Hens are excellent layers, providing 120 to 150 brown eggs each year.

Brahmas stand up to 30 inches tall. Both males and females are quite hefty, with roosters reaching up to 12 pounds and hens weighing around 9.5 pounds. They have thick, dense feathers covering their entire bodies, including their feet, giving them a soft yet rather grand appearance.

2. Dong Tao (Dragon Chicken)

Dong Tao chickens are incredibly tall, standing 24 to 36 inches high—even taller than the well-known Jersey Giant! However, they are slightly lighter, with roosters reaching around 13 pounds and hens typically weighing between 9 and 10 pounds. Many people call them “Dragon chickens,” as their most striking feature is their unusually large leg bones and massive, muscular legs. Combined with their loose skin and scaly feet, their robust legs have an uncanny resemblance to those of a dragon.

Dong Tao chickens are not known for their egg-laying prowess. Hens usually produce 60 to 120 medium to large eggs each year, which are typically off-white or light brown. Instead, Dong Tao chickens are prized for their enormous size, exorbitant prices, and scarce availability.

1. Jersey Giant

In the realm of heavyweight chickens, the Jersey Giant is considered the largest breed in the world today. These truly massive birds stand between 16 and 26 inches tall, with roosters weighing 13 to 15 pounds and hens weighing 10 to 11 pounds. The Jersey Giant was bred in New Jersey between 1870 and 1890 with a clear purpose: to create a chicken large enough to rival the turkey as a premium meat bird. The breed’s impressive size resulted from careful cross-breeding of Black Langshans, Dark Brahmas, and Black Javas.

While they come in a few varieties, Black Jersey Giants are the most common, featuring dark feathers with a beautiful “beetle green” sheen. There are also White Jersey Giants, which tend to weigh slightly less than their black counterparts, and a striking Blue variety with slate-blue feathers and dark blue lacing. Despite their immense size, Jersey Giants are gentle birds, known for their calm and docile demeanor. Hens are also good layers, producing 150 to 200 large brown eggs per year.

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