ISA Brown Laying Hens

These girls have been laying for a few months (started in June)!

ISA Browns are one of the most popular production laying chickens, prized for their exceptional egg production, friendly personalities, and dependable performance. They were developed specifically to be efficient brown-egg layers and are an excellent choice for backyard flocks, homesteads, and farms. ISA Brown hens generally begin laying at around 16–20 weeks of age and can produce approximately 300–350 large brown eggs per year during peak production.

ISA Browns are known for being calm, curious, and people-friendly. They are usually easy to handle and adapt well to mixed flocks, making them a great choice for beginners and families. Hens have attractive reddish-brown to chestnut-colored plumage, often with lighter cream or white feathers showing through, particularly around the tail. Mature hens generally weigh around 4–5 pounds.

Another advantage of the ISA Brown is that it is a sex-link hybrid, allowing males and females to be distinguished by color at hatch when produced from the correct parent lines. ISA Browns are active foragers but also perform very well in properly managed coop and run environments. For anyone looking for a friendly hen that puts plenty of fresh brown eggs in the nesting box, the ISA Brown is an excellent addition to the flock.

Breed Characteristics

- Purpose: High-production brown egg layer
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Large to extra-large
- Production: Approximately 300–350 eggs per year
- Age at First Eggs: Approximately 16–20 weeks
- Hen Weight: Approximately 4–5 lbs.
- Temperament: Friendly, calm, curious, and docile
- Broodiness: Low
- Foraging Ability: Good
- Beginner Friendly: Yes
- Sex-Link: Yes
- Comb: Single comb