10 Giant Chicken Breeds, from Dragon Legs to 18-Pound Roosters

Quick Take

• One giant breed has legs thick enough to cause a hatching disaster for its own eggs.
• The heaviest chicken today may not match what the record books claim.
• Some of the biggest birds are gentle softies, and one breed's hens will mother eggs from entirely different species.
• Size doesn't guarantee a good layer, and one breed is a weak producer despite its bulk.

Chickens have long been a source of food, producing meat and eggs for centuries. Found worldwide, there are more than 500 different breeds in existence today. There is a breed for everyone, from prolific layers to pets, and even those who did not grow up on a farm will be able to learn to keep chickens. However, one thing to consider is size, and there are some giant chicken breeds out there. Here are 10 of the largest chicken breeds ranked by weight.

10. Australorp

The Australorp is a breed of chicken that is extremely popular, as it is known to be one of the most prolific egg layers in the world. Originally from Australia, they typically produce around 250 eggs in a year, making them extremely reliable layers. The Australorp is a large bird that weighs up to 8.5 pounds. Their predominant color is black, although blue and white are both acceptable. As well as being good egg layers, the hens make good mothers and are happy to sit on clutches of eggs, which makes them popular with breeders.

9. Rhode Island Red

Originating in Rhode Island in the late 19th century, the Rhode Island red has long been one of the most popular breeds of chicken due to its good nature and dual purpose. Now found worldwide, they have excellent egg-laying ability and can reach weights of around 9 pounds. This makes them suitable as both an egg producer and a source of meat. They are easily recognizable with their distinctive red plumage that can vary in shades from a light reddish-brown to almost black. Their comb and wattles are also red, while their legs and feet are yellow.

8. Malay

The Malay chicken is one of the tallest breeds of chicken, standing around 36 inches. However, they are not the heaviest, weighing around 9 pounds. The breed originated in Devon and Cornwall in the U.K. and was developed by cross-breeding birds imported from India and Asia. They can vary in appearance, from white with pale brown patches to an almost black body with dark brown patches and smooth, glossy feathers. Malays are game birds that were initially used for cockfighting. Fortunately, they are now primarily used for showing. These birds can produce 20-100 eggs a year, depending on the strain.

7. German Langshan

The German Langshan originated in Germany in the 19th century. This large chicken weighs around 9.5 pounds. They have long legs with a large body and an unusually short tail and are generally only seen in a few colors, including black, white, blue, and black-brown. Due to their size, they are often kept for the table. However, they are also good layers, producing around 200 eggs per year, which makes them excellent as dual-purpose birds. In addition, they are a docile breed, which makes them ideal for anyone wanting to be self-sufficient.

6. Orpington

The Orpington is a British breed that was first developed in Orpington in the U.K. by crossing three other breeds: minorcas, langshans, and Plymouth rocks. Cross-breeding created a large, dual-purpose bird. Now popular worldwide, Orpingtons can weigh up to 10 pounds and stand around 16 inches tall. They have a heavy-set body that is low to the ground, making them look intimidating when they are actually a very calm and docile breed. Orpingtons have soft feathers and their colors are usually black, white, blue, and buff (golden yellow). Nowadays they are often used for showing rather than a food source.

5. Cornish Chicken

The Cornish chicken, also sometimes known as the Indian game chicken, originated in Cornwall in the U.K. and is now also popular in Australia and the U.S. Weighing around 10.5 pounds, Cornish chickens are short-legged, but stocky with large breasts. They are usually black or dark brown. Their feathers are thin and smooth, making them susceptible to the cold, which can affect breeding and hatching rates during colder months. Although they are ideal for producing meat for the table, they are poor layers and only produce fewer than 160 eggs per year.

4. Cochin

Originally from China, Cochin chickens were initially known as Shanghai chickens. With a range of colors, including black, buff, brown, silver, and white, cochins have a stunning appearance, as they are notable for the large amounts of feathers on their feet and legs — so much so that it’s often impossible to see their feet at all because of their plumage. Often weighing up to 11 pounds, cochins are heavy birds, but despite their size, they are a calm and friendly breed and make good pets. The hens make exceptional mothers as they will sit on any type of egg, even duck or turkey eggs.

3. Dong Tao

The Dong Tao chicken is also known as the dragon chicken due to its large, scaly legs and feet. Its legs can be as thick as a person’s wrist and are covered in red scales. They are a rare breed of chicken from the Dong Tao region of Vietnam and can weigh as much as 12 pounds. Cockerels are usually a stunning reddish-brown while hens are usually white. Due to their large feet, the hens don’t make good mothers as they regularly stand on the eggs, so the eggs are usually hatched in an incubator. Their meat was originally only served to royalty but is now a delicacy and often found in luxury restaurants.

2. Brahma Chicken

Brahma chickens have historically been documented to weigh 13-14 pounds for females and 17-18.25 pounds for males. However, today, these chickens usually weigh up to 12 pounds. They were originally developed in America from chickens imported from Shanghai. Brahmas have three known colors: white with black collar and tail, buff with black collar and tail, and dark which is grey with a mixture of black and white collar and a black tail. They are a good dual-purpose chicken as they produce plenty of eggs. Brahmas do well in cold conditions due to their thick feathers. They also have a calm nature but they don’t like being cooped up and prefer to be allowed to roam around and forage for food.

1. Jersey Giant Chicken

The largest chicken in the world is the Jersey Giant chicken. These huge birds originated in New Jersey between 1870 and 1890. The males can weigh 13-15 pounds and stand 22-26 inches tall. Known for being a docile breed with an excellent temperament, Jersey giants are slow growers but make excellent pets for anyone prepared to take care of them. Their colors are usually black, white, or blue, and they are known to be particularly good layers during the winter months. The black variety is typically about a pound heavier than the white variety when full grown. The hens lay extra large cream to dark brown eggs and make excellent mothers despite their large size.