Campine
Egg layerBelgium
An old Belgian breed from the Campine region, this small penciled bird is inquisitive to a fault and a first-rate forager. It lays a respectable number of white eggs on very little feed, but it's far too busy exploring to be anyone's lap chicken.
Eggs per year
150–200
Egg color
White
Egg size
Medium
Hen weight
3.5–4.5 lbs
Temperament
Curious and lively
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
Campine roosters are "hen-feathered" — they wear the same barred pattern as the hens instead of the flowing hackle and saddle feathers most roosters grow.
Campine egg production
Expect roughly 150–200 white eggs a year from a Campine in her prime — about 3–4 a week, or 13–17 dozen over the course of a year. That makes it a solid, dependable layer. Production naturally dips during the annual molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as a hen ages past her second or third year. Most pullets lay their first egg somewhere between five and eight months old.
Temperament & handling
The Campine is generally described as curious and lively. They tend to be active, alert foragers that would rather be busy in the run than sitting in your lap, so give them space and things to do.
Climate & care
The Campine isn't especially cold-hardy, so in cold-winter regions give it a well-insulated, draft-free coop and take extra care to prevent frostbite. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
Campinehens rarely go broody, which keeps the eggs coming but means they won't usually raise their own chicks. To hatch, you'll want an incubator — our incubation calculator tracks every step.
Space & feeding
A Campine hen is a small bird at 3.5–4.5 lbs. As a rule of thumb, a small flock of 6 would want around 24 sq ft of coop and 60 sq ft of run, with about 2 nest boxes and 5 ft of roost. Size it to your own flock with the coop size calculator, and estimate the monthly feed bill — and your real cost per egg — with the feed cost calculator.
Is the Campine right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You keep chickens in a hot climate
Think twice if…
- You want the most low-maintenance possible first bird
- You face long, hard winters
- You want the absolute maximum egg output
- You want a lap chicken that loves being handled
Campine FAQ
- How many eggs do Campine chickens lay?
- A healthy Campine hen lays about 150–200 white eggs a year — roughly 3–4 a week, or 13–17 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Campines lay?
- Campines lay white eggs, medium in size.
- How big do Campine chickens get?
- A Campine hen weighs roughly 3.5–4.5 lbs — a small bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Campines cold-hardy?
- Not especially. The Campine does best in mild or warm climates; in cold-winter regions it needs an insulated, draft-free coop and extra care against frostbite.
- Are Campines good for beginners?
- The Campine is curious and lively and tends to suit keepers with a little experience more than absolute beginners.
- Do Campine hens go broody?
- Rarely. Campine hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
The Campine shows up in
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Keeping Campines?
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