Is the Australorp or Buff Orpington a better egg layer?

The Australorp lays about 200–280 eggs a year; the Buff Orpington lays about 180–280. On eggs it's close — expect roughly 200–280 a year from the Australorp and 180–280 from the Buff Orpington.

Australorp vs Buff Orpington — which is better for beginners?

Both the Australorp and the Buff Orpington are beginner-friendly and forgiving of first-time mistakes.

Australorp photo: JTdale (CC BY 3.0) · Buff Orpington photo: Pete Cooper (CC BY 2.0) · via Wikimedia Commons

Australorp vs Buff Orpington

Two backyard favorites, side by side — egg production, temperament, size, and hardiness, straight from our breed data. Here's how to choose.

The quick verdict

On eggs it's close — expect roughly 200–280 a year from the Australorp and 180–280 from the Buff Orpington.

In a hot, humid climate the Australorp copes better than the Buff Orpington.

The Buff Orpington goes broody often — a bonus if you want a hen to hatch her own chicks, a hassle if you'd rather she keep laying like the Australorp.

Both dual purpose birdsBoth lay brown eggsBoth cold-hardyBoth beginner-friendlyBoth calm and easy to handle

Choose the Australorp if you want…

Better through summer heat
Rarely quits laying to sit on eggs

Full Australorp profile →

Choose the Buff Orpington if you want…

Will hatch and raise her own chicks

Full Buff Orpington profile →

Side by side

Trait	Australorp	Buff Orpington
Purpose	Dual purpose	Dual purpose
Eggs per year	✓200–280	180–280
Egg color	Brown	Brown
Egg size	Large	Large
Hen weight	6.5–8 lbs	7–8 lbs
Temperament	Gentle and calm	Affectionate and docile
Cold hardy	Yes	Yes
Heat tolerant	Yes	No
Broodiness	Sometimes broody	Often broody
Beginner friendly	Yes	Yes

Egg counts are healthy-hen peaks; real numbers dip in winter, during molt, and as a hen ages. Size a coop for either bird with our coop size calculator.

More head-to-heads

Australorp vs Rhode Island Red Australorp vs Barred Plymouth Rock Australorp vs Wyandotte Buff Orpington vs Rhode Island Red Buff Orpington vs Wyandotte Buff Orpington vs Sussex

Or browse every comparison · see all 50 breeds

Australorp or Buff Orpington — track whichever you pick

Give every bird a profile in PoultryPal, log their eggs and weight, and let the app show you which hen is really your best layer. Free on iOS and Android.