ISA Brown
Egg layerFranceBeginner friendly
The ISA Brown is the friendly face of commercial egg genetics: a French-developed hybrid that can top 300 eggs in her first year while still wanting to sit on your knee. For pure output per bird, almost nothing in a backyard coop keeps up.
Eggs per year
280–320
Egg color
Brown
Egg size
Large
Hen weight
4–5 lbs
Temperament
Docile and affectionate
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
"ISA" stands for Institut de Sélection Animale, the French company that created the hybrid in 1978 — the exact parent lines remain a trade secret.
ISA Brown egg production
Expect roughly 280–320 brown eggs a year from a ISA Brown in her prime — about 5–6 a week, or 23–27 dozen over the course of a year. That puts it among the more prolific backyard layers. 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 ISA Brown is generally described as docile and affectionate. These are calm, people-oriented birds that tolerate handling well and settle into a backyard flock without much fuss — a big part of why they're such a common first breed.
Climate & care
Rated cold-hardy, the ISA Brown rides out hard winters well as long as the coop stays dry and draft-free — keep drinking water from freezing and watch combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze. It handles summer heat comfortably too, given shade, cool water, and good airflow.
Broodiness & raising chicks
ISA Brownhens 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 ISA Brown hen is a medium-sized bird at 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 ISA Brown right for you?
A great fit if…
- You want a dependable supply of eggs
- You're new to chickens and want a forgiving bird
- You want a calm bird that's good around children
- You get real winters and need a hardy bird
- You keep chickens in a hot climate
Think twice if…
- Honestly, not much — this is a versatile all-rounder rather than a specialist
ISA Brown FAQ
- How many eggs do ISA Brown chickens lay?
- A healthy ISA Brown hen lays about 280–320 brown eggs a year — roughly 5–6 a week, or 23–27 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do ISA Browns lay?
- ISA Browns lay brown eggs, large in size.
- How big do ISA Brown chickens get?
- A ISA Brown hen weighs roughly 4–5 lbs — a medium-sized bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are ISA Browns cold-hardy?
- Yes. The ISA Brown is rated cold-hardy and rides out hard winters well, provided the coop stays dry and draft-free. Keep water from freezing and check combs and wattles for frostbite in a deep freeze.
- Are ISA Browns good for beginners?
- Yes. The ISA Brown is a forgiving, docile and affectionate breed that suits first-time keepers well.
- Do ISA Brown hens go broody?
- Rarely. ISA Brown hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
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