Lakenvelder
Egg layerGermany and the Netherlands
The Lakenvelder is instantly recognizable: a clean white body bracketed by a jet-black hood and tail, like a bird in formal dress. It's an old lowlands breed that lays steadily, forages relentlessly, and prefers admiring you from a distance.
Eggs per year
150–200
Egg color
White
Egg size
Medium
Hen weight
3.5–4.5 lbs
Temperament
Active and independent
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
The name is often translated as "shadow on a sheet," a poetic description of its black-on-white pattern shared with Lakenvelder cattle.
Lakenvelder egg production
Expect roughly 150–200 white eggs a year from a Lakenvelder 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 Lakenvelder is generally described as active and independent. 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 Lakenvelder 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
Lakenvelderhens 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 Lakenvelder 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 Lakenvelder 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
Lakenvelder FAQ
- How many eggs do Lakenvelder chickens lay?
- A healthy Lakenvelder 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 Lakenvelders lay?
- Lakenvelders lay white eggs, medium in size.
- How big do Lakenvelder chickens get?
- A Lakenvelder hen weighs roughly 3.5–4.5 lbs — a small bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Lakenvelders cold-hardy?
- Not especially. The Lakenvelder does best in mild or warm climates; in cold-winter regions it needs an insulated, draft-free coop and extra care against frostbite.
- Are Lakenvelders good for beginners?
- The Lakenvelder is active and independent and tends to suit keepers with a little experience more than absolute beginners.
- Do Lakenvelder hens go broody?
- Rarely. Lakenvelder hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
The Lakenvelder shows up in
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Keeping Lakenvelders?
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