Minorca
Egg layerSpain
The Minorca is the heavyweight of the Mediterranean class, a glossy black bird with dramatic white earlobes and a comb so large it flops stylishly to one side on the hens. It shrugs off summer heat and lays chalk-white eggs of truly impressive size.
Eggs per year
170–220
Egg color
White
Egg size
Extra large
Hen weight
6.5–7.5 lbs
Temperament
Active and watchful
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
Minorcas lay the largest white eggs of any Mediterranean breed — old poultry manuals bragged about them by weight per dozen.
Minorca egg production
Expect roughly 170–220 white eggs a year from a Minorca in her prime — about 3–4 a week, or 14–18 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 Minorca is generally described as active and watchful. 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 Minorca 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
Minorcahens 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 Minorca hen is a large bird at 6.5–7.5 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 Minorca 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
Minorca FAQ
- How many eggs do Minorca chickens lay?
- A healthy Minorca hen lays about 170–220 white eggs a year — roughly 3–4 a week, or 14–18 dozen over a year. Output drops during winter and the annual molt, and eases as a hen ages.
- What color eggs do Minorcas lay?
- Minorcas lay white eggs, extra large in size.
- How big do Minorca chickens get?
- A Minorca hen weighs roughly 6.5–7.5 lbs — a large bird — with roosters running a little heavier.
- Are Minorcas cold-hardy?
- Not especially. The Minorca does best in mild or warm climates; in cold-winter regions it needs an insulated, draft-free coop and extra care against frostbite.
- Are Minorcas good for beginners?
- The Minorca is active and watchful and tends to suit keepers with a little experience more than absolute beginners.
- Do Minorca hens go broody?
- Rarely. Minorca hens seldom go broody, so they keep laying steadily but won't usually hatch their own chicks.
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Keeping Minorcas?
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