Vorwerk
Dual purpose · Germany
Oskar Vorwerk set out in 1900 to build a practical bird wearing the Lakenvelder's dramatic belted pattern in gold instead of white, and the Vorwerk is his handsome answer. It's an efficient, adaptable rarity that converts feed to eggs frugally and stays surprisingly composed for such an active breed.
Eggs per year
150–190
Egg color
Cream
Egg size
Medium
Hen weight
4.5–5.5 lbs
Temperament
Alert but even-tempered
Broodiness
Rarely goes broody
Did you know?
Vorwerks are one of the very few breeds intentionally designed to "colorize" another breed's pattern — golden buff where the Lakenvelder is white, with the same black hood and tail.
Is the Vorwerk right for your flock?
Expect roughly 150–190 cream eggs a year from a healthy hen in her prime — production dips during molt and the short days of winter, and eases off as she ages. Planning space? A Vorwerk hen runs 4.5–5.5 lbs, so size the coop with our coop size calculator and estimate the feed bill with the feed cost calculator.
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