How Much Does the Average Chicken Weigh? Complete Weight Chart by Breed

When you’re thinking about raising backyard chickens or just curious about these feathered friends, one of the most common questions is about their weight I’ve been raising chickens for years on my small homestead, and I can tell you that chicken weights vary significantly depending on several factors

The average chicken weighs between 5.5 and 7.5 pounds for standard egg-laying hens, while meat birds can reach 10+ pounds. Roosters typically weigh 20-30% more than hens of the same breed. Bantam varieties are much smaller, usually weighing just 1.5 to 3 pounds when fully grown.

Let’s dive deeper into chicken weights by breed, purpose, and age to give you a comprehensive understanding of what to expect from different types of chickens.

Factors That Affect a Chicken’s Weight

Before we get into specific numbers it’s important to understand what influences a chicken’s weight

• Breed: Some breeds like Jersey Giants and Brahmas are naturally large, while Leghorns and Campines are smaller
• Sex: Roosters almost always weigh more than hens of the same breed
• Age: Chickens continue growing until they reach maturity (usually 16-24 weeks)
• Purpose: Meat birds are bred to gain weight quickly compared to laying hens
• Diet: Feed quality and quantity significantly impact weight gain
• Health: Parasites, illness, or stress can cause weight loss
• Standard vs. Bantam: Bantams are miniature versions weighing about 1/4 to 1/3 of standard breeds

Chicken Weight by Breed: Large Fowl Laying Hens

Here’s a detailed chart showing the average weights of common chicken breeds (standard size):

Bantam Chicken Weights

Bantams are the miniatures of the chicken world These cute little birds have huge personalities despite their small size! Here’s what they typically weigh

Meat Chickens vs. Laying Hens

If you’re raising chickens for meat, you’ll be interested in breeds that gain weight quickly and efficiently. The most common meat birds are:

Cornish Cross (Broilers)

These hybrid chickens are specifically bred for meat production and grow incredibly fast. They can reach 4.4-6.6 pounds in just 6-8 weeks and 8-10+ pounds at market age (usually 8-10 weeks).

According to the National Chicken Council, broiler weights have increased dramatically over time. In 1925, the average broiler weighed just 2.5 pounds, but by 2018, that number had grown to 6.26 pounds – more than double!

Freedom Rangers

These are a slower-growing alternative to Cornish Cross but still reach good weights. They typically reach 5-7 pounds in 9-11 weeks and have more leg meat compared to the breast-heavy Cornish Cross.

How to Weigh Your Chickens

There are several methods to weigh a live chicken:

Method 1: Food Scale

1. Zero out the scale
2. Place the chicken directly on the scale
3. Record the weight

This works best for small birds or very calm chickens who will sit still.

Method 2: Sack Method

1. Hang a soft cotton sack from a hanging scale and tare (zero) the weight
2. Gently place the chicken in the sack
3. Weigh and record
4. Carefully remove the chicken

The darkness of the sack often helps keep chickens calm during weighing.

Method 3: Upside Down Method

1. Tie a string or cord around the chicken’s feet
2. Gently flip them upside down
3. Hook the cord to a hanging scale
4. Record weight
5. Gently release the chicken

I usually do this at night when they’re calmer. The whole process takes less than a minute.

Why Does Chicken Weight Matter?

You might be wondering why anyone would care about how much their chickens weigh. Here are some practical reasons:

1. Egg Production: Larger chickens often (but not always) produce larger eggs
2. Medication Dosing: Many medications are dosed by weight
3. Meat Production: Knowing when your meat birds have reached optimal size
4. Health Monitoring: Weight loss can be an early sign of illness
5. Feed Efficiency: Understanding how much feed your birds need
6. Space Planning: Larger breeds need more coop and run space

Largest and Smallest Chicken Breeds

If you’re looking for impressive size, the largest chicken breeds are:

• Jersey Giant (hens 10-11 lbs, roosters 13-15 lbs)
• Brahma (hens 9.9 lbs, roosters 12.1 lbs)
• Orpington (hens 7-10 lbs, roosters 9-13 lbs)
• Cochin (hens 9 lbs, roosters 10.5 lbs)
• Faverolle (hens 9.4 lbs, roosters 11 lbs)
• Dorking (hens 9 lbs, roosters 9.5 lbs)

On the other end of the spectrum, the smallest chicken breeds are all bantams:

• Serama (hens 14 oz, roosters 16 oz)
• Seabright (hens 20 oz, roosters 22 oz)
• Belgian Bearded (hens 22 oz, roosters 26 oz)
• Japanese Bantam (hens 22 oz, roosters 26 oz)
• D’Uccle (hens 22 oz, roosters 26 oz)

Is My Chicken Underweight or Overweight?

It can be tricky to determine if your chicken is at a healthy weight, especially if you’re new to keeping these birds. Here are some tips:

Signs of Underweight Chickens:

• Prominent keel bone (breastbone feels sharp)
• Visible hip bones
• Poor feather condition
• Lethargic behavior

If your chicken seems underweight, check for:

• Parasites (mites or worms)
• Bullying by other chickens
• Disease or illness
• Inadequate feed

Signs of Overweight Chickens:

• Difficulty moving around
• Visible fat on breast and abdomen
• Reduced egg production
• Heavier breathing

Overweight chickens often result from too much feed, especially treats, and not enough exercise.

Growth Timeline for Chickens

Different breeds mature at different rates, but here’s a general timeline for standard chicken growth:

• Day-old chicks: 1-1.5 ounces
• 4 weeks: 1-2 pounds
• 8 weeks: 2-4 pounds
• 12 weeks: 3-6 pounds
• 16-24 weeks: Reach adult weight (varies by breed)

Meat birds like Cornish Cross have a much faster growth rate and can reach 5+ pounds in just 6-8 weeks.

Remember that these weights are averages, and individual birds may vary. Factors like diet, housing, and genetics all play important roles in determining a chicken’s ultimate size.

If you’ve got any more chicken questions, drop ’em in the comments below! I love helping fellow chicken enthusiasts with their feathered friends.

Happy chicken keeping!

A whole chicken’s weight varies significantly by breed, age, and use, but typical grocery store broiler chickens weigh between 3 and 7 pounds (1.4-3.2 kg), with a USDA broiler market weight around 6.5 pounds in recent years. Specific breeds like bantam chickens are much lighter, while Jersey Giants can weigh over 10 pounds, and hybrid breeds can be even heavier.

The average size of a whole chicken sold for consumption is typically around 3 to 4 pounds (1.4 to 1.8 kg), though this can vary, with smaller chickens around 3-3.5 lbs common in supermarkets and larger roasting chickens often falling between 5-7 lbs.

200 chickens will lay approximately 160 to 180 eggs per day, or potentially more, depending on factors like breed, age, health, diet, and environmental conditions.