Are you ready to start your first flock of feathery friends? Perhaps you're beginning with just a few hens? How exciting!
Not only do chickens provide fresh eggs, but they also make excellent pets and offer a wonderful way to teach responsibility to your kids or grandkids.
If you're wondering which chicken breeds are best for beginners, here are 7 breeds that come highly recommended by experienced chicken owners and online reviews.
Owning chickens is a smart move that pays off with free eggs, beauty, and companionship that brightens your life.
Without further ado, here are the 7 best chicken breeds for aspiring chicken farmers, broken down by personality type, egg productivity, and outstanding traits and care tips! Plus, we've included answers to popular questions about raising backyard chickens.
1. Rhode Island Red
Personality Type: Docile, friendly, laid-back, a bit jealous around other breeds
Egg Productivity: Around 268 eggs per year
Outstanding Traits & Care Tips:
Dual-purpose: Suitable for both eggs and meat.
Quiet: Not too noisy, making them ideal for neighborhoods.
Good Mothers: Capable of raising chicks, though not excessively broody.
Weather Hardy: Thrives in both cold and hot climates.
Self-sufficient: Enjoys foraging and finding food independently.
Aggressive Roosters: Male Rhode Island Reds can be mean.
Child-friendly: Generally affectionate and make great pets.
Jealous: Prefers being in a flock of their own, can bully or be bullied by other breeds.
2. Barred Plymouth Rock
Personality Type: Easygoing, sweet, quiet, sometimes dominant
Egg Productivity: 250-300 brown eggs annually
Outstanding Traits & Care Tips:
Lovely Brown Eggs: Consistent brown egg layers.
Stunning Feathers: Black-and-white marbled feathers.
Good Layers: Reliable egg production year-round.
Dominant at Times: Can hold their own in mixed flocks.
Dual-purpose: Provides both eggs and meat.
Friendly Roosters: Ideal for families with children.
3. Partridge Silkie
Personality Type: Very calm, friendly, tame, susceptible to bullying
Egg Productivity: 100-120 cream-colored eggs annually
Outstanding Traits & Care Tips:
Extremely Cute: Fluffy and adorable, perfect pets.
Sensitive to Cold: Needs extra care in winter.
Genders Look Alike: Difficult to distinguish males from females as chicks.
High Maintenance: Requires grooming and coop cleanliness.
Excellent Mothers: Can nurture chicks of other species too.
Cannot Fly: Great for backyard coops.
Vulnerable to Predators: Needs protection due to poor vision and inability to fly.
Late Egg Layers: Start laying eggs around 7-9 months.
4. Black Australorp
Personality Type: Very friendly, peaceful, quiet, laid-back
Egg Productivity: About 250 large light brown eggs annually
Outstanding Traits & Care Tips:
Low Maintenance: No special care needed.
Foraging: Loves to roam and find food.
Weather Hardy: Handles extreme cold and heat well.
Quiet Hens: Perfect for small yards with close neighbors.
Loud Roosters: Not suitable for densely populated areas.
Not Very Broody: Ideal if you don't want to expand your flock.
Early Egg Layers: Start laying eggs as early as 5 months.
Great Pets: Friendly and make good companions.
5. Buff Orpington
Personality Type: Friendly, happy, easily tamed, quiet, cuddly
Egg Productivity: 200-280 large light brown eggs annually
Outstanding Traits & Care Tips:
Very Quiet: Perfect for small backyards and urban areas.
Cold Hardy: Can tolerate cold but needs shade and water in hot climates.
Broody: Excellent mothers, great for raising chicks.
Dual-purpose: Good for both eggs and meat.
Family-friendly: Sweet and friendly, great with children.
6. Leghorn
Personality Type: Friendly, nervous, expressive, independent
Egg Productivity: 280-300 large white eggs annually
Outstanding Traits & Care Tips:
Excellent Layers: Prolific egg production.
Noisy: Not ideal for close neighbors.
Independent: Generally not cuddly, but friendly.
Rarely Broody: Focuses on egg production.
Nonaggressive: Good in mixed flocks.
Flighty: Tends to be nervous.
7. New Hampshire
Personality Type: Friendly, aggressive at times, expressive, curious
Egg Productivity: About 200 large light brown eggs annually
Outstanding Traits & Care Tips:
Not Flighty: Robust and healthy.
Cold Hardy: Suitable for cold climates.
Mildly Broody: Good mothers when they go broody.
Dual-purpose: Provides both eggs and meat.
Generally Friendly: Can be tame but sometimes aggressive.
Enjoys Foraging: Needs space to roam and find food.
Noisy: Very expressive, not ideal for close quarters.
Tips for Raising Cuddly & Friendly Chickens (No Matter the Breed)
The first tip is to handle them a lot as chicks. Spend time holding them to keep your chickens friendly and social.
Popular Chicken Questions & Answers
Q: Which breed of chickens is best for beginners?
A: Buff Orpingtons and Black Australorp
Q: How many chickens should a beginner have?
A: No less than 3, and then add 3 for every 2 family members. Check local regulations for restrictions.
Q: Is it OK to just have 2 chickens?
A: Not recommended. Chickens are social animals and thrive in groups of at least 3.
Q: What breed of chicken is the friendliest?
A: It varies, but Silkies, Speckled Sussex, Buff Orpington, Cochin, Wyandotte, Australorp, Faverolles, and Jersey Giants are known for their friendly natures.
Q: How cold is too cold for a chicken?
A: Cold-hardy breeds tolerate freezing to slightly below freezing temperatures.
Q: What are the cold-hardy breeds?
A: Chantecler, Wyandotte, Jersey Giants, Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire, Buff Orpington, Black Australorp.
Q: What do you do with chickens in the winter?
A: Ensure they have a dry, draft-free coop, adequate ventilation, and water heaters. Use the deep litter method for warmth.
Q: Should I let my chickens out in the snow?
A: Yes, but spread straw over the snow to make it more inviting.
Q: Do chickens need a coop?
A: Not required, but a coop provides shelter, protection, and laying boxes.
Q: Can chickens stay in the coop all day?
A: Yes, if they have light, food, and water, but don’t leave them alone for more than 3-4 days.
Q: What is the best chicken for a pet?
A: Silkies, Speckled Sussex, Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red, and Cochin are great for pets.
Q: What is the most beautiful chicken?
A: Beauty is subjective, but Silkies, Wyandotte, Phoenix, and Plymouth Rock are often considered beautiful.
Looking for a Backyard Chicken Coop?
Check out our wooden chicken coops designed to keep your chickens safe. Whether for a backyard flock or a chicken-related business, our sales team are ready to help. Request a quote or call 706-786-6444.
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