Chicken Breed Glossary
Choosing a breed of chicken doesn’t have to be a difficult project. Use this handy guide to select the bird with the traits that are right for you!
CORNISH ROCK
A hardy and heavy meat bird. Known to have an extremely efficient feed to weight conversion. Harvestable weight is generally around 5 – 6 lbs but may grow to be over 8 lbs.
RHODE ISLAND RED
Great dual-purpose breed. Individual hen may lay up to 5 – x-large, brown colored eggs a week. Generally, a good tempered bird that does well in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
BARRED ROCK
A friendly, dual-purpose bird. Lays around 4 – large, brown-colored eggs a week. Does well in confinement or free-range. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
SILVER LACED WYANDOTTE
A popular dual-purpose breed. Lays around 4 – large, brown eggs a week. A gentle-natured bird that does well in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
BLACK SEX LINK
Excellent dual-purpose, hybrid bird. Sex Links indicate their gender at hatching as males are a different color than females. Lays around 5 – large, brown eggs a week. Good in confinement. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
WELSUMMER
Great dual-purpose breed with a friendly personality. Lays around 4 – large, chocolate-colored eggs a week. Does well in confinement but are also great foragers. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Excellent dual-purpose breed. Lays around 3 – large, brown eggs a week. Typically grow quickly. Does well in confinement. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
BLACK AUSTRALORP
Gentle, dual-purpose bird. Lays around 5 – large, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
BUFF ORPINGTON
A great all-around, dual-purpose bird with a friendly personality. Lays around 3 – large, brown eggs a week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
SPECKLED SUSSEX
A mellow dual-purpose bird with beautiful speckled-patterned feathers. Lays around 4 – large, light brown eggs a week. Bears confinement well but are also great foragers. Hardy winter bird.
BLUE AUSTRALORP
Gentle, dual-purpose bird. Lays around 5 – large, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
WHITE LEGHORN
An excellent egg-laying breed. Lays around 4 – x-large, white eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Both a winter hardy and heat tolerant breed.
RED SEX LINK
Excellent dual-purpose, hybrid bird. Sex Links indicate their gender at hatching as males are a different color than females. Lays around 5 – large, brown eggs a week. Good in confinement. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
DOMINIQUE
Similar in appearance to the Barred Rock but with a rose comb. Great dual-purpose breed. Lays around 3 – large, brown eggs per week. Good in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
TURKEN
Also known as “Naked Necks” these birds are an easy-going dual-purpose breed. Lays around 2 – medium, light brown eggs per week. Good in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
GOLDEN LACED WYANDOTTE
A popular dual-purpose breed. Lays around 4 – large, brown eggs per week. A gentle-natured bird that does well in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
BARRED COCHIN
A friendly, mainly ornamental breed. Lays around 2 – medium, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
CRELE PENEDESENCA
A rare, egg-laying breed. Lays around 3 – medium, chocolate-colored eggs per week. Needs space to roam. Tolerates heat well.
SALMON FAVEROLLE
A beautiful, dual-purpose breed. Lays around 4 – medium, light brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
WHITE ROCK
A friendly, dual-purpose breed. Lays around 4 – large, brown egg per week. Does well in confinement. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
BLACK JERSEY GIANT
A very large but docile, dual-purpose breed. Lays 3 – x-large, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
BLUE LACED RED WYANDOTTE
A popular dual-purpose breed. Lays around 4 – large, brown eggs per week. A gentle-natured bird that does well in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
WHITE CRESTED BLACK POLISH
A unique crested, ornamental breed. Lays around 2 – tiny, white eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Tolerates heat well.
MOTTLED HOUDAN
Similar to the Polish breeds, the Mottled Houdan is a crested, ornamental breed. Lays around 2 – small, white eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Tolerates heat well.
BANTAM COCHIN – FRIZZLE
This is the frizzle genetic variant of the Bantam Cochin, a friendly, mainly ornamental breed. Lays around 2 – medium, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
BANTAM SILKIE
An extremely friendly and tame ornamental bantam. Lays around 3 – small, tinted eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
ANCONA
An active egg-laying breed. Lays around 5 – large, white eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
BANTAM BELGIAN QUAIL D’ANVER
A true bantam breed for ornamental use. Lays around 2 – tiny, tinted eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Does not tolerate extreme heat or cold.
BLUE ANDALUSIAN
An active egg-laying breed. Lays around 3 – large, white eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Tolerates heat well.
BLUE COCHIN
Friendly, heavy ornamental breed. Lays around 2 – medium, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
BROWN LEGHORN
A great egg-laying breed. Lays around 3 – large, white eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Tolerates heat well.
BUCKEYE
An all-around great dual-purpose breed. Lays around 3 – medium, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
BUFF LACED POLISH
A unique crested, ornamental breed. Lays around 3 – medium, white eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Tolerates heat well.
BUFF ROCK
An excellent dual-purpose bird with great meat quality. Lays around 4 – large, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement but better with area to free-range. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
CALIFORNIA GREY
Excellent dual-purpose, hybrid bird. Lays around 5 – large, white eggs per week. Does well in confinement but is also known for its great forager ability. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
CREAM LEGBAR
A friendly egg-laying breed. Lays around 4 – medium, light blue eggs per week. Does well in confinement but is also known for its great forager ability. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
DARK CORNISH
A fierce-looking but docile meat bird. Lays around 1 – small, light brown egg per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
DELAWARE
A calm and friendly dual-purpose breed. Lays around 4 – large, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
GOLD LACED POLISH
A unique crested, ornamental breed. Lays around 3 – medium, white eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Tolerates heat well.
GOLD SEX LINK
Excellent dual-purpose, hybrid bird. Sex Links indicate their gender at hatching as males are a different color than females. Lays around 5 – large, brown eggs a week. Good in confinement. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
MOTTLED JAVA
An old dual-purpose breed. Lays around 3 – large, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
OLIVE EGGER
A rare hybrid egg-laying breed. Lays around 3 – large, olive-colored eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
PRODUCTION BLUE
A hybrid egg-laying breed. Lays around 4-5 – x-large, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
RED BROILER
A dual-purpose breed known for its great quality meat. Lays around 3-4 – x-large, brown eggs. Does well in confinement. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
RHODE ISLAND WHITE
A great dual-purpose breed. Lays around 5 – x-large, brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
RUSSIAN ORLOFF
An ornamental breed that can be used for dual purpose. Lays around 2 – medium, light brown eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter breed.
SILVER LEGHORN
An intelligent egg-laying breed. Lays around 3 – large, white eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Tolerates heat well.
WELBAR
A friendly dual-purpose breed. Lays around 4 – large, chocolate-colored eggs per week. Does well in confinement but is also a great forager. Both winter hardy and heat tolerant.
