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.
Easter Egger
A fun, egg-laying breed. This breed varies greatly in color, just like the colors of their eggs. Lays around 4 – x-large, green/pink/blue 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.
Black Langshan
A very rare dual-purpose bird originating from China. Lays around 3 – medium, brown eggs a week. Does well in confinement. Hardy winter bird.
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 Lakenvelder
A rare egg-laying breed originating from Germany. Lays around 3 – medium, tinted eggs per week. Does well in confinement. Tolerates heat well.
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.
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