Chicken Breeds
In-depth backyard chicken breed guides covering eggs per year, egg color, temperament, cold and heat hardiness, size, and what each breed is best for.
Best Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds
Leghorn (280-320 white), Australorp (250-300 brown, record holder), Rhode Island Red, ISA Brown, Plymouth Rock, and Sussex compared by eggs per year, color, and temperament. Best for maximum egg production.
Read guide →Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners
Calm, hardy, forgiving first hens: Buff Orpington, Australorp, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Sussex, and Wyandotte, with friendly temperaments and reliable laying. Best for new keepers and families.
Read guide →Best Cold-Hardy Chicken Breeds
Brahma, Wyandotte, Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Australorp, and Chantecler, chosen for dense feathering and frostbite-resistant combs, plus winter care tips. Best for cold climates and winter eggs.
Read guide →Rhode Island Red
~250-300 large brown eggs a year. Hardy, active dual-purpose all-rounder; calm hens, assertive roosters; very cold-hardy; ~6.5 lb hen. Best for reliable brown eggs and beginners.
Read guide →Buff Orpington
~180-220 light-brown eggs a year. Very gentle lap-chicken temperament; excellent cold hardiness; heat-sensitive; broody; ~8 lb hen. Best for families, pets, and cold climates.
Read guide →Australorp
~250-300 brown eggs a year (world record 364). Calm, friendly; good in heat and cold; ~6.5-8 lb hen; glossy black plumage. Best for top egg production in any climate.
Read guide →Plymouth Rock (Barred Rock)
~200-280 brown eggs a year. Friendly, sociable dual-purpose bird; excellent cold hardiness and winter laying; ~7.5 lb hen. Best for cold climates and family flocks.
Read guide →Leghorn
~280-320 white eggs a year, prolific. Active, flighty, independent; heat-tolerant but comb frostbite risk; lightweight ~4.5 lb hen; rarely broody. Best for maximum white eggs and hot climates.
Read guide →Wyandotte
~200-240 brown eggs a year. Calm, confident; stunning laced plumage; rose comb for exceptional cold hardiness; ~6.5 lb hen. Best for cold climates and ornamental appeal.
Read guide →Easter Egger
~200-280 blue, green, and olive eggs a year (one color per hen). Friendly, curious crossbred; often pea-combed and cold-hardy; ~4-5 lb hen. Best for colorful eggs and families.
Read guide →Silkie
~100-120 small cream eggs a year (poor layer). Extremely gentle fluffy bantam; outstanding broody mother; needs dry shelter, cannot fly; ~1.5-2 lb. Best for pets, kids, and hatching.
Read guide →Brahma
~150-200 brown eggs a year, strong winter layer. Calm gentle giant; exceptional cold hardiness with pea comb and feathered legs; heat-sensitive; ~8-10 lb hen. Best for cold climates and calm flocks.
Read guide →Sussex
~250-280 tan eggs a year, strong winter layer. Calm, curious, friendly dual-purpose breed; cold-hardy and heat-tolerant; ~7 lb hen; popular Speckled variety. Best for beginners, families, and four-season eggs.
Read guide →Best Heat-Tolerant Chicken Breeds
Leghorn, Andalusian, Minorca, Welsummer, Easter Egger, and the Egyptian Fayoumi compared for hot climates, plus how to keep any flock cool. Best for hot summers and desert regions.
Read guide →Best Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds
Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Sussex, Wyandotte, Orpington, and Australorp compared for eggs and meat, size, and hardiness. Best for homesteads wanting one all-purpose flock.
Read guide →Friendliest Chicken Breeds
Orpington, Silkie, Australorp, Cochin, Sussex, Plymouth Rock, and Faverolles ranked for gentle, people-loving temperaments, plus tips to tame any flock. Best for families and pets.
Read guide →Marans
~150-200 dark chocolate-brown eggs a year (the darkest of any breed). Calm, quiet, confident; very cold-hardy single comb; good in heat; ~7 lb hen. Best for dark eggs and calm flocks.
Read guide →Welsummer
~160-200 deep terracotta, often speckled, eggs a year. Friendly, intelligent, active forager; cold-hardy and very heat-tolerant; ~6 lb hen; rarely broody. Best for speckled dark eggs and hot climates.
Read guide →Ameraucana
~150-200 true blue eggs a year (blue through the shell). Friendly, curious; pea comb for excellent cold hardiness; ~5.5 lb hen. Best for guaranteed blue eggs and cold climates.
Read guide →Olive Egger
~150-200 olive-green eggs a year (blue x dark-brown cross). Friendly, hardy hybrid; often pea-combed and cold-hardy; ~5-6.5 lb hen. Best for unique olive eggs and colorful baskets.
Read guide →Cochin
~150-180 brown eggs a year. Extremely gentle, fluffy, feather-footed; outstanding cold hardiness but heat-sensitive; very broody; ~8.5 lb hen. Best for pets, broody mothers, and cold climates.
Read guide →Polish
~150-200 small white eggs a year. Gentle but easily startled by its big crest blocking vision; moderate hardiness, keep crest dry; ~4.5 lb hen. Best for ornament, show, and white eggs.
Read guide →Faverolles
~150-200 pink-tinted eggs a year, strong winter layer. Very gentle, five-toed, bearded; excellent cold hardiness; can be bullied; ~6.5 lb hen. Best for families, gentle flocks, and winter eggs.
Read guide →Speckled Sussex
~200-250 tan eggs a year, strong winter layer. Friendly, curious, calm; cold-hardy and heat-tolerant; speckling grows with each molt; ~7 lb hen. Best for beginners, families, and four-season eggs.
Read guide →Jersey Giant
~150-200 large brown eggs a year. The largest purebred chicken; calm gentle giant; cold-hardy, heat-sensitive; slow-growing ~10 lb hen. Best for meat, large brown eggs, and calm flocks.
Read guide →ISA Brown
~300-350 large brown eggs a year, top production hybrid. Friendly, calm sex-link; hardy and adaptable; rarely broody; ~4-5 lb hen with a shorter laying life. Best for maximum brown eggs and beginners.
Read guide →Golden Comet
~280-330 large brown eggs a year, early-laying sex-link hybrid. Friendly, calm; hardy and adaptable; rarely broody; ~4-5 lb hen. Best for maximum brown eggs, beginners, and small spaces.
Read guide →Lavender Orpington
~150-200 light brown eggs a year. Ultra-gentle lap chicken; self-blue plumage; excellent cold hardiness but heat-sensitive; broody; ~7-8 lb hen. Best for pets, families, and cold climates.
Read guide →Breed-Keeping Essentials
- Purina Layena Layer Pellets - Complete 16% protein feed for any laying breed at point of lay
- Oyster Shell Calcium Supplement - Free-choice calcium for strong shells across every breed
- Metal Chicken Nesting Boxes - Roll-out nests keep eggs clean from layers of any size
Backyard Chicken Keepers Planner
10 printable worksheets to track your flock's health, eggs, feed, and coop care.
Get the Planner for $39