Trying to find the perfect breed to start your backyard flock, or looking to add more? Let’s dive into the 10 best breeds for backyard chicken keepers. We’ll look at temperament, ideal climate, egg color, and laying frequency to help you decide which new breed will suit you and your backyard best!
Classic Backyard Chicken Breeds
ISA Brown
Temperament: Docile, friendly, affectionate
Climate: Winter hardy, but also tolerates heat well. These birds are happy in a wide variety of climates
Laying Frequency: 6 eggs per week
Egg Color: Light brown
Barred Plymouth Rock
Temperament: Sweet, talkative, friendly
Climate: heat and cold tolerant
Confinement: Does well in confinement, but happiest free ranging
Laying Frequency: 4-5 eggs per week
Egg Color: light brown
Barnevelder
Temperament: Lively, active, friendly
Climate: Extremely cold hardy; ideal for cooler climates
Laying Frequency: 3 eggs per week
Egg Color: Varying shades of brown – both light & dark
Australorp
Temperament: Docile, easygoing
Climate: These birds are happy in a variety of climates, and are considered both cold hardy and heat tolerant
Laying Frequency: 4-5 eggs per week
Egg Color: Light brown
Orpington
Temperament: patient, docile, good with kids
Climate: does well in the cold due to fluffy plumage
Laying Frequency: one egg every other day
Egg Color: light brown
Fun Backyard Chicken Breeds
Silkie
Temperament: Calm, friendly, trusting
Climate: These birds thrive in both color or warm climates, but their feathers require protection from dampness since they are not waterproof
Laying Frequency: 2-4 eggs per week
Egg Color: Cream or white
Frizzle
Temperament: Gentle, sweet, easily handled, high maintenance
Climate: Due to their unique feathers, this breed can run into issues into climates that are extremely wet
Laying Frequency: 2-4 eggs each week
Egg Color: Cream or tinted
Naked Neck
Temperament: Docile & Gentle, Tend to fall lower on the pecking order
Climate: Thrives in a hot climate
Laying Frequency: Good layers; 4 eggs per week
Egg Color: Brown
Easter Eggers
Temperament: Big personalities, friendly, curious
Climate: Thrives in hot and cold climates
Laying Frequency: 3-4 eggs per week
Egg Color: Varies; blue
Polish
Temperament: Even tempered, gentle, calm
Climate: Prefer a dry, warm climate. In the cold, their crests can become waterlogged.
Laying Frequency: 3-4 eggs per week
Egg Color: White