100 Chicken Breeds for Beginners: Raising Chickens for Eggs and Backyard Hens

If you're thinking about raising chickens for eggs or starting a backyard flock, you'll need to choose the right breed of chicken. With so many breeds to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. This article will help you decide by providing a list of 100 of the best chicken breeds for beginners, perfect for egg laying and backyard flocks.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Chicken Breed

Before you start browsing chicken breeds, it's important to consider a few factors that will help you narrow down your options. These factors include:

100 Chickens: 100 Chicken Breeds for beginners, raising chickens for eggs, backyard hens, roosters, & their origin

by Carol Ann Martin

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• Purpose: What do you want your chickens for? Eggs, meat, or both? If you're primarily interested in eggs, you'll want to choose a breed that is known for good egg production.
• Climate: Where do you live? Some breeds are better suited to cold climates, while others are better suited to warm climates. If you live in a cold climate, you'll want to choose a breed that is cold-hardy.
• Temperament: How do you want your chickens to behave? Some breeds are known for being friendly and docile, while others are known for being more aggressive. If you have children, you'll want to choose a breed that is known for being gentle.
• Size: How much space do you have? Some breeds are larger than others. If you have a small backyard, you'll want to choose a breed that is smaller in size.

100 Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners

Now that you've considered the factors above, you're ready to start browsing chicken breeds. Here is a list of 100 of the best chicken breeds for beginners:

1. Ameraucana: This breed is known for its beautiful blue eggs and docile temperament. They are good layers and relatively easy to care for.
2. Australorp: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is good for both eggs and meat. They are known for their black feathers and large size.
3. Barred Rock: This breed is another dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
4. Brahma: This breed is a large, cold-hardy breed that is known for its fluffy feathers. They are good layers and relatively easy to care for.
5. Buff Orpington: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its golden feathers and docile temperament. They are good layers and relatively easy to care for.
6. Chantecler: This breed is a cold-hardy breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
7. Cochins: This breed is a large, fluffy breed that is known for its docile temperament and good egg production. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
8. Cornish Cross: This breed is a meat breed that is known for its fast growth rate and large size. They are not good layers and are not suitable for backyard flocks.
9. Delaware: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
10. Easter Egger: This breed is a hybrid breed that is known for its colorful eggs. They are good layers and relatively easy to care for.
11. Faverolle: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
12. Freedom Ranger: This breed is a meat breed that is known for its fast growth rate and large size. They are not good layers and are not suitable for backyard flocks.
13. Golden Comet: This breed is a hybrid breed that is known for its good egg production and docile temperament. They are relatively easy to care for.
14. Isa Brown: This breed is a hybrid breed that is known for its good egg production and docile temperament. They are relatively easy to care for.
15. Jersey Giant: This breed is a large, meat breed that is known for its fast growth rate and large size. They are not good layers and are not suitable for backyard flocks.
16. Kharkov: This breed is a cold-hardy breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
17. Laid Red: This breed is a hybrid breed that is known for its good egg production and docile temperament. They are relatively easy to care for.
18. Langshan: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
19. Leghorn: This breed is a light breed that is known for its good egg production. They are not good meat birds and are not suitable for cold climates.
20. Marans: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its dark brown eggs. They are good layers and relatively easy to care for.
21. Minorca: This breed is a large, black breed that is known for its good egg production. They are not good meat birds and are not suitable for cold climates.
22. New Hampshire Red: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
23. Olive Egger: This breed is a hybrid breed that is known for its olive-colored eggs. They are good layers and relatively easy to care for.
24. Orpington: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
25. Plymouth Rock: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
26. Rhode Island Red: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
27. Sebright Bantam: This breed is a small, bantam breed that is known for its beautiful feathers. They are not good layers and are not suitable for backyard flocks.
28. Silkie: This breed is a small, fluffy breed that is known for its docile temperament. They are not good layers and are not suitable for backyard flocks.
29. Sussex: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
30. Turken: This breed is a small, ornamental breed that is known for its unusual appearance. They are not good layers and are not suitable for backyard flocks.
31. Welsummer: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.
32. Wyandotte: This breed is a dual-purpose breed that is known for its good egg production and meat quality. They are also very hardy and easy to care for.

Choosing the right chicken breed for your needs is important. By considering the factors discussed above, you can narrow down your options and find the perfect breed for your flock. With proper care, your chickens will provide you with years of eggs and enjoyment.

100 Chickens: 100 Chicken Breeds for beginners, raising chickens for eggs, backyard hens, roosters, & their origin

by Carol Ann Martin

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	272 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	54 pages

FREE