Chicken Breeds
When we think of animals in our lives, one of the last ones that I think about is the chicken even though we eat eggs and chicken weekly. So today, I’m going to enlighten you all on the breeds and differences in chickens.
I will describe you, what chickens are best for laying eggs, which ones are best for meat purposes, the chickens that are best for eggs and meat, show poultry, and Bantam.
At the end of the article, you’ll see a list of chickens to have as a reference source.
Table of Contents
- Chicken Breeds - Type, List, Picture & Information
- The A-Z of Chicken Breeds - Choosing the Perfect One
- Ameraucana
- American Game
- Ancona
- Andalusian
- Appenzeller Spitzhauben
- Araucana
- Asil (Aseel)
- Australorp
- Ayam Cemani
- Barnevelder
- Braekel
- Brahma
- Buckeye
- California Gray
- California White
- Campine
- Catalana
- Chantecler
- Cochin
- Cornish
- Cubalaya
- Derbyshire Redcap
- Dominique
- Dorking
- Dutch Bantam
- Easter Egger
- Faverolles
- Fayoumi
- Hamburg
- Holland
- Houdan
- Iowa Blue
- Ixworth
- Jangmigye
- Japanese Bantam
- Java Chicken
- Jersey Giant
- Kuroiler
- Lakenvelder
- Lamona
- Legbar
- Leghorn
- Malay
- Marans
- Marsh Daisy
- Minorca
- Modern Game
- Naked Neck
- Nankin
- New Hampshire
- Norfolk Grey
- Old English Game
- Orloff
- Orpington
- Pekin
- Penedesenca
- Phoenix
- Plymouth Rock
- Polish
- Red Shaver
- Rhode Island Red
- Rhode Island White
- Scots Dumpy
- Scots Grey
- Sebright
- Frizzle
- Serama
- Shamo
- Sicilian Buttercup
- Silkie
- Speckled Sussex
- Sultan
- Sumatra
- Vorwerk
- Welsummer
- White Faced Black Spanish
- Yokohama
Chicken Breeds - Type, List, Picture & Information
Meat Breeds
We have the chicken breeds that are for meat. Many people are worried about hormones in our foods, therefore decided to raise their own food. If you want to follow their lead, these are the chickens to raise.
The Cornish Cross is the preferred when picking a chicken for meat. They can be up to 12 pounds in 6-8 weeks. The Jersey Giant weigh up to 13 pounds, but they are slow growers who need a lot of food.
Bresse is a white chicken that is fairly large. With their bright blue feet, it's not hard to see this bird. They are expensive and popular. They can get up to 7 pounds. Orpington is the last meat chicken I’ll cover. They average 8 pounds and have tender meat.
Dual Purpose
Three best dual-purpose chickens include: Black Australorp, its friendly, a great egg layer, and a great mother. They are protective of the flock. Speckled Sussex, which is beautiful and nice, protective as well.
Rhode Island red, great layer and meat, they get up to 8 pounds. There are many resources to find the best meat birds online, so you can pick your favorite chicken to raise and eat.
Exhibition/ Show Poultry
The poultry show is a small piece of a livestock show, which involves exhibition and competition of the chickens. Chickens are trained for these shows and they are cleaned very well and given manicures too. The chicken breeders are highlighted at the shows as well. It’s a display of beautiful birds.
Related Article - Poultry Farming Guide and Information
Bantam
What are Bantam chicken breeds? They are a little smaller than other birds and they’re great for small backyards. They are very adorable birds.
They are little versions of Brahma chicken. They lay eggs as well, but they do not produce that many eggs per year. They don’t eat much though and their eggs are smaller, but they still taste the same.
Now that you know more about breeds of chickens, I’ll provide a list of the breeds of chickens that we have.
The A-Z of Chicken Breeds - Choosing the Perfect One
Ameraucana
Egg Laying | Excellent (5/wk) |
Egg Color | Light Blue |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Broody |
American Game
Egg Laying | Fair (2/wk) |
Egg Color | Whitish/Cream |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Hardy |
Ancona
Egg Laying | Excellent (5/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Active |
Andalusian
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Active, Gentle |
Appenzeller Spitzhauben
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes (in winter) |
Temperament | Forager |
Araucana
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Blue |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Flighty |
Asil (Aseel)
Egg Laying | Poor (1/wk) |
Egg Color | Cream or Tinted |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | Yes (in winter) |
Temperament | Aggressive |
Australorp
Egg Laying | Excellent (5/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Hardy, Docile |
Ayam Cemani
Egg Laying | Fair (2/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Flighty |
Barnevelder
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Light brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Friendly, Active, Quiet, Lively |
Braekel
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Active |
Brahma
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Friendly |
Temperament | Yes |
Buckeye
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Peaceful |
California Gray
Egg Laying | Excellent (5/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Quiet |
California White
Egg Laying | Excellent (5/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Quiet |
Campine
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Active |
Catalana
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Pinkish Cream |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Active |
Chantecler
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Gentle |
Cochin
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Friendly, Calm, Quiet |
Cornish
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Aggressive |
Cubalaya
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Light brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes (in winter) |
Temperament | Forager |
Derbyshire Redcap
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Hardy |
Dominique
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Forager, Calm, Personable, Hardy |
Dorking
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Calm, Docile |
Dutch Bantam
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Light Brown |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Friendly, Flighty |
Easter Egger
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Green/Blue/Pink/Multi |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Peaceful |
Faverolles
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Light brown, Pinkish |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Gentle, Docile |
Fayoumi
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Off-white, Tinted |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Flighty |
Hamburg
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Docile |
Holland
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Calm |
Houdan
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Sweet, Easily handled |
Iowa Blue
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | - |
Temperament | Skittish |
Ixworth
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Tinted |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | - |
Temperament | Alert, Active |
Jangmigye
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Light Brown |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | - |
Temperament | Friendly, calm |
Japanese Bantam
Egg Laying | Fair (2/wk) |
Egg Color | Cream or tinted |
Primary use | Exhibition /Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Hardy, Bit flighty |
Java Chicken
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Cream or tinted |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Hardy, Docile |
Jersey Giant
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Calm, Docile |
Kuroiler
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | - |
Temperament | Friendly, Feed Continuously, Good Foragers |
Lakenvelder
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Tinted, White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Active, Quick |
Lamona
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Meat |
Cold Hardy | - |
Temperament | Friendly, Docile |
Legbar
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Light Blue |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Forager |
Leghorn
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Nervous, Flighty |
Malay
Egg Laying | Fair (2/wk) |
Egg Color | Light-brown |
Primary use | Meat |
Cold Hardy | - |
Temperament | Aggressive |
Marans
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Dark brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Quiet, Docile |
Marsh Daisy
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Tinted |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Calm, Active |
Minorca
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Noisy, Flighty |
Modern Game
Egg Laying | Poor (1/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Curious, Friendly |
Naked Neck
Egg Laying | Fair (2/wk) |
Egg Color | Light brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Cold hardy |
Nankin
Egg Laying | - |
Egg Color | Tinted |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Friendly, Calm |
New Hampshire
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Competitve, Aggressive |
Norfolk Grey
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Tinted |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | - |
Temperament | Active Forager |
Old English Game
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Tinted, Cream |
Primary use | Meat |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Self-sufficient, Noisy, Aggressive |
Orloff
Egg Laying | Fair (2/wk) |
Egg Color | Light Brown |
Primary use | Meat |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Calm |
Orpington
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Light Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Calm |
Pekin
Pekin Batman
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Docile |
Penedesenca
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Dark Brown |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Active |
Phoenix
Egg Laying | Poor (1/wk) |
Egg Color | Golden, Silver |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Unfriendly, Docile |
Plymouth Rock
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown, Light Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Calm |
Polish
Silver Laced Polish Chicken
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Friendly |
Red Shaver
Egg Laying | - |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Calm, Friendly, Quiet, Hardy |
Rhode Island Red
Egg Laying | Excellent (5/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Hardy |
Rhode Island White
Egg Laying | Excellent (5/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Calm, Easy going |
Scots Dumpy
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Off-white, Tinted |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Quiet |
Scots Grey
Egg Laying | - |
Egg Color | Cream |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Forager, Active |
Sebright
Egg Laying | Poor (1/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Friendly, Active |
Frizzle
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Tinted, White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Good forager, Hardy |
Serama
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Cream or Tinted |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Calm, Manageable, Assertive, Confident |
Shamo
Egg Laying | Fair (2/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Pleasant, Docile |
Sicilian Buttercup
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Active |
Silkie
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Tinted, Cream |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Friendly, Calm |
Speckled Sussex
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Brown, Cream, Tan |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Alert, Docile |
Sultan
Egg Laying | Poor (1/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Friendly, Docile |
Sumatra
Egg Laying | Fair (2/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Flighty, Jumpy |
Vorwerk
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | Cream |
Primary use | Meat/Eggs |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Alert, Active |
Welsummer
Egg Laying | Very Good (4/wk) |
Egg Color | Dark brown |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | Yes |
Temperament | Friendly, Intelligent |
White Faced Black Spanish
Egg Laying | Good (3/wk) |
Egg Color | White |
Primary use | Eggs |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Wild, Active |
Yokohama
Egg Laying | Poor (1/wk) |
Egg Color | Tinted |
Primary use | Ornamental |
Cold Hardy | No |
Temperament | Calm, Quiet |