10 of the Best Backyard Chicken Breeds

Backyard chickens have become more popular in recent years. Their small size, omnivorous diet, and charming nature make them excellent outdoor pets. Of course, they also supply meat and eggs. If you’re considering getting into the poultry hobby for the first time, you may wonder what the best backyard chicken breeds are. Here are 10 of the finest ones available.

1. Rhode Island Red

These excellent beginner birds originated in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and are a deep chestnut color — hence the name. They’re a multi-purpose breed, which means they can produce meat and eggs.

Rhode Island Reds are robust and generally docile birds. If you handle them from a young age, they’ll often take treats from your hand or let you carry them around. Here are some fast facts:

• Egg color: Light brown
• Average annual number of eggs: 260
• Egg size: Large
• Hen weight: 6.5 pounds

This breed of chicken is so common you can find it almost anywhere selling poultry.

2. Orpington

Laying almost 100 fewer eggs per year than Rhode Island Reds, these sweet, cold-hardy chickens come in five colors — buff, blue, black, white, and splash, which is white with speckles. The most common color variety you’ll probably encounter is buff. Here’s what to know about Orpingtons:

• Egg color: Light brown
• Average annual number of eggs: 190
• Egg size: Large
• Hen weight: 6-8 pounds

These birds don’t handle the heat well, but they thrive even in confined spaces. Like many large chickens, they rarely fly.

3. Australorp

This bird holds the record for most eggs laid in one year by a hen — 364. That’s only one day off! A cross between Orpingtons and several other breeds, Australorps were developed in Australia as dual-purpose birds. Here are some statistics:

• Egg color: Light brown
• Average annual number of eggs: 260
• Egg size: Large
• Hen weight: 6.5 pounds

In the United States, the usual variety you’ll find is black. They have a glossy green iridescence in the sun. Other countries have several different colors. Docile, hardy, and good in confinement, Australorps are one of the best backyard chicken breeds.

4. Plymouth Rock

This is another calm, hardy bird that does well in the cold and lays many eggs even in winter. Like all chickens, it will be happy to eat any kitchen scraps you have on hand and serves as a natural form of pest control. Here’s what to know about the breed:

• Egg color: Light brown
• Average annual number of eggs: 260
• Egg size: Large
• Hen weight: 7.5 pounds

Most of these birds are barred — meaning their feathers have black and white bands — but there are also blue, buff, and several other color varieties.

5. Naked Neck

Is that a turkey? A vulture? No, it’s a Naked Neck chicken! Sure, their featherless neck and crop may look bizarre, but this feature also keeps the birds cool on hot days. This breed lays a moderate number of eggs and provides excellent meat. They have the following characteristics:

• Egg color: Light brown
• Average annual number of eggs: 100
• Egg size: Medium
• Hen weight: 7 pounds

If you’re interested in butchering your own meat birds, Naked Necks are an excellent choice. They’re easier to pluck than other chickens because their feathers are so sparse overall. This also means they need protection from cold weather, but they do well in tropical climates.

6. Jersey Giant  

These birds are great for meat production, although filling out their huge frame can take a while. This is a calm, docile breed that does well in the cold and tends to go broody, meaning they want to sit on their eggs. Here’s what to know about Jersey Giants:

• Egg color: Light brown
• Average annual number of eggs: 150
• Egg size: Extra large
• Hen weight: 10 pounds

If you want a supersized meat bird that’s adaptable to confinement or free range, keep this breed in mind.

7. Leghorn 

Flighty and spirited, Leghorns are fantastic layers, and the most common variety has white feathers. If you love eggs, these are the birds for you. Here are some things to know about the breed:

• Egg color: White
• Average annual number of eggs: 280
• Egg size: Extra large
• Hen weight: 4.5 pounds

These birds prefer to be free range so they can run around and make a lot of noise. Still, their widespread availability and excellent egg production make them one of the best backyard chicken breeds. As long as you let them out of the coop during the day, they’ll be happy in a fenced yard. 

8. Sussex

Sussex chickens are dual-purpose birds that are friendly, beautiful, and good foragers. They’re great for beginners due to their cold and heat hardiness, although their egg production slows down in the winter. This breed has the following characteristics:

• Egg color: Light brown
• Average annual number of eggs: 180-250, depending on strain
• Egg size: Large
• Hen weight: 7 pounds

They tend to go broody easily and make good mothers, so if you want to hatch eggs, these chickens might be happy to do the job.

9. Wyandotte

Medium-weight, dual-purpose, and good for beginners, Wyandottes do well in cold or hot climates. Their sweet disposition and astonishing color varieties make them excellent backyard chicken breeds. Here is some more information about the breed:

• Egg color: Light brown
• Average annual number of eggs: 200
• Egg size: Large
• Hen weight: 6.5 pounds

These chickens tend to keep laying eggs throughout winter, which makes up for their moderate egg production. They don’t usually go broody.

10. Araucana

Araucanas are known for their distinctive feather tufts on either side of the face and for being one of the few chicken breeds that lay blue eggs. They are occasionally rumpless, meaning they lack a tailbone and tailfeathers, giving them a unique, shortened appearance. Here is what you should know about this breed:

• Egg color: Blue
• Average annual number of eggs: 200
• Egg size: Large
• Hen weight: 5 pounds

These birds are very active and love to run. They should be let out of the coop during the day to get plenty of exercise.

Backyard Chicken Breeds — A Rewarding Hobby

Keeping backyard chickens is a fun hobby. You can reduce your food waste by feeding leftovers to the birds and turning your scraps into fresh eggs. Plus, you can enjoy spending time outdoors with your flock, getting to know the birds, and taming them. 

The best backyard chicken breeds are docile, good sources of meat and eggs, hardy, or tolerate confinement well. Each breed has pros and cons, but you can find one that’s perfect for you.