15 Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners (Anyone Can Raise!)

Thinking about raising chickens but don’t know where to start? Many people are drawn to the idea of fresh eggs and feathered friends in their backyard. But choosing the right breed can be overwhelming!

That’s where our list of the 15 best chicken breeds for beginners comes in. We’ve included a diverse selection of breeds known for their hardiness, friendly temperaments, and egg-laying abilities. So, pick from Rhode Island Red, Buff Orpington, Plymouth, Australorp, leghorn, or Sussex. I mostly prefer Silkie, wyandotte, and Brahma.

Excited? Get your list of the 15 best breeds from the all-American classic Rhode Island Red to the colorful egg-laying Easter Egger!

15 Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners

Ready to start your backyard flock but not sure which chickens to choose? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Whether you’re after fresh eggs, friendly pets, or a bit of both, these 15 chicken breeds are perfect for beginners.

1. Rhode Island Red: The All-American Classic

If you’re looking for a reliable chicken, look no further than the Rhode Island Red. These gals are the quintessential backyard chickens – hardy, friendly, and boy, do they lay eggs!

You can expect about 250-300 brown eggs per year from these red-feathered beauties. Plus, they’re pretty low-maintenance, making them perfect for newbies.

2. Buff Orpington: The Golden Retriever of Chickens

Imagine a big, fluffy golden cloud that also happens to lay eggs. That’s the Buff Orpington for you!

These gentle giants are known for their docile nature and make excellent pets, especially if you have kids. They’re not the most prolific layers (about 200-250 light brown eggs per year), but they make up for it with their sunny dispositions and cold hardiness.

3. Plymouth Rock: The Barred Beauty

With their distinctive black and white striped feathers, Plymouth Rocks are like the zebras of the chicken world. But way more huggable!

These friendly birds are excellent layers, producing about 200-280 light brown eggs annually. They’re also pretty chill, making them great for families and first-time chicken keepers.

4. Australorp: The Egg-cellent Aussie

Meet the Australorp, the chicken that holds the world record for egg-laying (364 eggs in 365 days – talk about overachievers!).

While you probably won’t get quite that many, you can still expect a solid 250-300 large brown eggs per year. These glossy black beauties are also known for their calm temperament and adaptability to different climates.

5. Leghorn: The Egg Machine

If you’re all about those eggs, the Leghorn chicken is your gal.

These lightweight white chickens are egg-laying powerhouses, cranking out 250-300 large white eggs per year. They’re a bit flightier than some other breeds, so they might not be the best choice if you’re looking for a lap chicken. But for egg production, they’re hard to beat!

6. Sussex: The Colorful Charmer

Available in eight different color varieties, Sussex chickens are like the mood rings of the poultry world.

They’re not just pretty faces – these birds are also great layers. They lay about 250 light brown eggs per year and have friendly, curious personalities. They’re also excellent foragers, which means they’ll happily help keep your yard bug-free.

7. Wyandotte: The Winter Warrior

With their beautiful laced feathers and full, fluffy appearance, Wyandottes look like they’re dressed for a fancy chicken prom.

But don’t let their good looks fool you – these birds are tough cookies. They’re excellent cold-weather chickens and decent layers, producing about 200-240 light brown eggs per year.

Plus, they have calm, friendly personalities that make them great for beginners.

Related Reads:

• Silver-Laced Wyandotte Chicken Breed
• All About Golden-Laced Wyandotte Chicken Breed
• Blue-Laced Golden Wyandotte Chicken

8. Easter Egger: The Colorful Egg Basket

Want to feel like every day is Easter? Get yourself some Easter Eggers! These fun hybrids lay eggs in a variety of pastel colors – blue, green, pink, or even olive. They’re friendly, hardy, and lay about 250 eggs per year. Just remember, each hen only lays one color, so you’ll need a few to get that rainbow egg basket.

9. Silkie: The Fluffy Teddy Bear

Okay, let’s be honest – Silkies look more like muppets than chickens. With their fluffy plumage, black skin, and five toes, these little oddities are sure to be the talk of your backyard.

They’re not great layers (only about 100-120 small cream-colored eggs per year). But they make up for it by being incredibly friendly and docile. Plus, they’re excellent mothers and often go broody, making them perfect if you want to hatch your own chicks.

10. Brahma: The Gentle Giant

Brahmas are the basketball players of the chicken world – they’re tall, impressive, and surprisingly gentle.

These large birds are known for their feathered feet and calm demeanor. They’re decent layers, producing about 150-200 medium brown eggs per year. Brahmas are also cold-hardy, making them a great choice for cooler climates.

11. Cochin: The Fluffball

If you’ve ever wanted to hug a chicken (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t?), Cochin is for you.

These birds are basically balls of fluff with a beak. They’re not the best layers (only about 150-180 light brown eggs per year), but they’re incredibly docile and make excellent pets. They’re also prone to going broody, so they’re great if you want to raise chicks.

12. New Hampshire Red: The Speedy Developer

New Hampshire Reds are like the eager overachievers of the chicken world. 

They mature quickly, start laying early, and are good for both eggs and meat. These reddish-brown birds are hardy, and friendly, and lay about 200-280 light-brown eggs per year.

They’re a great all-around bird for beginners.

13. Dominique: The American Heritage Breed

Want a piece of living history? Dominiques are one of the oldest American breeds.

These black and white barred chickens are hardy, docile, and good layers, producing about 230-275 small brown eggs per year. They’re also excellent foragers and do well in free-range situations.

14. Barnevelder: The Dutch Delight

Hailing from the Netherlands, Barnevelders are known for their beautiful dark brown eggs (about 180-200 per year).

Their feathers have a unique double-laced pattern that makes them stand out in any flock. They’re calm, friendly, and cold-hardy, making them a great choice for beginners in cooler climates.

15. Faverolle: The French Charmer

Last but not least, we have the Faverolle. These French chickens are known for their muffs and beards (fancy chicken talk for extra fluff around their faces), as well as their fifth toe. They’re exceptionally gentle and friendly, making them great with kids.

Faverolle chickens are not the most prolific layers (about 180-200 light brown eggs per year). But they make up for it with their charming personalities and cold hardiness.

FAQs

Have queries in mind about chicken breeds? This Q&A may have your answers!

Which chicken breed is best for families with children?

Buff Orpingtons are known as the “Golden Retrievers of chickens” due to their gentle nature and kid-friendly temperament.

Are there chicken breeds that lay colored eggs?

Yes, Easter Eggers lay eggs in various pastel colors like blue, green, and pink.

What’s a good cold-hardy chicken breed for beginners?

Wyandottes and Brahmas are both excellent cold-weather chickens that are also beginner-friendly.

Wrapping Up

There you have it, folks! You have 15 of the best chicken breeds for beginners! Remember, the “best” breed for you will depend on your specific needs and situation. Do you want lots of eggs? A friendly pet? A bird that can handle cold winters? Consider these factors when making your choice.

No matter which breed you choose, raising chickens can be an incredibly rewarding experience. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start your flock!