10 Perfect Chicken Breeds for Beginners.

Thinking of getting chickens and not sure where to start? There are so many breeds it can be overwhelming at first. I'm here to help! Start with my top 10 recommendations (in no particular order). I have experience with each and every one of these amazing breeds. Whether you're looking for production or for a docile pet, you'll find all the information you're looking for right here.

Boss Lady the Buff Orpington

1. Orpington

Orpingtons are one of the most popular and quintessential backyard chickens. Originating in the UK in the late 1800s, this heritage breed tends to be pretty long lived, as many heritage breeds are. They are also sufficient producers of medium to large light brown to pinkish eggs, laying about 200-280 per year.

Orpingtons come in a wide variety of colors, the Buff being the most common. The newest variety, Lavender, has been finding recent popularity among backyard chicken keepers as a beautifully decorative bird with a slight Lavender glow. No matter the color, these birds are gentle, social creatures and among the best breed for children because of that. They will follow you around everywhere, just to be near you. They tend to prefer free-ranging as most chickens do, but are not prone to wandering very far and prefer to be close to home. Orpingtons have a tendency to become broody, and make excellent mothers.

My personal favorite chicken I’ve ever had was in fact, a Buff Orpington dubbed Boss Lady. She was an epic flock leader. She led the flock with a calm and gentle demeanor, never bullied anyone, and held everyone’s respect until her last day. She was constantly curious and loved being near people every chance she got. My bond with her was akin to a bond with a dog. She was remarkably intelligent as well, and even empathetic to her flock members. More than once she was seen laying next to a sick or dying friend for days until they had recovered or passed on. I’ve had multiple Orpingtons, and all have had winning personalities, so I cannot recommend this breed enough. Not to mention their super round, fluffy adorable booties!

2. Rhode Island Red

Rhode Island Reds are one of the most productive heritage breeds, laying as many as 310 eggs per year! Malay, Java, Cochin, Brahma, Plymouth Rocks, Brown Leghorns and others were all involved in the creation of this amazing chicken. They possess a gorgeous deep auburn color to their feathers, and some of the friendliest personalities of any breed. They are the type that will enthusiastically run up to you and crouch at your feet for pets. Quirky and talkative, they are sure to entertain you on a daily basis.

As active and intelligent birds, they do best being able to free range and forage as much as possible. These birds do not tend to go broody as this personality trait was bred out of them for production purposes. So, if you want a bird that is not interested in being a mother, these may be for you.

Rhode Island Reds are survivors with strong personalities so keep in mind the roosters can sometimes be quite aggressive. In a mixed flock of hens they are often found at or near the top of the pecking order.

3. Easter Egger

Quirky, silly, intelligent and friendly. Love attention. Prefer free ranging, one of the most curious breeds. Can be flyers at times, but are also loyal and prefer to be near you. 200-280 eggs per year excellent producers.

Easter Eggers are a hybrid, often confused with Ameraucanas. They are actually a cross between a blue egg layer (often an Ameraucana) and a white egg layer. Real breed or not, they are a wonderful addition to any flock. Producing 200-280 light green eggs per year, they’re highly productive and will add vibrance to your egg collection. They’re friendly, quirky and gentle with people. At times they can be a bit too gentle and are often found near the bottom of the pecking order. They make up for this with their intelligence and you might see them coming up with some interesting strategies to make sure they get enough food. Still, it may not be a good idea to mix these with personalities that are overly dominating.

Socially, Easter Eggers are wonderfully friendly, loyal, talkative and curious. The only challenge you may experience is escape artistry. One of my favorites of all time has found a way to get out of just about any enclosure I have built, so keep a diligent eye on any openings or opportunities for escape around your enclosure! If you satisfy their need to free ranging enough, it will help keep them from getting bored enough to misbehave.

4. Brahma

Brahmas are known as one of the mellowest chicken varieties. They do well in confinement since they are not the most active breed. They are typically super gentle lap chickens, affectionate and calm. They’re a large bird with beautifully round fluffy butts and feathered legs. They will talk to you in their quiet, soothing manner, and likely want to be close to you often. These heavy birds love to be held and hugged and doted on. Available in a wide variety of colors, they produce about 150 eggs per year. Though they are not most productive, they are one of the only breeds who will lay through winter. They’re also an excellent choice for cold climates, since their rose combs and feather feet make them cold hardy. These birds are not big wanderers and not particularly escape artists with their large size. Beware, they will delight you on a daily basis!

5. Australorp

Since Australorps are closely related to Orpingtons, they share a lot of the same traits, including their easy going personalities. They tend to be a bit more standoffish at first, then once they gain your trust they are friendly and docile. They’re a productive breed laying around 250 eggs a year. They are fairly active but can tolerate confinement well. Australorps have shiny, iridescent black feathers with hues of beetle green and purple in the sun. They are often around the middle of the pecking order due their unaggressive and calm demeanor.

6. Plymouth Rock

Plymouth Rocks are winners in the personality and production department. This is another breed known as a lap chicken. They’re affectionate with people and love following you around and watching everything you do. They lay 210-250 large brown and sometimes speckled eggs. The most popular variety is the barred, which has striking black and white barred feathers.

Plymouth Rocks can sometimes be a bit dominating with more submissive hens, and are often near the top of the pecking order. They tend to hang out with other members of their own breed and can sometimes gang up on others, so they may not be best mixed with shy and meek personalities. Their personality shines with people and they are super gentle with children. They don’t often go broody but make excellent mothers when they do. These birds are excellent foragers and love free ranging, but they tolerate small spaces just fine making them an ideal backyard chicken.

7. Silkie

Silkies are a quintessential pet chicken. They are one of the cutest chickens in many peoples’ opinions, possessing a plumage of only under feathers which gives them such a fun look and makes them super soft for petting and holding. They’re popular with kids being remarkably calm and docile. Most kids take one look at these silly, adorable little chickens and instantly fall in love.

The Silkie is not a great choice for egg production, laying around 160 small eggs per year. They are a bantam sized breed and don’t typically get larger than 3 pounds. They’re easy to handle and mellow, until they’re broody. This breed is known for being one of the broodiest and the hens are extremely dedicated mothers. If you’re looking to breed a backyard chicken that makes a great pet, these are a perfect choice.

Due to their small size, they should not be allowed to free range in large open areas. They are far too easy for a hawk to fly off with and their fuzzy plumage makes them stand out. They don’t tend to be too adventurous and they handle small spaces very well. Silkies are not cold hardy since they lack the top feathers most chickens have to insulate them. If you have Silkies make sure to insulate their coop in the winter.

8. Wyandotte

Wyandottes are one of the most beautiful breeds in my opinion. They come in a variety of colors, all with incredible “laced” outlines on their feathers. I recommend this breed as one that is independent and low maintenance. If you are looking for a bird that doesn’t require a lot of attention, Wyandottes could be your breed. In my experience their personalities can differ widely. I’ve had some that are affectionate and some that prefer not to be bothered at all. They are not bullies or dominators and vocally pretty quiet. They get along with many other breeds very well. If allowed to free range, these birds can be pretty adventurous so keep an eye on them. They will provide you with 160-200 medium to large light brown eggs per year. Get a few color varieties for a strikingly colorful flock.

9. Sussex

The Sussex is one of the oldest heritage breeds still around today, originating around 43 A.D. They’re known for being friendly and docile, not flighty and easily handled. While they’re friendly, they’re not overly needy and typically have a pretty independent attitude. Sussexes come in a wide variety of colors, the speckled being the most popular and widely available. At 200-250 large light brown eggs per year, it’s no wonder they have been popular for so many centuries. These birds get along well with other flock members of all types and though they prefer free ranging, they are good with confinement if given enough room The Sussex is also one of the only breeds that will lay eggs in winter. These birds can handle cold weather well.

10. Cochin

With the fluffiest feathered legs of any breed and their large body size, Cochins attract lots of attention. An ancestor of the Brahma, they share the same gentle and laid back personality. They are made to handle the cold and do it well. Cochins are not prone to wandering and like to be close to their people, making them a wonderful choice for backyard chicken keepers. Their large size keeps them from flying over fences, and their big round fluffy bodies are just adorable. Cochins will give you 150-180 large brown eggs per year and are available in several color varieties. These birds make excellent companions but will likely slow egg production significantly by age 3. They tend to go broody and are wonderful mothers.

I would like to add that these breed profiles are general guidelines. Chicken personalities can vary greatly within the same breed, and each bird is unique. All of these are recommended because the majority of them are docile and friendly. There are always exceptions to this, just as there are in dogs and cats. I hope this helps as a guide for you to start your flock with breeds that are suitable to your lifestyle and needs!