Topic of the Week - Which Breeds Are Best For….

There are a bewildering number of chicken breeds available, each with its own set of qualities and characteristics. Some are great egg layers, some are fair layers, and great table birds. Others are cute lawn ornaments that lays only occasionally. To help especially the new chicken keepers pick the breeds that are best suited to their needs, this week I would like to hear your thoughts and recommendations on chicken breeds for the purpose of egg-laying, table birds, etc. Specifically:

- Which breeds are best if you're after getting lots of eggs?
- Which breeds make good dual-purpose birds (Fair egg layers that can also be processed for the table)?
- Which are the best (non-broiler) breeds for the table?
- Which breeds are great with kids (friendly, personable)?
- Which breeds need specific conditions, for example, no climate extremes, or not suitable to keep in certain conditions (free-range or confined)?


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With our small flock we have only had experience with white leghorns and mutts. I can unequivocally say that white leghorns are amazing layers. We have always averaged around 350+ eggs a year from them. So much so that I tracked my Daisy last year and she delivered 360 large white eggs. We got Daisy as a pullet and it has taken some patience, but she has become very friendly. It was down to 12 degrees last night and she has handled the cold quite well. She does fly/jump up onto my lap and she will jump up on the table. The leghorns have always been our alpha hens, so perhaps they are bossy. She is not nearly as mean to the other hens as our beta Patsy is. Patsy can be downright mean, but she is not a Leghorn, she is a mutt.

I think leghorns are the quintessential chickens. They look and act like a chicken should.

Here is Daisy in her glory:

I've had Buff Orpingtons for almost a year. American, not English lines. Their egg production has been notably good. I get 3-5 big brown eggs daily from 6 hens. I've gotten 6 once so far. They are also very docile and allow themselves to be caught and handled, even if they are a bit annoyed by it. They squat on a dime when in lay. Of course, my husband and I are the "roos" in their world as we have no male for them. They are also pretty good with my 4 kids and don't peck them unless they are teasing them with food, of course. Even then, there was no blood or anything. They also seemed more accepting of new flock additions than my Wyandottes were. They did well over the winter without supplemental light and heat, aside from a break in laying due to molting, but needed help during the summer staying cool. I don't know that I would use them as table birds unless I had to dispatch an ornery bird, as most of their bulk seems to be their feathers. At any rate, I think I've found my breed. I didn't have a very good first experience with Barred Rocks or Wyandottes, both had too many behavioral issues for me, but I'm sure I'll try out other breeds at some point.

In my experience with my current breeds...

Silkies/polkies- eye candy, not great layers, only one of mine enjoys a cuddle, they have lovely and docile personalities and are fun to watch

d'uccles- not bad layers, eye candy, cuddle lap babies, lovely docile personality, fun to look at and to cuddle!

(Silver) sussex- great layer, beautiful, docile, doesn't mind being handled

cochin/cochin mixes- alright layers, especially my cochin mixes, very fun to watch, don't mind handling, docile

White Leghorn:
For egg production, the white Leghorn. Mine, named Annika, has missed only five days since she began laying on December 26th. She is also fairly friendly.

Red Sex-Link;
My red sex-link, Poppy, is one of my best foragers. However, she does not appreciate people much.

Friendliest Chickens:
My Barred Rock, Betty, and my speckled Sussex, Charlotte, are my sweetest birds. they sometimes follow me around when I am outside, and Betty will fall asleep on laps. Easter eggers can also be very sweet. One of mine, Bumble, passed away recently, but was the nicest, sweetest chicken ever.

I feel that with most animals, personality is really based on the individual, not necessarily the type or species. I had/have three BO hens (well four but one never made it to hen-hood). One loved to be around people, would let me hold her as long as I wanted and let me pick her up all the time. She was a people chicken. Then I had another hen that was extremely difficult to pick up/catch, but once you did would all-out relax and love to be on my lap. Then there's Rosie, who hated being touched, picked up, held and would flap her wings if I ever got her in my arms. Over time the 2nd and last hen got nicer as I spent more time with them, so that is just how they were as pullets. So, what I am saying is it really just depends on the hen.

JCT said:

I’m so new I know very little. But I do appreciate all your advice and comments. the one question I have right now is whether you find a difference in friendliness if you start with baby chicks or pullets?

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Not really. One of my hens was bought as a 6 week old, and she is friendlier than a hen that I raised feom a chick. It depends on their individual personality and how they were brought up.
If you want sweet chickens, don't buy POL hens, unless they were raised being used to handling. The adult hens I've bought are all skittish, even though they trust me enough to eat out of my hand. But I recently got a 3 year old hen who is very friendly, because she was raised with kids and being used to handling.
The younger you get them, the more time you have to build a relationship with them, but some chickens grow to like attention, and some don't

I have one catalana bird ,Red, she is very attached to me and thinks she belongs inside. She used to be pretty mean , pecking at my twin boys or flying at them . Never caused any harm really except scared the crap out of them a couple times. After my husband saved her from some mean pit bulls with careless owners she has become the sweetest chicken ever and loves to follow me every where and come when called.

Best overall breed for all categories is hands down buff orpington breed. Amazing eggs, friendly, cold hardy, heat tolerant, can handle confinement or free range. I haven't eaten one so that I'm not sure but everything else is a win. Love this breed.

Gees .. egg questions again? A subject about which my flock of freeloaders and consequently myself, apparently are going to remain in the dark

Which breeds are best if your’re after getting lots of eggs?
Not sure .. whatever breed lays those free range eggs sold at the grocery store.

Which breeds make good dual purpose birds (Fair egg layers that can also be processed for the table)?
Eggs? See above. Table? The only table you are likely to find my gals on is a picnic table, helping themselves to lunch.

Which breeds are great with kids?
While we do not have any little ones around the place, I can say that my flock of Pekins [bantam Cochins], Pekin X’s and one bantam Langshan are pretty laid back and friendly .. probably because they have no idea what real chickens do!

Climate extremes?
Oooh, that one we do know a little about. Touch wood, I have not lost anyone to heat stress but have come close. Funnily enough, my two black girls (Pekin and Langshan) tolerate the heat better than the buffs (Pekin and Pekin X Silky). The frizzled Pekin struggles a little in summer also.