Picking The Best Breed For Your Needs

So you want to start your first backyard flock? Well, there are a lot of things to take into consideration, but one of the most important questions is what type of chicken you want. Do you want a breed that will lay a lot of yummy eggs? Or a breed that will lay fewer eggs but is absolutely gorgeous? Do you want bantam, or standard? Bantam breeds usually require less space and are quieter. On the other hand standard breeds usually lay a lot more eggs. Now I will name some of the most popular breeds. Super layers include ISA Brown, Rhode Island Red, Leghorn, Australorp, and Sex-links. A few bantam breeds include the Sebright, Hamburg, Belgian Bearded d'Uccle Bantam, Campine, and Silkie. There are also dual purpose breeds like Barred Rock, Jersey Giant, and Buff Orpingtons. If you want a colorful egg basket I would suggest the Ameraucana, Araucana, Easter Egger, Maran, and Cream Legbar. Now that you know the most popular breeds, I'll give some brief descriptions...

SUPER LAYER

ISA Brown:
Purpose: Egg Laying
Egg Color: Light-Medium Brown
Productivity: 300-350 Eggs Per Year
Temperament: Docile, Calm
Hardiness: Cold-hardy
Varieties: Light Brown\Red
Comb: Single
Description: The ISA Brown is a very sweet hybrid. They lay a lot of eggs and make great pets! With minimal attention they still like to be held! Great breed for first time chicken owners
Note: Temperaments may vary from chicken to chicken. That is because they are hybrids, and they can have any of their ancestors attitudes.

BANTAM

Silkie:
Purpose: Ornamental
Productivity: 100-180 Eggs Per Year
Egg Color: Cream
Temperament: Sweet, Easily Handled, Quiet
Hardiness: Cold-Hardy, Does Poorly In Heat
Varieties: Bearded, Non-Bearded, White, Black, Blue, Painted, Splash, Grey, Partridge, Buff
Comb: Walnut
Description: This is a sweet purebred. Although, they lay few eggs they are so cute! They have five toes, blue ears, feathered feet, and unique feathers. They are usually at the bottom of the pecking order. They are a broody breed. Because of this they make great mothers, and they will set on almost any type of eggs.

-Courtesy of @FishMtFarm
Painted Silkie Hen

-Courtesy of @FishMtFarm
Silkie Rooster

DUAL PURPOSE

Plymouth Rock:
Purpose: Eggs and Meat
Productivity: 250-275 Eggs Per Year
Egg Color: Light-Medium Brown Sometimes Pinkish
Temperament: Calm, Docile
Hardiness: Cold-hardy
Varieties: White, Buff, Barred
Comb: Single
Description: This is a beautiful breed with unique barring. They are calm and are easily handled.

-Courtesy of @RiverviewHen
Barred Plymouth Rock Rooster

-Courtesy of @Cats Critters
Barred Plymouth Rock Rooster

COLORED LAYER

Easter Egger:
Purpose: Eggs
Productivity: 230-250
Egg Color: Green, Blue, Pink
Temperament: Easily Handled
Hardiness: Cold-hardy
Varieties: Any
Comb: Pea
Description: This type of chicken is not technically a breed. It is a chicken that carries a blue laying gene. They are bearded and have fluffy cheeks.

Note: This breed of chicken won't lay a different colored egg every day. The color of the first egg it lays will stay the same. Although the color may fade as the chicken ages.