When it comes to keeping backyard chickens everyone has their favorite breed. For a variety of reasons some enjoy better popularity than the rest. So we held a poll to find out your favorites - here are the results:

1. Orpington
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Coming in at number 1 we have the Orpington. They are a dual purpose breed so they are very good for meat chickens and egg laying chickens. They are very cold hardy, docile, can go broody very often and are great mothers.

Here are some Orpington facts:
Breed Purpose: Dual purpose
Egg laying: 175-200 eggs annually
Weight: Cocks: 7.9-10 lbs; Hens: 5.9-7.9 lbs
Colours/Varieties: Black, Buff, Blue, White, Red, Splash, Jubilee (and more)

To learn more about the Orpington and its origins, visit its Breed Focus page here


2. Silkie
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At number 2 comes the Silkie. Named for its atypically fluffy plumage, which is said to feel like silk, the Silkie has several other unusual qualities, such as black skin and bones, blue earlobes, and five toes on each foot, whereas most other chickens only have four. They are friendly, easily handled, calm, quiet & quite docile

Here are some Silkie facts:
Breed Purpose: Ornamental
Egg Productivity: Medium
Egg Size: Small
Breed Colors/Varieties: White, Grey, Blue, Splash, Partridge, Buff, Black,

To learn more about the Silkie and its origins, visit its Breed Focus page here


3. Plymouth Rock
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At number 3 we have the Plymouth Rock. This very popular dual purpose American breed is known for its excellent laying ability, general hardiness, and calm good nature which makes it a good choice for small backyard flocks and homesteaders.

Here are some Plymouth Rock facts:
Breed purpose: Dual Purpose
Weight: Roosters 9.5 lbs, hens 7.5 lbs.
Egg Productivity: Good
Egg Size: Large
Egg Color: Brown

To learn more about the Plymouth Rock and its origins, visit its Breed Focus page here


4. Easter Egger

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At number 4, the Easter Egger is very friendly, easily handled, calm, quiet (muffed ones especially quiet) and docile. This interesting bird isn't a true breed, but more of a hybrid. They are gentle birds that love treats and will often follow you around as you tend to chores.

Here are some Easter Egger facts:
Breed Purpose: Egg Layer
Egg Productivity: Medium
Egg Size: Medium
Climate Tolerance: All Climates

To learn more about the Easter, visit its Breed Review page here


5. Australorp
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Coming in at number 5, Australorps tend to be calm, docile, fairly quiet birds, with nice temperaments and they make good pets. They are dependable winter layers of big brown eggs, fairly heat tolerant despite the usually black feathers, and quite cold hardy.

Here are some Australorp facts:
Breed purpose: Dual Purpose, egg layer.
Climate Tolerance: Heat tolerant, Cold hardy
Weight: Roosters 8.5 lbs, Hens 6.5 lbs.
Egg Productivity: Good
Egg Size: Large

To learn more about the Australorp and its origins, visit its Breed Focus page here


6. Brahma

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The 6th most favorite breed, the Brahma, is friendly, easily handled, calm, bears confinement well and docile.

Here are some Brahma facts:
Breed Purpose: Dual purpose
Climate Tolerance: All climates
Egg Productivity: Average
Egg size: Large
Egg Color: Light brown

To learn more about the Brahma and its origins, visit its Breed Focus page here


7. Cochin

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At number 7, the Cochins are renowned for having for extremely kind and quiet dispositions. They are easily tamed and very friendly, making them one of the most popular pet breeds for children.

Here are some Cochin facts:
Breed purpose: Ornamental, Broody, Meat
Broodiness: Frequent, exceptionally good mothers.
Climate Tolerance: Very cold hardy.
Egg Size: Large
Egg Color: Brown

To learn more about the Cochin and its origins, visit its Breed Focus page here


8. Rhode Island Red
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8th most favorite, the Red Island Red was developed to withstand harsh winters and be a very hardy bird who produced hens with excellent large egg yields. This breed comes in both large fowl and bantam size and single as well as rose comb varieties can be found readily.

Here are some Rhode Island Red facts:
Breed Purpose: Dual Purpose
Climate Tolerance: Cold
Egg Productivity: High
Egg size: Large
Egg Color: Brown

To learn more about the Rhode Island Red and its origins, visit its Breed Focus page here


9. Ameraucana
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The Ameraucana, in 9th place, is one of a few chicken breeds that lays blue eggs. They are very friendly and docile, broody, and are very cold hardy.

Here are some Ameraucana facts:
Breed purpose: Dual Purpose
Climate Tolerance: All Climates
Egg Productivity: Medium
Egg Size: Medium
Egg Colour: Blue

To learn more about the Ameraucana and its origins, visit its Breed Focus page here


10. Leghorn

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At number 10, the Leghorn are popular today for their great egg production and also for exhibition. This breed is friendly, flighty, bears confinement well, noisy and shy.

Here are some Leghorn facts:
Breed Purpose: Egg Layer
Climate Tolerance All Climates
Egg Productivity High
Egg Size Large
Egg Color White

To learn more about the Leghorn and its origins, visit its Breed Focus page here

Which of the above chicken breeds are your personal favorites? Please tell us about your experiences and feel free to show off your birds!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/