The Easter Egger Inn
Chirping
- Sep 10, 2022
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What is the Best Breed of Chicken… For You
Often the case with first time chicken owners is that they have many questions. One of the most common being “What is the best chicken breed?”. This probably sparks a few memories for some of you reading this right now (including me, I am definitely guilty of this). Now, let me clarify, there is nothing wrong with this question, it just won’t get you any closer to finding the breed of chicken you are going to buy. In reality, the best breed of chicken is all dependent upon you and your specific needs, environment, and wants. So, let’s dive into finding the best chicken breed for you.
Why did you Buy Chickens?
There are many reasons people decide to plunge into the wonderful journey of backyard chicken keeping. Whether it be because you want a feathery outdoor friend or you are looking to take a little expense off the grocery list, there is a chicken breed for you. Those of you looking for a sustainable outdoor pet might not have many requirements for your chicken, just a bird who you can love on and play with. In this case you really can’t go wrong, but breeds that tend to be on the friendlier side such as Buff Orpingtons, Easter Eggers, Speckled Sussex, and Silkies might end up higher on your list.
Another common reason chickens are added to a family is for their egg production. I mean come on, who doesn’t like fresh scrambled eggs in the morning. For this reason, people might choose breeds that are notorious for their egg laying abilities such as Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, Ameraucanas, and Plymouth Rocks. Now, there is another not so fun reason people purchase chickens. Just like the taste of freshly collected eggs in the morning, fresh chicken meat is also a delicacy in most modern households. If you are looking to keep a backyard flock for this reason, bigger breeds will be in your favor. Some of the meatiest chicken breeds include Cornish Cross’, Jersey Giants, Brahmas, and again Buff Orpingtons. Although there are many other reasons to embark on your own adventure of owning chickens, these are a few of the main ones.
Where do you Live?
Another factor to take into account when buying chickens is your location. The type of climate you live in can alter the breed of chicken that is best for you. For example, people who live in rainier climates may want to stay away from birds who have feathered feet because of the mud and gunk that can become a pain to clean. There are a few common breeds with feathered feet that residents of rainy climates may want to take off their list, including Cochins, Silkies, Faverolles, and Booted Bantams. A common problem that chicken owners may run into with certain breeds is the summer heat. Chickens are naturally cold hearty birds and aren’t likely to have problems in most average winter environments, but if you live in an exceptionally hot location (temperatures that often reach above 90 degrees fahrenheit), summers might be something to take into account. In this case, you may want to stay away from breeds adapted to cold climates such as Russian Orloffs, Chanteclers, and Brahmas. On the other end of the spectrum, people living in places with extremely harsh winters (Below 15 degrees fahrenheit on average) may want to stray towards the birds previously listed for their dense feathers and small combs that deter frostbite. Environment may not be something you originally took into consideration when deciding to buy chickens, but it is definitely something to watch out for.
What Features are you Looking For?
One of the many special things about chickens is their versatility. There are feather footed chickens, chickens who are friendly, chickens who have poofy feathers on their heads, and chickens who are extremely colorful. Now that we have gone over some important things to consider when getting ready to care for chickens, here are a few fun, not as important aspects you might consider. First of all, what do you want your chickens to look like? If you’re looking for an eye catching breed with different colors and crazy feathers, you might consider a Frizzle chicken. Maybe you want a chicken who looks like they have a hat on 24/7, then you might lean towards purchasing a Polish chicken. Not so sure what color chicken you want? Get an Easter Egger! They are the only (unofficial) breed of chicken that can grow up to be all different colors. The Jersey Giant is a chicken breed that might make you question if you bought a chicken or a goose. Maybe looks don’t matter to you at all and you are more concerned with what type of personality your chicken has. In this case some of the most cuddly, loving chickens are Silkies and Buff Orpingtons. Chickens come in all shapes and sizes, colors and feather types, that one is bound to catch your eye.
Conclusion
Although we covered only a fraction of the hundreds of different chicken breeds, you will surely find one that fits your specific wants and needs. No matter your reasons for buying chickens, you’ll fall in love with whatever breed of chicken you end up with. Who would have thought that a bird with scaly feet and fluffy feathers could be such a great addition to your family? Despite what some may think about this ancient bird breed, chickens are suitable for so many purposes and such a joy to have around.
Often the case with first time chicken owners is that they have many questions. One of the most common being “What is the best chicken breed?”. This probably sparks a few memories for some of you reading this right now (including me, I am definitely guilty of this). Now, let me clarify, there is nothing wrong with this question, it just won’t get you any closer to finding the breed of chicken you are going to buy. In reality, the best breed of chicken is all dependent upon you and your specific needs, environment, and wants. So, let’s dive into finding the best chicken breed for you.
Why did you Buy Chickens?
There are many reasons people decide to plunge into the wonderful journey of backyard chicken keeping. Whether it be because you want a feathery outdoor friend or you are looking to take a little expense off the grocery list, there is a chicken breed for you. Those of you looking for a sustainable outdoor pet might not have many requirements for your chicken, just a bird who you can love on and play with. In this case you really can’t go wrong, but breeds that tend to be on the friendlier side such as Buff Orpingtons, Easter Eggers, Speckled Sussex, and Silkies might end up higher on your list.
Another common reason chickens are added to a family is for their egg production. I mean come on, who doesn’t like fresh scrambled eggs in the morning. For this reason, people might choose breeds that are notorious for their egg laying abilities such as Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, Ameraucanas, and Plymouth Rocks. Now, there is another not so fun reason people purchase chickens. Just like the taste of freshly collected eggs in the morning, fresh chicken meat is also a delicacy in most modern households. If you are looking to keep a backyard flock for this reason, bigger breeds will be in your favor. Some of the meatiest chicken breeds include Cornish Cross’, Jersey Giants, Brahmas, and again Buff Orpingtons. Although there are many other reasons to embark on your own adventure of owning chickens, these are a few of the main ones.
Where do you Live?
Another factor to take into account when buying chickens is your location. The type of climate you live in can alter the breed of chicken that is best for you. For example, people who live in rainier climates may want to stay away from birds who have feathered feet because of the mud and gunk that can become a pain to clean. There are a few common breeds with feathered feet that residents of rainy climates may want to take off their list, including Cochins, Silkies, Faverolles, and Booted Bantams. A common problem that chicken owners may run into with certain breeds is the summer heat. Chickens are naturally cold hearty birds and aren’t likely to have problems in most average winter environments, but if you live in an exceptionally hot location (temperatures that often reach above 90 degrees fahrenheit), summers might be something to take into account. In this case, you may want to stay away from breeds adapted to cold climates such as Russian Orloffs, Chanteclers, and Brahmas. On the other end of the spectrum, people living in places with extremely harsh winters (Below 15 degrees fahrenheit on average) may want to stray towards the birds previously listed for their dense feathers and small combs that deter frostbite. Environment may not be something you originally took into consideration when deciding to buy chickens, but it is definitely something to watch out for.
What Features are you Looking For?
One of the many special things about chickens is their versatility. There are feather footed chickens, chickens who are friendly, chickens who have poofy feathers on their heads, and chickens who are extremely colorful. Now that we have gone over some important things to consider when getting ready to care for chickens, here are a few fun, not as important aspects you might consider. First of all, what do you want your chickens to look like? If you’re looking for an eye catching breed with different colors and crazy feathers, you might consider a Frizzle chicken. Maybe you want a chicken who looks like they have a hat on 24/7, then you might lean towards purchasing a Polish chicken. Not so sure what color chicken you want? Get an Easter Egger! They are the only (unofficial) breed of chicken that can grow up to be all different colors. The Jersey Giant is a chicken breed that might make you question if you bought a chicken or a goose. Maybe looks don’t matter to you at all and you are more concerned with what type of personality your chicken has. In this case some of the most cuddly, loving chickens are Silkies and Buff Orpingtons. Chickens come in all shapes and sizes, colors and feather types, that one is bound to catch your eye.
Conclusion
Although we covered only a fraction of the hundreds of different chicken breeds, you will surely find one that fits your specific wants and needs. No matter your reasons for buying chickens, you’ll fall in love with whatever breed of chicken you end up with. Who would have thought that a bird with scaly feet and fluffy feathers could be such a great addition to your family? Despite what some may think about this ancient bird breed, chickens are suitable for so many purposes and such a joy to have around.
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