Ameraucana
Temperament: Docile, Sweet, Friendly, Curious
Eggs/Year: 260 Medium – Large, Blue
Color: Black, Blue, Blue Wheaten, Brown Red, Buff, Self Blue, Silver, Wheaten, White
Comb: Red Pea Comb
Ameraucana chickens are known for their friendly and curious nature. They are often described as gentle and docile, making them suitable for families with children. Their intelligence and trainability are notable traits, and they thrive on mental stimulation. Ameraucanas are sociable with their own kind and enjoy human contact, although they may not enjoy being picked up and cuddled. They are protective of their hens and territory, which can sometimes be misinterpreted as aggression. However, they are generally calm and tolerant, making them well-suited for backyard flocks. Their distinctive feather patterns and colors add to their charm and appeal, and they are known for their ability to fly, which makes them suitable for enclosed environments.
Ancona
Temperament: Active, curious, and intelligent
Eggs/Year: 240 Large, White
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Rose, Single
Andalusian
Temperament: Friendly, curious, active, hardy
Eggs/Year: 240 Large, White
Color: Blue
Comb: Single
Appenzeller Spitzhauben
Not recognized by the APA
Temperament: Docile
Eggs: 160 Medium White
Color: Silver Spangled, Black, Gold Spangled, Chamois Spangled, Blue, Barred, Mottled
Comb: V-Shaped
Spitzhaubens are a fun bird for many reasons. They have mohawks, they come in a variety of colors, and you sound cool because you know German words. They are very sweet chickens that will add a fun touch of personality to your flock.
Araucana
Temperament: Friendly, docile, and adaptable
Eggs/Year: 200 Medium-Large, Blue or Green
Color: Black, Black Breasted Red, Golden Duckwing, Silver Duckwing, White
Comb: Pea
Aseel (Asil)
Temperament: Aggressive and Territorial
Eggs/Year: 80 Small-Medium, Light Brown
Color: Black Breasted Red, Dark, Spangled, Wheaten, White
Comb: Pea
Australorp
Temperament: Friendly, Gentle, Calm
Eggs/Year: 260 Medium-Large, Brown
Color: Black
Comb: Single
Barnevelder
Temperament: Calm, friendly, and docile
Eggs/Year: 220 Medium-Large, Chocolate Brown
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Single
Belgian Bearded d'Anver Bantam
Temperament: Friendly and Docile
Eggs/Year: 50 Small, White
Color: Black, Blue, Cuckoo, Millie Fleur, Mottled, Porcelain, Quail, Self Blue, White
Comb: Rose
Belgian Bearded d'Uccle Bantam
Temperament: Friendly and Docile
Eggs/Year: 100 Small, Brown
Color: Black, Golden Neck, Millie Fleur, Mottled, Porcelain, Self Blue, White
Comb: Single
Booted (Non-Bearded) Bantam
Temperament: Gentle and Sociable
Eggs/Year: 100 Small, Cream
Color: Black, Millie Fleur, Porcelain, Self Blue, White
Comb: Single
Brahma
Temperament: Gentle
Eggs: 250 Large, Brown
Color: Buff, Dark, Light
Comb: Pea
This breed tends to be rather large and, therefore, is less of a target for aerial predators. They have feathered feet and manage wonderfully in the winter. Their biological clock is flipped from your standard chicken. So, they lay all winter and slow down in the spring. I highly suggest mixing this breed into your flock. However, like I said, they can get big, so they won’t fit in every coop.
Buckeye
Temperament: Calm, Docile, and Friendly
Eggs/Year: 220 Medium-Large, Brown
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Pea
Californian
Not recognized by the APA
Temperament: Friendly, Sociable, Adaptable
Eggs/Year: 300+ Large, White
Color: White, Tan, Gray
Comb: Single
Can be flighty, but not as bad as the leghorns. If you like the white look but want a friendlier bird or a high producer but not so many eggs, then I suggest the Californias.
Campine
Temperament: Active, Curious
Eggs/Year: 200 Medium, Whitw
Color: Golden, Silver
Comb: Single
Catalana
Temperament: Flighty and Skittish, but Docile
Eggs/Year: 240 Medium-Large, White
Color: Buff
Comb: Single
Chantecler
Temperament: Calm, Friendly, Gentle
Eggs/Year: 220 Large, Brown
Color: Partridge, White (They also come in Buff but it’s not APA recognized)
Comb: Cushion
Cochin
Temperament: Friendly, docile, great mothers
Eggs/Year: 180 Medium-Large, Brown
Color: Barred, Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Golden Laced, Partridge, Silver Laced, White, Standard
Comb: Single
Cornish
Temperament: Aggressive and Territorial
Eggs/Year: If you manage to get them to that point, Cornish will lay ~150 Small-Medium, Light Brown eggs per year. However, cornish chickens are generally used for meat.
Color: Buff, Dark, White, White Laced Red
Comb: Pea
Crevecoeur
Temperament: Calm, Docile
Eggs/Year: 140 Medium, Cream
Color: Black
Comb: V-Shaped
Cubalaya
Temperament: Friendly, Curious, Aggressive but not hostile, Energetic
Eggs/Year: 150 Medium
Color: Black, Black Breasted Red, White
Comb: Pea
Delaware
Temperament: Gentle, Friendly, Calm, Docile
Eggs/Year: 200 Large-XL, Light Brown
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Single
Dominique
Temperament: Friendly, Curious, Independant, Social
Eggs/Year: 250 Medium, Light Brown
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Rose
Dorking
Temperament: Calm and Friendly
Eggs/Year: 180 Medium-Large, Cream
Color: Colored, Cuckoo, Cuckoo, Red, Silver Gray, White
Comb: Single, Rose
Dutch Bantam
Temperament: Docile and Friendly
Eggs/Year: 100 Small, White
Color: Black, Blue Cream Light Brown, Blue Light Brown, Cream Light Brown, Light Brown, Silver
Comb: Single, Rose, Pea
Favorelle
Temperament: Gentle, Friendly, Docile
Eggs/Year: 180 Medium-Large, Light Brown
Color: Salmon, White
Comb: Single
Hamburg
Temperament: Active, Spirited, Curious
Eggs/Year: 180 Small-Medium, White
Color: Black, Golden Penciled, Golden Spangled, Silver Penciled, Silver Spangled, White
Comb: Rose
Holland
Temperament: Friendly, Calm, Sociable
Eggs/Year: 240 Medium-Large, White
Color: Barred, White
Comb: Single
Houdan
Temperament: Calm and Friendly
Eggs/Year: 180 Medium-Large, White
Color: Mottled, White
Comb: V-Shaped, Buttercup, Cushion, Pea
ISA Brown
Not recognized by the APA
Temperament: Docile, Friendly, Sweet
Eggs: 300+ XL Brown
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Single
Does very well in cold climates and confinement. Their personalities can go either way; however, they can be super sweet or rather mean. With this, you must also consider their broodiness. If it’s an overly broody hen, she may be trying to protect her babies, whether or not she has any.
Japanese Bantam
Temperament: Friendly and Docile
Eggs/Year: 80 Small, Cream
Color: Barred, Black, Black Tailed Buff, Black tailed White, Brown Red, Gray Birchen, Mottled, Wheaten, White
Comb: Single
Java
Temperament: Friendly, Calm, Docile
Eggs/Year: 180 Large, Dark Brown
Color: Black, Mottled
Comb: Single, Pea, Rose, Cushion
Jersey Giant
Temperament: Gentle Giant
Eggs/Year: 220 Large-XL, Brown
Color: Black, Blue, White
Comb: Single
KO Shamo Bantam
Temperament: Aggressive and Territorial
Eggs/Year: 90 Medium, Light Brown
Color: Wheaten
Comb: Rose
La Fleche
Temperament: Active, Lively, Independent, Friendly
Eggs/Year: 200 Large, White
Color: Black
Comb: V-Shaped
Lakenvelder
Temperament: Active, Alert, Flighty
Eggs/Year: 240 Medium, White
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Single
Lamona
Temperament: Calm and Friendly
Eggs/Year: 240 Medium-Large, White
Color: White
Comb: Single
Langshan
Temperament: Gentle, Docile, Friendly
Eggs/Year: 200 Large, Brown
Color: Black, Blue, White
Comb: Single
Legbar
Not recognized by the APA
Temperament: Friendly, Curious, and Inquisitive
Eggs: 290 Medium, Blue
Color: Cream, Gold, Silver
Comb: Single
Friendly, smaller-sized birds with funny head poofs. They can be incredibly sweet. They are rarely mean birds but can be flighty.
Leghorn
Temperament: Active, Energetic, Flighty
Eggs: 350+ Large White
Color: Black, Buff, Dark Brown, Light Brown, Silver, White, Black, Black Tailed Red, Buff, Dark Brown, Light Brown, Silver, White
Comb: Single
Not super friendly, but they will give you lots of eggs and stay out of your way. Rarely broody. However, leghorns come in several colors, and the white ones tend to be the most flighty and least friendly of the bunch. So, if you like the egg count but want a more dependable bird, you could get a different variety of leghorn.
Malay
Temperament: Aggressive and Quarrelsome
Eggs/Year: 120 Medium, Light Brown
Color: Black, Black Breasted Red, Red Pyle, Spangled, Wheaten, White
Comb: Single, Pea, Walnut, V-Shaped, Cushion
Maran
Temperament: Docile, friendly
Eggs: 260 Medium Chocolate Brown
Color: Black, Black Copper, Wheaten, White
Comb: Single
Any maran will give you beautiful brown eggs. French marans are more cold-hardy due to their feathered feet. Marans are beautiful birds and very friendly.
Minorca
Temperament:
Eggs/Year: 220 Large, White
Color: Black, White, Black, Buff, White
Comb: Single, Rose
Naked Neck
Temperament: Friendly and Docile
Eggs: 260 Large White
Color: Black, Buff, Red, White
Comb: Single
This particular breed often goes by its other name, “Turken.” They look very silly and either you love them or hate them, but they are decent layers and make a great mama.
Nankin Bantam
Temperament: Calm, Friendly, Easy-going
Eggs/Year: 100 Small, Cream
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Rose, Single
New Hampshire
Temperament: Friendly and Docile
Eggs/Year: 220 Large, Brown
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Single
Old English Game
Temperament: Confident and Arrogant
Eggs/Year: 140 Medium, White
Color: Black, Black Breasted Red, Blue Breasted Red, Blue Golden Duckwing, Blue Silver Duckwing, Brown Red, Crele, Golden Duckwing, Blue Lemon, Red Pyle, Self Blue, Silver Duckwing, Spangled, White
Comb: Single, Rose
Orpington
Temperament: Friendly, Gentle, Docile, Sociable
Eggs: 240 Large Brown
Color: Black, Blue, Buff, White (They are also commonly seen in Chocolate and Lavender, but those colors are not APA recognized)
Comb: Single, Rose
Orpingtons are one of the most popular breeds. They come in a variety of colors, the most common being buff, chocolate, and lavender. They are an incredibly sweet, cuddly breed and perfect for families.
Pheonix
Temperament: Calm and Friendly
Eggs/Year: 240 Small-Medium, White
Color: Black Breasted Red, Golden, Silver
Comb: Single
Plymouth Rock
Temperament: Calm, Docile, Friendly
Eggs: 260 Large Brown
Color: Barred, Blue, Buff, Columbian, Partridge, Silver Penciled, White
Comb: Single
This is a more debated breed due to their more bipolar temperament. I’ve heard many people swear by them and their sweet personality, and I’ve had people tell me they are never going to own them again because they are mean. In my opinion, they are a sweet but standoffish breed.
Polish
Temperament: Docile
Eggs: 180 Small White
Color: Non-Bearded Black Crested White, Bearded Buff Laced, Non-Bearded Buff Laced, Bearded Golden, Non-Bearded Golden, Bearded Silver, Non-Bearded Silver, Bearded White, Non-Bearded White, Non-Bearded White Crested Black, Non-Bearded White Crested Blue
Comb: V-Shaped
This breed comes in a variety of colors and has fun afros that give them personality. They are very sweet birds that will definitely liven up your flock.
Redcap
Temperament: Friendly and Lively
Eggs/Year: 200 Large, White
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Rose
Rhode Island Red
Temperament: Friendly with people, Hostile against flock mates
Eggs/Year: 265 Medium-Large, Brown
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Single, Rose
Rhode Island White
Temperament: Friendly and Sociable
Eggs/Year: 240 Large, Brown
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Rose comb only (They also have single combs but they aren’t recognized by the APA)
Rosecomb Bantam
Temperament: Friendly and Docile
Eggs/Year: 60 Small, Cream
Color: Black, Black Breasted Red, Blue, White
Comb: Rose
Sapphire Gem
Not recognized by the APA
Temperament: Docile, Friendly, Sociable
Eggs: 290 Large–XL, Brown
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Single
Super friendly, sweet, and cold-hardy. Does very well with people, chickens, and other animals. Very pretty birds and my personal favorite.
Sebright
Temperament: Friendly, Sociable, Curious
Eggs/Year: 60 Small, White
Color: Golden, Silver
Comb: Rose
Serama Bantam
Temperament: Friendly and Docile
Eggs/Year: 180 Small, Brown
Color: White
Comb: Single
Shamo
Temperament: Aggressive and Territorial
Eggs/Year: 90 Medium, Light Brown
Color: Black, Black Breasted Red, Dark, Wheaten
Comb: Pea, Single
Sicilian Buttercup
Temperament: Friendly and Gentle
Eggs/Year: 180 Small-Medium, White
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Buttercup
Silkie
Temperament: Calm, Friendly, Docile
Eggs: 180 Small White
Color: Bearded Black, Non-Bearded Black, Bearded Blue, Non-Bearded Blue, Bearded Buff, Non-Bearded Buff, Bearded Gray, Non-Bearded Gray, Bearded Partridge, Non-Bearded Partridge, Bearded Self Blue, Bearded Splash, Bearded White, Non-Bearded White
Comb: V-Shaped
This funny, fluffy chicken comes in a variety of colors and makes a wonderful mama. They can actually be a fairly good source of eggs; the “problem” is that they love to go broody and hatch their own babies, so this slows down their production a lot.
Spanish
Temperament: Active, Noisy, Curious
Eggs/Year: 180 Large, White
Color: White Faced Black
Comb: Single
Starlight Green Egger
Not recognized by the APA
Temperament: Gentle, Sociable, Curious
Eggs: 280 Medium Green
Color: Wide variety of colors and patterns
Comb: Single, Rose, Pea
This is a mutt-type breed that comes in a variety of colors and temperaments. They range from a dark brown to a bright yellow and have tons of unique markings, and can even get fun head poofs or even mohawks.
Sultan
Temperament: Gentle, Friendly, Docile
Eggs/Year: 50 Large, White
Color: White
Comb: V-Shaped
Sumatra
Temperament: Alert and Active
Eggs/Year: 80 Small, White
Color: Black, Blue
Comb: Pea
Sussex
Temperament: Friendly, Docile, Curious
Eggs/Year: 240 Large, Light Brown
Color: Light, Red, Speckled
Comb: Single, Rose, Pea
Welsummer
Temperament: Friendly, Docile, Calm
Eggs/Year: 240 Large, Dark Brown
Color: Only One Variety
Comb: Single, Rose
Wyandotte
Temperament: Friendly and Calm
Eggs: 240 Large Brown
Color: Black, Blue, Buff, Columbian, Golden Laced, Partridge, Silver Laced, Silver Penciled, White (They come in many, many other colors that aren’t APA approved. My favorite is the blue laced red that is pictured)
Comb: Rose
Wyandottes come in just about every color and tend to be incredibly hardy birds. Very friendly and a wonderful addition to your flock.
Yokohama
Temperament: Friendly, Docile, Alert
Eggs/Year: 80 Small, Cream
Color: Red Shoulder, White
Comb: Single, Walnut, Pea (They can also have strawberry combs, but strawberry isn’t officially recognized by the APA)
