Best Chicken Breeds: 12 Types ofHens that Lay Lots of Eggs, MakeGood Pets, and Fit in Small Yards(Plus Bonus: 5 Varieties of Exotic

Poultry) (36-page Booklet)

By R.J. Ruppenthal,Attorney/Professor/Garden Writer

All Rights Reserved 2012 R.J.Ruppenthal

How This Information Can HelpYou

Rainbow Eggs: White, Blue,Green, Dark Chocolate Brown, andMore

Importance of Hatching Eggs and

Handling Chicks Early Each Chicken is an Individual Best Breeds: 12 types of hens that

lay lots of eggs, have friendly andcalm temperaments, and fit in citybackyards

Bonus: 5 Exotic Poultry ChickenBreeds for backyards: wait till yousee these!

Resources Section: Links toadditional information on chickenbreeds, plus where to obtain yourchickens

How This Information Can Help You

Thinking about getting chickens? Notsure what kind is best? If youre ready to

learn which types of hens lay lots ofeggs on a regular basis, make good pets,and fit happily in small sized yards,youve come to the right place. This e-booklet, which is a companion to myBackyard Chickens for Beginners:Getting the Best Chickens, ChoosingCoops, Feeding and Care, and BeatingCity Chicken Laws, provides you withinformation on 12 types of chickenswhich are best suited for a small backyard flock. As a bonus, Ive included 5more breeds in the Exotic Poultrychapter at the end.

Theres a lot of free information onlineabout different kinds of chickens. Itsgreat to have this available, but sorting

through it can take a lot of time. When Idecided to get chickens, I spent manyhours researching different chickenbreeds in books and on the Internet. Atthe time, I had a small yard in the city.The only thing I knew about chickenswas that the hens lay the eggs and theroosters make most of the noise!

From my research, I learned that thereare as many as 175 different kinds ofchickens in the world. However, only 12chicken breeds met my criteria, whichwere:

Regular and prolific egg layers Comfortable in an enclosedcoop and run area

Preferably, not too loud Friendly around people

First, I only had enough space for 2-4chickens, so it made sense to choose akind that would lay lots of eggs. If a henfrom Breed A lays an average of twoeggs per week, while a Breed B henaverages four or five eggs per week,then why would I want Breed A? Thats100 eggs per year versus 200-250. If Imfeeding these birds and keeping them foregg production, then I want my chickensto be serious about laying. In thisbooklet, we will cover the mostproductive types of egg laying hens.

Second, I heard that not all chickens are

comfortable in enclosed spaces like thecop and enclosed run area I wasbuilding. Some breeds are flighty andnervous, preferring to free range all thetime, and often perching on fences andflying into trees if you let them out. Butother chickens handle confinement well,remain happy in small spaces, and arelikely to stay in a fenced yard when youlet them out to free range.

I put the happy ones on my list. While Ilike to allow my hens to free range in thebackyard, I cannot do this all day, everyday. Like most of you, I have a day joband am away from home most of the day.When I am gone, our chickens stay intheir coop and enclosed run area. When

Im home, Ill let them out into the yard.Getting them down from trees andchasing them through neighbors yards isnot how I want to spend my evenings.Unless you have a huge amount of space,choosing birds that can handleconfinement is probably a wise bet foryou, too. You will find them in thisbooklet.

Third, with a small city yard andneighbors close on every side, I wantedto find some quiet chickens. Roostersare the loud ones, and I had no intentionof getting a rooster (which are notneeded for egg production and areillegal in my city anyway). However,some hens crow a bit also, and this can

be particularly loud in the morning orwhen they announce that they have laideggs. There is always a chance of gettinga loud chicken from any breed, but aconsensus has emerged on which breedsare the quietest on a regular basis. Thisinformation took me the longest to find,but I will save you time by summarizingit in this e-booklet.

Finally, being friendly around peoplewas not a make or break factor for me.But since I have two young kids, Ithought it would be nice if the chickenscould be pets also. This meant theywould not run away from people.Hopefully, once they got used to theirnew home, they would allow us to

approach them, feed them, and pick themup once in awhile. Again, the breedscovered in this book fit that definition.

It would take you at least two or threehours just to find this information, evenbefore you sort through, read, andanalyze it. Instead, Ive put all theimportant stuff in this short booklet(which only appears longer because ofall the chicken pictures, anotheressential element for people choosingbreeds). In the text portions, Ivesummarized the lengthy raw materialfrom my own research, selected the bestbreeds for backyards, and presented thisinformation in a format you can use.Basically, its the research and analysis

I did for my own purposes and Impassing it along to you.

If your time is worth more than adollar per hour, then this short e-booklet will save you money. But if youprefer to do your own research, Isincerely wish you the best of luck withit. Others who may NOT benefit fromthis e-booklet are folks who havedifferent reasons for getting chickens.For example, if you prefer to raiseexotic varieties of chickens that do notlay much or if you plan to raise chickensprimarily as meat birds, then you shouldlook elsewhere.

I believe everyone else will benefit

greatly from reading this short booklet.In particular, it makes a greatsupplement to my comprehensivebeginners guide to raising chickens,e nt i t l e d Backyard Chickens forBeginners: Getting the Best Chickens,Choosing Coops, Feeding and Care,and Beating City Chicken Laws. Whilethat book refers you to the propersources of information to researchchicken breeds, this one actually doesthat legwork for you. The only thing leftto do is read.

Rainbow Eggs

Various breeds of chickens lay eggs ofdifferent colors and shades. These range

from the bright white eggs we knowfrom the supermarket to dark, chocolatebrown. In addition, there are blue andgreen eggs, cream colored eggs, lightbrown eggs, and speckled eggs. Get afew different chickens and you wontneed to dye any eggs for Easter!

Here are two pictures of rainbow eggs,the second set in a nesting box. Thedarkest brown ones are probably fromMarans hens, while the blue and greeneggs usually come from Ameraucana(Easter Egger) hens. In the profiles ofeach breed in this booklet, I have listedthe colors that each type produces.

Quite honestly, my chickens have alwayslaid more eggs than were promised. Ithink the egg laying estimates for hensfor each breed are conservative. Happychickens lay lots of eggs. You can keep

them happy with clean water, a place toscratch in the ground (even if its anenclosed run), and a good, varied diet. Ifyou keep them happy, my guess is thatyoull get more eggs than Ive listedbelow for each of the breeds.

Hatching and Early Handling

Chickens you have hatched from eggsusually make the best pets. These birdsget to know you as mom and dad ratherthan as a potential predator. Hens raisedfrom chicks will be friendlier over thecourse of their lives than birds who firstmeet you when they are chicks orpullets. This is one good argument forbuying hatching eggs rather than chicks

or pullets, even though the incubationand care of young chicks requires a littlemore work.

Even if you get your chickens as chicks,handling them early will help them relateto you also. Pick them up, pet them, andlet them get to know you. Chicks areborn curious, but as they get older, thatinstinctual fear of the unknown kicks in.If you get chickens as pullets (teenagehens younger than one year old), you canget them to become more friendly overtime, but they will never trust you theway chickens do when they learn thattrust at an early age.

Each Chicken is an Individual

As any chicken expert will tell you,there are common features to everybreed. Physical attributes are the mostobvious, but these common features alsoextend to personality and behavior.However, chicken experts also agreethat every bird is an individual and it isimpossible to predict personality andbehavior with complete accuracy.

While this book provides information onthe general characteristics of each breed,we also need to contend with the luck ofthe draw. For example, if you orderedten chicks of a particular breed from ahatchery, you might find that eight ornine of them grow into quiet birds

(consistent with the nature of that breed),but it is possible that one or two of themmay make a racket. You might have fivebirds of another breed which aresupposed to be great layers, and it turnsout that four are incredible layers. Butthe fifth one is a bit of a lemon; she justeats and sleeps.

One of the great things about keepingchickens is getting to know theirindividual personalities. Some willcome right up to you and want to bepicked up and touched, while others(even if they are nice birds) prefer tokeep a little distance. Some like certainfoods, while others wont touch them.Some like to lay eggs in nesting boxes,

while others make their own nests on thefloor of the coop. Occasionally, youllget a good layer who also is broody andhas to be kicked off the nest, whileothers just abandon their eggs to you assoon as theyve been laid.

I have one chicken who is a daredevil.When I dump food, soil, ormulch/bedding into their run, or when Iwash something with a stream of waterfrom the garden hose, the others willscatter to avoid whatever is falling ontothe ground. But one chicken stays there,even if things are falling on her head,and she does not mind getting wet. She iscurious and wants to be the first to findout what I am putting into their area.

Most of these individual personalitydifferences are fun. On rare occasions, avery broody, aggressive, or loud hen canbe a real pain in the neck, and you mayhave to get rid of her. But in general, allof the breeds mentioned in this book arequite reliable and I think you will behappy with whichever ones you choose.

Best Breeds Here are the best chicken breeds I havefound for backyards, presented inalphabetical order. Both standard andbantam sized birds are available formost of these breeds. The sizeinformation I have provided for each one

refers to standard breeds only. Also,bantams usually do not lay as many eggs.

The 12 Best Backyard Breeds(Presented Alphabetically) Ameraucana (Easter Egger)AustralorpBrahmaCubalayaDelawareOrpingtonPlymouth Rock (Barred Rock)Rhode Island RedStar (Sex Link)SussexWhite LeghornWyandotte

Ameraucana (Easter Egger)Overview

Ameraucana hens are the famous blueand green egg layers. Developed in theUnited States, the name meansAmerican-Araucana. Araucanas areChilean birds known for their large eartufts and for laying green or blue eggs, agene which they apparently passed on toAmeraucana birds (though some thinkthey got it from another South Americansource).

Not all Ameraucanas lay blue or greeneggs. I have had five of these hens atvarious times; one laid white eggs,

another green-brown olive eggs, and theothers light blue eggs. I have heard thatsome even lay brown or pink tinted eggs.So be prepared that if you only get oneor two of these birds, you are notguaranteed to get blue eggs (though blueseems to be their most common eggcolor).

Besides laying exotic looking eggs at anabove average rate, these birds aresweethearts. They are quiet, trusting, andvery easy to keep in small yards. In amixed flock, the Ameraucana oftenbecomes the owners favorite. If you arelooking for some chickens the kids willlove, you cannot do better than these.Some varieties of Ameraucana have

beards as well as ear tufts which makesthem look like they are wearing muffs.

The Ameraucana is recognized by theAmerican Poultry Association (APA),but the recognized breed must meetcertain coloring requirements to belabeled an Ameraucana. Those that do

not meet these standards are calledEaster Eggers instead. Somehatcheries will sell Ameraucanas thatare actually non-APA compliant andshould properly be tagged as EasterEggers. But in practice, most of us donot worry about professional breedingstandards as long as they keep layingthose beautiful eggs!

Ameraucana Facts Size

These are fairly light, medium sizedbirds. Hens weigh around 5 pounds.

Coloring

There are many variations: Black, Blue,Brown, Silver, Wheaten, White, andmore. Most commonly, the hens havebrown or gold-laced black feathers. Theneck usually contains more black thanthe rest of the body.

Eggs Ameraucanas/Easter Eggers are prolificegg layers, producing right around 5eggs per week. Eggs, which are mediumsized, can be blue, green, white, brown,or tinted pink.

Nature

These are calm and lovable birds. Theymake some of the best pets.

Notes

They have small (pea) combs, whichare less subject to frostbite than manyother breeds, so Ameraucanas may be agood choice in cold climates. Here is apicture of some of my Ameraucanas,digging up and improving the soil in araised bed.

Australorp Overview

Australorps are egg laying machines.Their friendly, docile nature also makesthem great pets. If you are looking for ahen with both features, you simplycannot do much better than Australiasnational breed.

Australorps are large, black birds withbright red combs and wattles, thoughstrains of white and blue (slate gray)Australorps also exist. They weredeveloped in Australia from BlackOrpington stock (hence the name, whichis short for Australian Orpington). Theirgenetic lineage also includes Minorca,

Langshan, and White Leghorn. Theywere bred in Australia as a dual purposebreed (for eggs and meat), but their egglaying capabilities quickly madeheadlines.

In the 1920s, a group of Australorps seta world record by producing an averageof 309.5 eggs in the course of a year. Asingle Australorp hen later set anindividual record by producing 364 eggsin 365 days. What may have been aregional or national breed was quicklyshipped all around the world. Today,Australorps are fairly common inbackyards and easy to find locally.

Australorp Facts

Size

Large hens range from about 7-9 pounds

Coloring

Generally: Jet black feathers and brightred combs and wattles. Feathers have aniridescent green or violet sheen in brightsunlight.Blue: Slate gray feathers, usually with adarker neck.White: Plumage is all white.

Eggs

Hens lay at a prolific rate, usually 5 eggs

per week. Eggs are large and brown.

Nature

Friendly, quiet, and docile.

Notes

If you have a mixed flock, these birdsusually get along quite well with othertypes of chickens.Here is a picture of a typical Australorphen followed by a shot of an Australorpchick.

Brahma Overview

Brahmas are some of the biggestchickens around. Their heavy size meansthey will not be flying over many fences.They have some of the calmest, mosteasygoing personalities of any backyardchicken. This is probably one reason

they have developed a devotedfollowing of loyal fans around theworld.

Brahma hens lay eggs at an average clip,but are not even close to being egglaying champions. The reason I haveincluded them on this list, aside fromtheir other outstanding attributes, is thatBrahmas lay most of their eggs betweenOctober and May. In the coldest part ofthe year, when other laying hens areslowing down, Brahmas can be countedon to provide a steady source of winterprotein. These cold hardy birds are agreat choice for Northern climates, butnot as good for the South.

In 1846, a shipment of chickens arrivedin New York from Shanghai, China.These chickens may have originated insouthern China, India, or somewhere inbetween. The birds arriving in thisshipment may have been the Chinesebreed now called Cochins, which werebred later with some birds from India toproduce Brahmas, or else they may havebeen Brahmas when they arrived.

Whether they were developed in theUnited States or before they arrivedhere, Brahmaputras (later shortened toBrahmas) became a very popularchicken breed in the 19 Century. Thispopularity was due partly to the gift of asmall flock to Queen Victoria, which

solidly put Brahmas on the map (andnetted the breeder who made the gift amuch higher price for his birds). Today,there are Brahma chicken clubs in manylocations, though the breed is lesscommon than most others on this list.The American Poultry Associationrecognizes Brahmas. Dark, Light, andBuff are the three standard types, whilemore extreme red, black, brown, andother color types exist also.

Here is a picture of a light (nearlywhite) Brahma hen. There is a chick inthe background also, which may beharder to see.

Brahma Hen Facts

Size

Very large, hens 10-14 pounds.

Coloring Dark type: Mottled white on black.Light type: Mostly white with black-striped collar.Buff type: Tan with black-striped neckand mottled overlay.Other types include: predominantly red,black, brown, and other colors. Roostersand hens of this breed can look verydifferent.

Eggs

Hens lay at an average rate, usuallyproducing 3 or more eggs per week.Eggs are brown and average in size.

Nature

Tend to be quiet, gentle, and easilyhabituate to confinement.

Notes

Brahmas have small combs andfeathered legs. They are ideal for colderclimates, but not warm ones. Because oftheir feathered legs, they may not be agood choice in muddy locations.Here is a picture of a Brahma rooster.Unless you have an older monochrome

Kindle (like mine), then you can see howmuch the coloring varies within thisbreed. This rooster looks much differentfrom the hen in the previous picture.Both are beautiful birds and have thosedistinctive feathered legs.

Cubalaya Overview

Here is an unconventional choice thatdoes not appear on most peoples lists.Cubalayas do not appear in manybackyards either, but they are spreadingas they gain favor for their good looks,egg production, and calm demeanor.Several hatcheries sell Cubalaya chicksand I have seen ads for breeders whosell hatching eggs or chicks as well.

The breed was developed in Cuba fromAsian stock which probably originatedin the Philippines. These chickens aretame, peaceful, and make great pets aswell as being great egg layers. They can

handle confinement well. Cubalayas arestill more popular in Cuba thanelsewhere, but they have a devotedfollowing.

Besides the attributes Ive alreadymentioned, Cubalayas also make greatshow birds. The roosters are stunninglygorgeous and can hold their own withany game bird. They have bright colorswhich usually include bright red andblack, plus a long, flowing lobster tail.The hens are much less colorful, buthave a regal, upright bearing and thatsame angled tail. Here are pictures ofboth sexes.

Cubalaya Facts

Size

Medium sized, with hens reaching 4-5

pounds.

Coloring

Black Breasted Red: Roosters look likethe previous picture with dark red necksand backs. Their bodies and tails areblack with an iridescent sheen.White: Usually same black portions asabove with white neck and back.Black: Plumage is all black.Hens: Most commonly have darkcinnamon necks with a light cinnamon,tan, or wheaten body, and some black orgray tail feathers. Some can have lightercolored necks than bodies.

Eggs

Laying hens can produce quite well,around 4 eggs per week. Eggs are creamor tan in color.

Nature

Tame and peaceful for the most part (seenotes below).

Notes

While most Cubalayas are calm andfriendly around people, they can beaggressive toward other birds. Roostersare especially nasty and have been usedfor cockfighting in Cuba. If you plan tokeep other chicken breeds as well, this

may not be a good addition to yourmixed flock. But if you plan to keep onlythis one breed, they should perform verywell in your backyard.

Delaware Overview

Delaware chickens tend to be quiet andfriendly, lay plenty of eggs, and toleratesmall living areas well. This breedoriginated in 1940 and is a crossbetween New Hampshire and BarredRock chickens. Delawares weredeveloped as a dual purpose bird (foregg laying and meat), so they are goodsized, yet produce eggs at an aboveaverage rate.

Delaware chickens are almostcompletely white with a touch of barredblack striping on their necks and tailareas. While they are cold hardy, thesebirds do have a prominent comb. In coldwinter climates, their combs should berubbed with petroleum jelly to preventfrostbite.

During the middle of the 20 century, theDelaware became the most popularbreed of broiler chicken on the EastCoast. At that time, nearly every meatbird was raised in the state of Delaware,and most of them were its namesakebreed. A few years later, Cornishcrosses came into favor as meat birdsand the Delaware faded.

Today, the bird is considered anendangered heritage breed. It isunfortunate that theyre not morepopular, because many Delawareowners consider them a perfect overallbird for backyard flocks. They are someof the friendliest and quietest chickensaround, plus they lay lots of eggs.

Delaware Facts

Size Medium, hens 6-8 pounds, averaging 6.5pounds each.

Coloring

Mostly white with black barring on neckand tail.

Eggs

Lays at above average rate of 4-5 eggsper week. Eggs are large and brown.

Nature

Friendly and quiet.

Notes

Hatcheries have them, but Delawarechickens are less common than mostothers on this list. Therefore, finding

them locally may be difficult.Here is a picture of a Delaware hen.

Orpington Overview Orpingtons are huge, block shaped birdsthat provide a good rate of eggproduction. They have dual purposecharacteristics, often used for meat aswell, making them a good fit for smallfarms. Orpingtons are very friendly andeasygoing, so they have becomefavorites in backyard flocks also. To topit all off, they are quite cold hardy,which makes them suitable for northernclimates.

The breed was developed in England inthe late 19 century, putting the town ofOrpington on the map. The original

breeder reportedly created a black birdthat would not show the soot of London.Today, the black variety still exists, asdo white, blue, buff, and splash. BuffOrpingtons are the most popular,probably the worlds most commonblonde chickens.

Here is a picture of three Orpy hens indifferent colors: splash white, blue(gray), and buff.

Orpington Facts

Size

Very large, with hens ranging from 8pounds to 10.5 pounds.

Coloring

Colors are predominantly solid, but softand creamy, as you can see from theprevious picture.Buff is the most common, but black,blue, white, and splash are others thatalso exist.

Eggs

Dependable layers of 3-5 eggs per

week, which are large and brown.

Nature

Friendly, easygoing, not aggressive.

Notes

1) Orpingtons are nice enough thattheyre are often at the bottom of thepecking order in a mixed flock. 2) Hensshould continue to lay through thewinter, unlike many others.

Plymouth Rock (Barred Rock)Overview No, they did not come on the Mayflower,

but Plymouth Rock chickens have beenaround in New England since the mid 19century. Created as a dual purpose (foreggs and meat) bird, Plymouth Rocksmake a great small farm or backyardbird. They are calm, easygoing, andgenerally lay eggs at an above averagerate.

Plymouth Rocks have several differentcoloring schemes, but the most popularis the black and white barred pattern.For this reason, many Plymouth Rocksare called Barred Rocks, and you willalso hear the term Barred Rock appliedto this entire breed. However, there arewhite, buff, black, silver, and othercolors of Plymouth Rock chickens that

do not have the full barring pattern andprobably should not be called BarredRocks.

Here is a picture of a Barred Rock hen.You can see a little Eglu coop in thebackground.

Plymouth Rock (Barred Rock) Facts Size

Hens range from 6.5-7.5 pounds, makingthem one of the heavier breeds.

Coloring

Barred Rock: Black and white barpattern with bright red combs andwattles.Partridge: The partridge variety is darkred with a copper colored collar andsome black feathers on the edges.White (all white), black (all black), andseveral other color schemes exist aswell.

Eggs

Very good egg layers (average about 4per week), which are large and brown.

Nature

Calm, docile, easygoing.

Notes

It seems that some strains of Rocks arebetter layers than others. All aredependable, but some approachexcellence in this department. Try to findout if yours comes from a good line witha productive history. Rhode Island Red Overview

The Rhode Island Red (RIR) is one ofthe oldest standard American breeds.They are a large breed with dark redplumage, though a white variety alsoexists. Originally developed around1840, the RIR is a dual purpose (foreggs and meat) bird. Today, it is notmuch used for meat because of its darkcolored feathers, which tend to leavespots. But it remains a reliable layer ofbrown eggs.

Ask people to imagine a chicken andmany of them will think of a RIR. This isthe classic brick red chicken with arectangular, brick shaped body. Whilethe breed is not as popular as it oncewas commercially, it is one of the most

common varieties of backyard chickens.RIRs lay lots of eggs with a low-keydemeanor that keeps them popular.However, owners do report that thesehens can be hot tempered and a littlestandoffish at times, an attitude thatshould mellow with time and familiarityaround people.

The RIR is the state bird of RhodeIsland. Bred to withstand cold NewEngland winters, this is one of thehardiest breeds around. Also, they aresaid to tolerate close living conditionsand marginal diets better than otherchickens. I do not recommend youovercrowd your birds or feed themanything less than the best available

food, but occasionally when you make achange or introduce something new intotheir diet, some breeds have a hard timeadapting. These ones can handle it.

Rhode Island Red Facts

Size

Large birds are on the light side ofheavy, with hens averaging 6.5 poundsin weight.

Coloring Dark, brick red plumage with single redcomb. Roosters have some dark greentail feathers also. A white strain exists,

but is much less common.

Eggs

RIRs are frequent (5 eggs per week)layers of large brown eggs.

Nature

These redheads can be hot tempered, butusually gentle and low key.

Notes

Many people keep RIRs in a mixed flockand report no problems. However, a fewowners report that these normally gentlebirds can be aggressive around other

birds. With a mixed flock, the easiestway to create harmony (aside fromskipping the roosters) is to bring in thebirds at the same time. Lateintroductions into an established peckingorder can result in political issues.Below are pictures of RIR hens and achick at nine days old.

Star (Sex Link) Overview

Increasingly popular are the hybridchickens known as Red Star (GoldBuff), Black Star, or Gold Star. TheStars are also known as Sex Linkchickens because their gender can bedetermined from the color of theirfeathers at the time they hatch. These arenot officially recognized breeds, but theyhappen to be some of the most prolificegg layers and they make great pets also.

Most of us (non-professionals) are notable to determine the sex of newlyhatched chicks, whose gendercharacteristics do not emerge until afterseveral weeks of growth. But when youorder chicks from a hatchery, you can

order one day old female, male, orstraight run (not sexed) chicks.Hatcheries employ professionals whoare able to sex new chicks byperforming a test on them. This testusually involves squeezing the poop outof them and seeing if they have a bumpwhich indicates whether they are boys orgirls (do not try it at home). As you canimagine, there is a higher demand forfuture egg layers than for futureroosters.

However, through breeding, severalcrosses have been developed thatproduce different colored feathers forboys and girls. This makes it easier andmore economical to sort these Sex Link

chickens right away. Hatcheries havedifferent formulas for these breeds, sothere is no set standard. The two mostcommon are called Red Star and BlackStar, with Gold (or Golden) Star beingavailable at some hatcheries also. InEurope, there are at least two otherkinds as well.Stars are excellent egg layers and arereported to be some of the friendliestbirds by their owners.

Star (Sex Link) Facts

Understandably, since hatcheries usedifferent crosses, the breedcharacteristics can vary.

Size

Usually medium to large, with hensweighing around 5-6 pounds.

Coloring

Red Stars: Cinnamon, usually lighterthan a Rhode Island Red. Plumage canhave patches of white or light redfeathers.Black Stars: Jet black plumage, oftenwith some dark red feathers around theneck.Gold Stars: Buff or tan, often withcinnamon overlay.

Eggs

Very prolific layers of large brown eggs(5 per week is a good estimate).

Nature

Stars tend to be friendly, curious, andeasygoing.

Notes

Some of the best egg layers and pets.They are winter hardy also. Here is apicture of some Red Stars in the snow.

Sussex Overview

The Sussex is an old breed of chickenoriginating in what is now the county ofSussex in South East England. Some saythey have existed since the time of theRoman invasion while other reportshave them being developed in the 1800s.Sussex hens are respectable egg layersand bring a calm, complacent manner tothe backyard. At the same time, manySussex owners have described thesebirds as the most active, alert, andintelligent of their chickens.

If you have space to free range yourbirds, this breed is a great bet. They areexcellent foragers and can find most of

what they need to eat, cutting down onyour cost of supplementary feed. Whilethey are not champion egg layers, theyscore a strong B+ for egg production.

Sussex chickens have blocky,rectangular bodies. They come in manydifferent colors, including White, Buff,Brown, Red, and Silver. Most popular isthe Speckled Sussex, which has darkbrown and black feathers withcontrasting white or light gray spots onits feather tips. Over time, speckledSussex birds actually become morespeckled as they molt and grow newfeathers. Here is a picture of one.

Sussex Facts

Size

Hens are large, averaging around sevenpounds.

Coloring

White, Buff, Brown, Red, and Silver andother colors exist. Speckled Sussexvariety has white feather tips over darkbrown or black plumage.

Eggs

Sussex hens lay large, light brown tintedeggs at a reliable rate of about 4 per

week.

Nature

Gentle, calm, alert.

Notes Speckled Sussex hens have a greatcamouflage against daytime predators,such as hawks, who may attack chicksand young pullets in the yard.

White Leghorn Overview Leghorns are probably the most commoncommercial egg layers. They may not bethe nicest, cuddliest breed on this list. A

few owners have described them asflighty and edgy, while others swear thattheir Leghorns are nothing but calm andtame. But these Italians lay almost asmany eggs as there are days in the year,so they are worth at least a look.

Due to Leghorns unreliabletemperament, I may be stretching things abit to put them on this list. But if you areless concerned with a cuddly pet andjust want a bird that can handle backyardconfinement while laying huge numbersof eggs, then Leghorns are still a goodchoice. Hatching them from eggs orhandling chicks at an early age mayimprove their social skills aroundpeople.

Leghorns are named for the city ofLivorno (Leghorn in English) inTuscany, Italy. Leghorns weredeveloped near the horn on Italysgeographic boot and first exported in1828. Since then, they have become acommercial success. Breeders havecontinued to refine the breedscharacteristics and use it to bringprolific egg laying qualities to othercrosses.

White Leghorn Facts

Size Medium sized breed, with hens reaching4.5-5.5 pounds.

Coloring

White, black, and brown are the originalstandard colors, but today there are morethan a dozen variations. Most commonly,the birds are all white with pink combsand wattles.

Eggs

They lay huge quantities of big, whiteeggs. The typical white eggs you see inthe supermarket were probablyproduced by Leghorns.

Nature

It seems to vary with the bird. They canhandle confinement and generally dowell in backyards. But some owners seethem as nervous and edgy, while othersdescribe their Leghorns are calm andtame.

Notes

1) White Leghorns can lay as many as300 eggs per year. Other colors of thisbreed may turn out to be less prolific,since they have been bred for their looksrather than egg production. 2) Thesebirds can have large, droopy combs(some seem to have larger ones thanothers). In wintertime, keep these areasfrom getting frostbitten by rubbing them

with petroleum jelly. Note the floppycombs in the following picture of aLeghorn flock.

Wyandotte Overview

These birds are longtime backyardfavorites. Wyandottes lay quite well,handle confinement without complaint,and have a calm, carefree nature. Theyare dual purpose breed, having goodvalue as both egg layers and meat birds.

Wyandottes were developed in theUnited States, probably in New York inthe late 1800s. Most people find themquite attractive, since they tend to haveswirled or spotted color patterns due tothe dark highlights on the edges of theirfeathers. Many different colors exist andthe highlighted edges on feathers are

known as lacing. For example, a GoldLaced Wyandotte has predominantlygold feathers that are outlined in black,which does look a lot like lacing ornetting. Here is a picture of one, so youcan see what I am talking about.

Wyandotte Facts Size

Medium to heavy birds, with hensweighing around 6-6.5 pounds.

Coloring There are many different colors ofWyandottes. These include black, white,and buff, as well as gold laced, silverlaced, and partridge (with a goldencollar).

Eggs

Wyandottes are great layers of large,brown eggs, averaging about 4 perweek.

Nature

Calm and carefree, very accepting ofconfinement.

Notes

While they are calm birds, they often runthe show from the top of the peckingorder, keeping other birds in line. Also,they are not quiet, since they cluck a lot,but they arent usually too loud either.

Conclusion

I hope this information in this booklethas been helpful to you in decidingwhich kind of chickens to get for yourbackyard flock. It was just theinformation I needed when I first set outto learn about different breeds. I foundall the right information, but it took memuch longer than this to sort through thematerial and pick out the best breeds formy needs. Since I suspect that mostpeople want the same things: good egglayers that are nice and fit in backyards,I put this information together here. So Ihope this booklet has not only educatedyou, but that it will save you some timeas well.

To recap, if you want champion egglayers, Australorps are the top choice.The next best layers are probably RedStars (Gold Buffs) and Black Stars,followed by White Leghorns andAmeraucanas. If you just stuck to thatlist, you would have some brown, white,and blue/green eggs! But many of theother members of the list Ive coveredalso lay respectably and make terrificadditions to your backyard. Again, if youwant a great overall guide to raisingchickens for beginners, I highlyrecommend Backyard Chickens forBeginners: Getting the Best Chickens,Choosing Coops, Feeding and Care, andBeating City Chicken Laws, which isavailable on Amazon.

Finally, following the bonus sectionbelow, there is a short Resourcessection. This provides you with links tothe Internet sources I used for my ownresearch. Now that you have a basicoverview of the best backyard chickenbreeds, you get more information on anyone of them from these sources. TheResources section also contains links onwhere to obtain chickens.

Can I ask you a Quick Favor?

Dear Reader,

I hope you have enjoyed this e-bookletand learned something useful. Once you

are finished reading, I have a brief favorto ask. Please leave a short review ofthis book on Amazon to help futurereaders. Thank you! R.J. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008JI3M6O

Bonus Section: Five Exotic PoultryChickens

Some other good chicken breeds did notquite make the cut for the top 12 above.

For example, Faverolles, Welsummers,and New Hampshires all make goodbackyard birds as well; they are prettydecent egg layers and fairly nice to bearound. But as I ruled out a few otherbreeds, it occurred to me that severalexotic types had come close to meetingmy criteria as well.

These five, Marans, Turkens, Polish(with the feather duster hairdo in theprevious picture), Silkies, and SeramaChickens are so cool that each onedeserves some special mention. None ofthem can boast the prolific, reliable eggproduction of the 12 breedsrecommended above, but all of themmake pretty good pets, and both Marans

and Turkens hens are respectable egglayers. The other three, Seramas,Silkies, and Polish, are basically bantamsized birds, so even though some laywell, it may take a couple of weeks toget enough eggs for an omelet.

Marans Overview Well start the exotic list with Marans,which lay the beautiful dark brown eggsin the picture above. French and EnglishMarans chickens are exotic, but notbecause of their appearance. They arebeautiful birds to look at, but this alonedoes not make them unusual, since manychickens are attractive birds. Maransqualify as exotic because they laychocolate eggs.

Do the eggs taste like chocolate?Unfortunately not, but their coloring is asdark brown as any cocoa. The darkestbrown eggs are produced by BlackCopper Marans hens (making them

highly sought after), while SilverCuckoo Marans hens (which are morecommon in the U.S.) also produce a verydark egg.

The Marans breed was developed inFrance, where both its fine white fleshand dark brown eggs were favored bychefs. In 1929, some hatching eggs weresmuggled into Britain, and furtherbreeding took place in both countries.Today, there are a lot of Marans crossesas well as several standard colors forthe breed. The hens lay at a reasonablerate. Most Marans are calm andinterested in people, thoughpersonalities can vary a great dealwithin the breed. Here is a picture of a

Marans hen (in the foreground) withsome adopted chicks that she mothered.

Marans Facts

Size

Hens 6-7 pounds.

Coloring

Black copper, silver, cuckoo (black andwhite spotting or barring, like BarredRocks), golden, white, blue, wheaten.

Eggs

Hens are good layers of around 3 eggsper week, which are large and very darkbrown.

Nature

Mostly calm and personable, but somevariation.

Notes

Black Copper Marans that meet theFrench standard are quite rare in theU.S., where this class of chicken has notbeen officially recognized yet. At thesame time, a lot of mixed breeds exist,which sellers may pass off as beinggenuine Black Copper Marans. If yousee an advertisement for hatching eggs,make sure the seller mentions that theymeet the French standard. If you are

offered some Marans chicks or pullets,they must have feathered legs to be thereal French article, or else they areprobably British crosses. For somereason, the British breeding resulted infeatherless legs. Of course, you mayactually want birds without featheredlegs, which are easier to keep clean.

Turken (Transylvanian Naked Neck)Overview Take a look at the picture below. Whatkind of bird is this?

With a featherless neck and floppywattles, the Turken resembles a turkeycross from the neck up. In fact, it is allchicken. Turkens (also called NakedNecks) were developed in CentralEurope. They probably were bred forthe featherless feature with the goal ofproducing a bird that would tolerate hotweather.

Turkens are calm, docile, and handleconfinement well. Some owners havetried them because of their unusual looksand ended up falling in love with themas pets.

Turken (Transylvanian Naked Neck)

Facts

Size

Hens average 6.5 pounds

Coloring

Turkens can be white, black, buff, orred.

Eggs

Figure on 3 eggs per week and maybemore, light brown.

Nature

Calm, docile, smart, and friendly.

Notes

I couldnt think of a good Dracula joke.These guys are spooky enough on theirown.

Polish Chicken Overview

Polish are one of the most unusuallooking breeds of poultry. Their crestedheads resemble feather dusters orsomething from an 80s metal band. Inaddition to their crests, some Polishvarieties are bearded as well. Thisbreed is frequently used for show birds.While suitable as pets and moderate egg

layers, their main attraction is theirexotic appearance and resultingentertainment value.

Polish chickens are calm, cooperative,and do not mind sticking to small areasif confined. Most hens lay fewer eggsthan average, but some owners report ahigher rate of egg laying. With thefeathers on their heads, they cannot seeall that well, so they frequently appear tobehave strangely. In the backyard, theyare fun to watch and make greatconversation starters for all yourbackyard cocktail parties.

Despite the name, these chickens are notPolish. They probably entered Europe

from the east, so someone thought theyhad come from Poland. The breedprobably originated in Asia and wasspread by the Mongols. Its first mentionin historical texts was in the 16 century.However, an archaeological dig at aRoman site in Britain turned up the skullof a bird that perfectly fit todays Polishchicken. So this may be one of the oldestbreeds in existence today.

Polish Chicken Facts

Size

Small, hens 4-5 pounds.

Coloring

Golden, silver, white, buff, whitecrested black, and black crested white.

Eggs

Usually 2-34 eggs per week from layinghens, which are bantam sized whiteeggs.

Nature

Calm, cooperative, accepting of a smallarea.

Notes

Please dont use your birds to clean

cobwebs on the ceiling. If I didnt say it,someone would complain that I promoteanimal cruelty! Here is another pictureof a Polish chicken (the picture at thebeginning of this Five Exotic poultryChickens section also showed aPolish).

Silkie Overview

Its a bunny, a kittenno, its a chicken!Silkies are unusual birds in that theyhave soft, downy feathers. Thesefeathers resemble fur or silk. Their calm,peaceful nature also makes themexcellent pets.

Silkies originated in Asia, probably inChina or Southeast Asia. They werementioned by Marco Polo in hisaccounts of his travels in the Orient. InAsia, their black fleshed meat is exoticas well, purported to help people withdiabetes, anemia, and weak immunesystems.

Silkies lay eggs consistently. However,remember that these are very small eggs,

so even if you get three per week from ahen, that may not be enough to equal onestandard sized egg. Here is a Silkiepicture (yes, thats the head, and yes,they do have bright blue ears).

Silkie Facts

Size

Standard hens are 3 pounds. Believe itor not, there is a smaller bantam versionalso.

Coloring

White, black, buff, blue (gray), and othercolors.

Eggs

Good rate of 3 per week, cream coloredand bantam sized.

Nature

Calm, relaxed, make good pets.

Notes

Despite their lightweight size, Silkies donot fly well, so even a 3-foot fenceshould contain them.

Serama Overview This guy looks as cocky as any rooster,but he is less than one foot tall.

Serama chickens are a miniature bantambreed. Developed in Malaysia, theSerama lays claim to being the worldssmallest chicken. Full grown roosters(like the one in the previous picture) topout at about one pound in weight, give ortake a few ounces. They can fit insmaller than normal spaces, not needingas much room in a coop or run andeating a lot less food than larger birds.

In addition to the novelty of their size,Seramas hold their tails at an unusuallyacute angle that makes them unique. Theyare friendly, easy to handle, and getalong well with other chickens. Butsome owners have reported their

Seramas can get loud, while others labelthem as very quiet pets.

This is a fairly new breed, so it is notyet widespread. The birds are verypopular in Malaysia, where Seramashows are held every weekend. In theUnited States, they are gainingpopularity, particularly as pets forpeople who have limited space. Here isa picture of a Serama hen; the resolutionis poor, but you can see that she holdsher tail as the same angle as that roosterin the previous image.

Serama Facts Size

Hens are less than one pound in size.Seramas measure from 6-10 inches tall.

Colors

In Malaysia, these chickens have notbeen bred for their color, but for othercharacteristics. As a result, most birdshave lots of patchy reds, blacks, andwhites on their plumage.

Eggs

Hens lay miniature eggs up to half apound in weight. They can be white,dark brown, or any shade in between.Frequency for laying hens can approach3-4 eggs per week. Roughly 5 Serama

eggs = 1 standard egg.

Nature

Very calm and accepting of humancontact. Great pets.

Notes

These are warm weather birds, whichshould not be outside when temperaturesfall below 40 degrees. Some peoplekeep them as indoor pets.

Reminder: Please leave a shortreview of this booklet!

Dear Reader,

I hope you have enjoyed this booklet.Please take a moment to leave a briefreview on Amazon, letting other readersknow what you think. Just a few wordswould be appreciated. Thanks! R.J.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008JI3M6O

Resources

My main sources for this booklet are asfollows. They provide much moreinformation on chickens. Each one is avaluable resource.

Great information and unbeatableforums. Many other chicken ownersposted valuable advice on breeds which

was helpful in understanding their egglaying and personalities:http://www.backyardchickens.com

Another helpful forum where poultryowners share information:http://poultrycommunity.com

And this British forum site is alsovaluable:http://forums.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/index.php

Various information on chickens andchicken supplies:http://www.mypetchicken.com

Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons,the source of some of the information on

various breeds and many of the imagesappearing in this booklet:http://www.wikipedia.org

Rare Breeds of Chickens:http://blog.mcmurrayhatchery.com/2011/02/09/rare-breeds-of-chickens

American Poultry Association (includeslist of recognized breeds and showinformation):http://www.amerpoultryassn.com

Getting Chickens

1. Local Pullets. If you are buyingpullets (young hens almost ready to lay),then it is best to look locally first. Try

your regional Craigslist site, and lookunder the For Sale category for theFarm+Garden link and local classifiedads. You can try a key word search forchickens or hens or pullets orchicks too. Alternatively, ask at yourlocal farm supply or feed store, whichmay sell chickens or know who elsedoes. Or you can post your own ad onhere explaining what you are lookingfor, using a blind e-mail address. Younever quite know what you are gettingfrom a classified site, but most people(though not all) are honest and good.www.craigslist.org

2. Buy/Sell/Trade/Free. Some onlinepoultry forums have organized threads

for sales and barter. One good one isChicken Chatter, which has a forumcalled Buy/Sell/Trade/Free. Last time Ilooked on there, one poster was sellinghatching eggs for several varieties for$8-24, depending on the breed, whilesomeone else was trying to find someFrench Copper Marans chicks (CopperMarans are famous for laying the mostbeautiful dark chocolate-colored eggswith a tint of copper).http://www.chickenchatter.org

3. Hatchery Chicks or Eggs. Try to findone in your area of the country, please,as chicks or eggs are shipped to you bymail or other carrier. Most hatcherieshave order size minimums. Examples are

McMurray Hatchery in Iowa,http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com , Mt.Healthy Hatchery in Ohiohttp://www.mthealthy.com/ , and IdealPoultry in Texas http://www.ideal-poultry.com/ . I do not have experienceordering from hatcheries and therefore Icannot endorse any of these places. Hereis a directory of many more, sorted byonline popularity.http://www.top20sites.com/Top-Poultry-Hatcheries-Sites

My Other Publications(Click my author name on Amazon to seeup to date titles)

1 . Backyard Chickens for Beginners:

Getting the Best Chickens, ChoosingCoops, Feeding and Care, and BeatingCity Chicken Laws (36-page Booklet).[Kindle e-book]Download it here:http://www.amazon.com/Backyard-Chickens-Beginners-Choosing-ebook/dp/B0084HOC50/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337887484&sr=1-6

Description from Amazon:Excellent booklet for beginners on howto start a backyard mini-flock of 2-4chickens and get fresh eggs every day.Written by the author of the best-sellingFresh Food From Small Spaces book, a

former columnist for Urban Farmmagazine. (Updated 2012 Version)

Topics include: Fresh Eggs Every Day How Much Space Do You Need? Building or Buying a Coop Feeders, Waterers, Nesting Boxes, andRoosts Getting Chicks or Chickens Feeding Your Chickens Tips for Cold Climates Health and Safety Dealing with Neighbors, City ChickenLaws, and Other Challenges Resources: Everything You Need! 2 . How to Grow Potatoes: Planting

and Harvesting Organic Food FromYour Patio, Rooftop, Balcony, orBackyard Garden (26-page Booklet)Brand New Book: available here:http://www.amazon.com/R.J.-Ruppenthal/e/B00852ZTT2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 Perfect beginners guide to growingpotatoes. This booklet explains how toplant and grow organic potatoes for foodin the home garden. Recommended forbackyard gardeners and containergardeners with small city-sized yards,patios, balconies, decks, and rooftops.

Why Grow Potatoes? Six GreatReasons Different Kinds of Potatoes (and

Where to Get Them) Growing in Containers, Raised Beds,and Traditional Rows Planting and Hilling Potatoes Soil, Fertilizer, and Watering Needs Harvesting Potatoes Storing Potatoes for Later Use Bonus: Two Secret Tips for GettingMore (and More Delicious) Potatoes 3. Blueberries in Your Backyard: Howto Grow Americas HottestAntioxidant Fruit for Food, Health,and Extra Money (25-page Booklet)Download it here:http://www.amazon.com/Blueberries-Your-Backyard-Antioxidant-ebook/dp/B0085YNZD2/ref=la_B00852ZTT2_1_2?

ie=UTF8&qid=1338923112&sr=1-2 Description from Amazon:Perfect blueberry growing guide forbeginners. This booklet explains how toplant and grow blueberries in the homegarden. Recommended for backyardgardeners with small city-sized yards,patios, balconies, decks, and rooftops.(Updated 2012 version)

Topics include: Why Grow Blueberries? Six Great

Reasons Blueberries for Every Climate (and

where to get them) Grow Blueberries Almost

Anywhere: Doorsteps, Patios,

Balconies, Rooftops, and Yards Perfect Blueberry Soil (regular

garden soil kills them, but they willthrive in this!)

How to Plant and Grow Blueberriesin Raised Beds and Containers

Feeding, Watering, and Caring forYour Blueberry Bushes

Making Extra Money GrowingBlueberries

3. Fresh Food From Small Spaces: TheSquare-Inch Gardeners Guide toYear-Round Growing, Fermenting,and Sprouting, by R.J. Ruppenthal(Chelsea Green Publishing 2008). Thisbook covers small space gardening,fermenting (yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and

kimchi), sprouting, plus chickens foreggs and bees for honey. Over 20,000people have read this book, which helpsbeginners learn what they can grow insmall urban spaces, such as apartments,condominiums, townhouses, and smallhomes. Many readers have beenmotivated to try new things and growsome food where they did not believethey could before reading this. The bookis a broad overview, so it does not havea fine level of detail.Download it or purchase the print copyhere:http://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Food-Small-Spaces-Square-Inch/dp/160358028X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226714427&sr=8-

1Author Info

R.J. Ruppenthal is a licensed attorneyand college professor in California whohas a passion for growing and raisingsome of his own food. He regularlywrites and blogs about fruit andvegetable gardening, growing food insmall urban spaces, sustainability, andraising backyard chickens. On occasion,he even puts his degrees to use andwrites something about law orgovernment. You can follow his blogs athttp://backyardcvf.blogspot.com or onhis Amazon Authors Page here:http://www.amazon.com/R.J.-

Ruppenthal/e/B00852ZTT2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 All Rights Reserved 2012 R.J.Ruppenthal

Image attributions

Photos are property of the author orpublic domain images, except for thefollowing.

Flickr, www.flickr.comAmeraucana 1, Will MerydithAustralorp hen, Just Chaos

Delaware; Red Sex Links, Linda N.Marans hen, hardworkinghippyPlymouth Rock, thomas pixRainbow 1, bokeh burgerRainbow 2, Bob DoranRIR chick, tquiddleRIR hens, sammydavisdogSussex, owlmonkey

Can Stock Photo,www.canstockphoto.comCoverBrahmas 1 and 2Gold Laced WyandotteSilkie 2

Kippen Encyclopedie,www.kippenencyclopedie.nl

Cubalaya hen

Wikimedia Commons,http://commons.wikimedia.orgAustralorp chick, gina pinaMarans eggs, AbrahamiOrpingtons, Outback hensWhite Crested Black Polish, Joe MabelSerama rooster, Nurhafizah AndullahSerama hen, BrianWISilkie 1,Benjamint444Turken, DemontuxWhite Leghorns, Geri Glastra

Table of ContentsCopyrightHow This Information Can Help YouRainbow EggsHatching and Early HandlingEach Chicken is an IndividualBest BreedsThe 12 Best Backyard Breeds

(Presented Alphabetically)ConclusionBonus Section: Five Exotic Poultry

ChickensResourcesMy Other PublicationsDescription from Amazon:Author Info

CopyrightHow This Information Can Help YouRainbow EggsHatching and Early HandlingEach Chicken is an IndividualBest BreedsThe 12 Best Backyard Breeds (Presented Alphabetically)ConclusionBonus Section: Five Exotic Poultry ChickensResourcesMy Other PublicationsDescription from Amazon:Author Info