Breed guide
Chicken breeds, side by side
38 breeds with eggs a year, egg colour, size, hardiness and temperament. Every number comes from breed groups, extension services and hatcheries, and the ranges show where they disagree.
Eggs
Good for
Needs
38 breeds
All breeds
Silkie
Buff Orpington
Brahma
Barred Plymouth Rock
Polish
Rhode Island Red
Australorp
Leghorn (White)
Ameraucana
Easter Egger
ISA Brown
Jersey Giant
Cochin
Wyandotte
Welsummer
Marans
Frizzle
Ayam Cemani
Turken (Naked Neck)
Dominique
Sussex (Speckled)
Golden Comet / Red Sex Link
Black Star / Black Sex Link
Olive Egger
Cream Legbar
Faverolles (Salmon)
New Hampshire Red
Delaware
Orpington (Lavender and other colors)
Sebright (bantam)
Serama
Lakenvelder
Barnevelder
Hamburg
Andalusian (Blue)
Cornish Cross (meat hybrid)
Buckeye
Chantecler
No breed matches all of those. Try removing one filter.
Compare every breed
Take the breed finder| Breed | Eggs a year | Egg colour | Hen weight | Cold | Heat | Temperament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silkie | 100–120 | Cream to lightly tinted | 2 lb | low | medium | calm, friendly, docile |
| Buff Orpington | 150–280 | Light brown to brown | 8 lb | high | medium | calm, friendly, docile |
| Brahma | 150–200 | Brown | 9.5 lb | high | low | calm, docile, gentle |
| Barred Plymouth Rock | 200–250 | Brown | 7.5 lb | high | high | calm, friendly, docile |
| Polish | 150 | White | 4.5 lb | low | high | calm, but flighty when disturbed |
| Rhode Island Red | 200–300 | Brown | 6.5 lb | high | medium | active, hardy; can be assertive |
| Australorp | 250–300 | Tinted to light brown | 6.5 lb | high | medium | calm, docile, friendly |
| Leghorn (White) | 150–320 | White | 4.5 lb | medium | high | very active, flighty |
| Ameraucana | 150–250 | Blue | 5.5 lb | high | medium | friendly, curious; can be flighty |
| Easter Egger | 200–280 | Varies by hen | 4–5.5 lb | high | high | friendly, active, generally docile |
| ISA Brown | 300–320 | Light brown to brown | 4.3 lb | — | — | calm, docile |
| Jersey Giant | 150–260 | Brown | 10 lb | high | low | calm, friendly, docile |
| Cochin | 110–200 | Brown | 8.5 lb | high | low | friendly, docile, calm |
| Wyandotte | 180–260 | Light brown to brown | 6.5 lb | high | medium | calm, friendly, docile |
| Welsummer | 160–280 | Dark brown | 6 lb | high | high | friendly but active; not especially docile |
| Marans | 150–200 | Dark chocolate brown | 6.5 lb | high | low | calm, docile; somewhat reserved |
| Frizzle | — | — | — | low | medium | — |
| Ayam Cemani | 80–120 | Cream | 4–5 lb | medium | high | calm, friendly, docile |
| Turken (Naked Neck) | 180–240 | Light brown | 6.5 lb | high | medium | docile, gentle |
| Dominique | 230–275 | Light to dark brown | 5 lb | high | high | calm, friendly, alert |
| Sussex (Speckled) | 200–300 | Light brown to tan | 7 lb | high | medium | calm, curious, friendly |
| Golden Comet / Red Sex Link | 200–320 | Brown | 4–7 lb | high | — | active; calm and friendly with people |
| Black Star / Black Sex Link | 200–280 | Brown | 6.5–7 lb | high | high | calm, friendly, docile |
| Olive Egger | 150–200 | Olive green | 5–7 lb | high | medium | friendly, curious, calm |
| Cream Legbar | 180–220 | Blue | 4.5–6 lb | medium | high | friendly, active |
| Faverolles (Salmon) | 150–240 | Tinted to light brown | 6.5 lb | high | medium | gentle, docile, friendly |
| New Hampshire Red | 200–280 | Light brown to brown | 6.5 lb | high | medium | docile to competitive; can be assertive with other chickens |
| Delaware | 200–280 | Light brown to brown | 5.5–7 lb | high | medium | calm, friendly, curious; assertive but not a bully |
| Orpington (Lavender and other colors) | 150–200 | Light to dark brown | 8 lb | high | medium | docile, calm, friendly |
| Sebright (bantam) | 60–80 | Cream to white or lightly tinted | 1.25–1.3 lb | low | high | active, spunky, flighty; can be tamed |
| Serama | — | Cream or tinted | — | low | high | docile, friendly, showy |
| Lakenvelder | 150–200 | White to tinted/cream | 4 lb | low | high | active, flighty |
| Barnevelder | 150–200 | Dark brown | 6–7 lb | high | medium | calm, quiet, docile |
| Hamburg | 120–225 | White | 4 lb | high | high | very active, flighty |
| Andalusian (Blue) | 160–200 | Chalk white | 5.5 lb | medium | high | active, not especially docile |
| Cornish Cross (meat hybrid) | Meat bird | — | — | — | — | docile |
| Buckeye | 175–260 | Brown | 6.5 lb | high | medium | active yet gentle; docile |
| Chantecler | 150–220 | Light brown to pinkish brown | 5.5–6.5 lb | high | medium | gentle, calm |