Top 25 Chicken Breeds for Backyard Chickens
This is the top 25 Chicken Breeds for a Backyard Flock. To see the complete list click here: Top 107 Chicken Breeds
25. BARRED ROCK
Dual purpose, heat, and cold hardy bird
High producer of large brown eggs
Does well confined or free range
24. PLYMOUTH WHITE
Dual-purpose birds, cold and heat tolerant
Hardy and easygoing personalities
Moderate layers of brown eggs
23. SEABRIGHT BANTAM
Active, friendly, moderate producer, small white eggs
Confinement or free range; color: golden or silver
Livestock Conservancy Classification of "Threatened"
22. PLYMOUTH ROCK
Docile, dual purpose; Barred or Partridge color
Moderate producer, brown eggs; confined or free range
Fine winter layers and spring setters
21. MINORCA
High producer of large white eggs
Black, white, or buff birds; excellent for free range
Active, heat tolerant, good foragers
20. SILVER LACED WYANDOTTE
Dual purpose, moderate producer of large brown eggs
Does well confined or free range
Heat and cold hardy, excellent mothers
19. GOLDEN LACED WYANDOTTE
Dual purpose bird; does well confined, or free range
Moderate producer of large brown eggs
Heat and cold hardy, excellent mothers
18. BLUE LACED RED WYANDOTTE
Dual purpose, excellent mothers, blue-lined red feathers
Moderate producer of medium brown eggs
Good in confinement or free range
17. BLUE LACED GOLDEN WYANDOTTE
Dual-purpose bird: docile, calm, and quiet
Great egg layer of medium-sized cream-colored eggs
Exceptionally beautiful, winter hardy bird
16. WYANDOTTE
Dual purpose with several color variations
Moderate producer, large brown eggs, good mothers
Heat & cold hardy, do well confined or free range
15. AMERAUCANA
14. SPECKLED SUSSEX
Calm, high producer, medium cream-light brown eggs
Heat & cold hardy, dual purpose, confined/free range
The Livestock Conservancy "Recovering" classification
13. ISABELLA LEGHORN
Egg layer
Recognized as a top egg producer of large white eggs • Active & graceful breed that thrives in free-range
12. LEGHORN
High producer of large white eggs
Heat tolerant and does well confined, or free range
Colors: Barred, Brown, Buff, Red, Silver, White
11. COCHINS
Moderate producer of large brown eggs
Does well confined or free range
Docile, cold, hardy, excellent mothers
10. POLISH
Variety of different cresting and lacing colors
High late-season producer, medium to large white eggs
Classified as "Watch" by The Livestock Conservancy
9. RHODE ISLAND RED
Active, heat & cold hardy, dual purpose, hybrid bird
High producer of large to x-large brown eggs
Does well confined or free range
8. BELGIAN BEARDED D'UCCLE
Fair producer of extra small cream eggs
Do well confined/free range; excluding extreme heat
Friendly, calm, small, good for youth or hobbyists
7. BANTAM FRIZZLE
Miniatures of popular breed varieties and colors
Excellent in a free-range environment
Great for insect control
6. BLACK AUSTRALORP
Hardy dual-purpose bird
Does well confined or free range
Color options include black & blue
5. ENGLISH ORPINGTON
Good producers of brown eggs; does well free range
Easy going, hardy, well suited for cold climates
Colors: silver laced, blue, brown, jubilee & mottled
4. ORPINGTON
Docile birds in buff, lavender, black, blue, or white
Dual-purpose bird, a high producer of large brown eggs
Do well confined & free range; heat & cold hardy
3. BARNEVELDER
Dual purpose, friendly and active bird
Moderate producer of dark brown eggs
Does well confined or free range
2. SILKIE
Moderate producer of medium white to tinted eggs
Forager, heat & cold tolerant, does well free range
Colors: black, blue, buff, red, white, etc.
1. ISA BROWN
Dual-purpose does well confined, or free range
Commercial quality producer of large to XL brown eggs
Consistent and dependable eggshell strength