{"id":97319,"date":"2025-07-25T03:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T07:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/?p=97319"},"modified":"2025-07-25T09:22:59","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T13:22:59","slug":"which-chicken-breed-meets-your-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/which-chicken-breed-meets-your-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the Right Chickens for Your Backyard Flock"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Choosing the right chickens for your backyard or homestead involves more than picking the prettiest birds. Whether you&#8217;re after eggs, meat, companionship, or sustainability, your ideal chicken breed should match your goals, climate, and lifestyle. Before you bring home chicks, take a step back to consider what you really need\u2014and why it matters.<\/p>\n<h2>A Family Tradition of Keeping Chickens<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">Thirty-odd years ago, my grandparents and great-grandparents could be found in the front yard dressing and preparing hundreds of chickens to be shared between their two families. They would stock their freezers for the upcoming winter, thinking tantalizing thoughts of homemade chicken noodle soup and fried chicken. A self-sustaining lifestyle wasn\u2019t a hobby or wishful notion. It was a reality of life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If you wanted to eat, you had to work for it.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Throughout my own childhood, the brooder house was never empty. Fresh eggs filled the fridge that sat in the mudroom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">We had a variety of poultry and waterfowl, so from a young age we had sampled the eggs from turkeys, geese, ducks and, of course, our faithful laying hens.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">A few special roosters and hens seemed to have personalities of their own. At one point, my next younger brother and I had each claimed a rooster.\u2014Roovert and Doovert, we comically dubbed them. The two unfortunate souls were chased around the hill by children eager to capture and stroke their beautiful, colored feathers.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Top Breeds We\u2019ve Raised<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\">My mother was a fan of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7692664\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dual-purpose birds<\/a> in her henhouse. She preferred to have a breed of chicken that allowed for the roosters to be butchered at a young age. The hens grew old while supplying us with a steady stream of delicious eggs.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Even to this day, chickens are a staple at my folks\u2019 home. Over the years,\u00a0 a variety of chicken breeds graced the threshold of the brooder house. But the flock today mainly consists of a mixture of Buff Rocks, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/rhode-island-red\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rhode Island Reds<\/a>, Red Sex Links and Golden Laced Wyandottes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Later, on my own, I started my own flock\u2014a mix of Dominiques and Golden Lace Wyandottes. A heritage breed with the disposition of the calmest bird I\u2019ve seen, the Dominique has become a favorite in my own henhouse.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p3\">What to Consider Before Choosing a Breed<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s3\">When choosing the right chickens, you\u2019ll encounter a variety of questions you\u2019ll want to answer before picking a breed.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p3\">What do you want these chickens for? To raise for meat (fryers), eggs (layers), both (dual purpose) or just as ornamentals?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">Will they be show birds and exhibited at poultry shows or just for your own homestead?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">Will this chicken breed be able to thrive in the climate you live in?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">Do you want full-sized chickens or their smaller counterparts, bantams?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">How serious of an egg-layer are you looking for?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\">And just for fun: What color of eggs would you like?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Matching Breeds to Your Purpose<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\">When choosing which breed of chickens to purchase, a little research can go a long way. One of the first things to decide: what purpose you want the birds to serve.<\/p>\n<h3>Chickens Raised for Meat<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p3\">Fryers are chickens with stocky bodies that fill out with muscle, and are fed and grown with the intent to butcher them at a young age. They don\u2019t lay as many eggs as layers or dual-purpose chicken breeds.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p3\">Best Breeds for Egg Production<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s6\">Layers are chickens that have a more lean body build and lay an average of an egg a day. They\u2019re not intended to be butchered. Rather, they spend the majority of their life producing eggs. The age a hen starts producing at and the number of eggs you get a day will depend on the breed of chicken you choose. An excellent layer should average between 250 to 280 eggs a year.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p3\">Chickens That Offer Both Eggs and Meat<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s4\">Dual-purpose<\/span> chickens are meant to provide a bit of both worlds. They\u2019ll have a stockier body than layers and thus be able to be butchered. But the hens will also produce more eggs than fryers, making them able to be kept for years for egg production.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">If you decide to go for a dual-purpose breed rather than strictly an egg layer, don\u2019t expect them to produce the same number of eggs. They will still lay an adequate amount. But because they\u2019re meant to fulfill two needs <span class=\"s7\">(meat and eggs) their body will also spend energy on building muscle as well. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s7\">You might also find that dual-purpose chicken breeds tend to be slower growing than their commercial counterparts, the fryers. Rather than a downside, some people find their slower growth to be a healthier alternative to some fast-maturing fryers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Why More People Are Raising Chickens<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\">Besides the constant entertainment chickens offer, why else would you want to go through the effort of purchasing them, building a shelter, buying feed and all of the other work it takes to maintain a healthy flock?<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Chickens have grown increasingly more popular as people begin to question the health of commercial poultry offered in supermarkets and rising prices. Many people also tend to enjoy the feeling of security offered by growing their own food, whether in the form of a garden, chickens or cattle.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97327\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97327\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-97327\" src=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2004391478.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/APv6i3lh-shutterstock_2004391478-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2004391478-433x250.jpg 433w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2004391478-600x347.jpg 600w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2004391478-623x360.jpg 623w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_2004391478.jpg 800w\" alt=\"chicken chickens breed breeds\" width=\"800\" height=\"462\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97327\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">N_Design\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>How Chickens Become Part of Daily Life<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\">The longer you have them, the more woven into your daily life and habits your chickens will become. Kitchen scraps and yard waste can be diverted from the landfill and sent straight to the backyard. In return, you\u2019ll be given fresh, deliciously rich eggs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">If left to free-range, hens will help keep your yard\u2019s pests in check. Things such as ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, grubs, aphids and even small reptiles are liable to end up on the wrong end of a hen\u2019s beak!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">If you enjoy gardening, chickens can be challenging pets to keep. While they might sneak a few bites of a tomato or dig a tender onion, they\u2019ll mix your topsoil and organic matter as they scratch and kick around the dirt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Garden pests will dwindle, and both you and the hens will reap the benefits of summertime eggs. Just consider it their way of repaying any missing produce!<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Popular Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\">You&#8217;ll find a vast number of different breeds offered when choosing the right chickens for your flock. But here are some of the most common and practical layers you could consider adding to (or starting) your flock with.<\/p>\n<h5>Rhode Island Reds<\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\">Rhode Island Reds are a dual-purpose chicken breed developed in the state of Rhode Island. They are excellent layers and will produce a large, dark brown egg.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Some of the hens can go broody and make good mothers. These are a great option for new or experienced chicken-keepers and easy to care for.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5>Red Sex Links<\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\">Red Sex Links are a hybrid chicken and, interestingly enough, cannot reproduce purebred offspring. They are the result of a red cock (New Hampshire or Rhode Island Red) mated with a silver-based hen (such as a white Leghorn, Rhode Island White, Silver-Laced Wyandotte, etc.).<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">They are tremendous layers, producing large, brown eggs, and are quite hardy in a variety of weather environments.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h5>Barred Plymouth Rocks<\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\">Barred Plymouth Rocks are another great dual-purpose breed of chicken, developed in Massachusetts. An extremely popular breed, the hens lay brown eggs and can turn broody, yet overall are hardy, calm birds.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s8\">While their coloring is similar to their relative, the Dominique, the single comb of a Barred Rock will help you differentiate between it and the Dominique, which has a rose comb.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h5>Leghorns<\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\">Leghorns are an active, lively breed developed in Italy. They can come in a variety of colors, two comb variations, and either bantam or large breed size.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Leghorns are hardy and excellent layers of large, white eggs.<\/p>\n<h5>Golden Laced Wyandotte<\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\">Golden Laced Wyandottes get their name from a Native American tribe that was collectively known as Wendat or Wyandot. The original variety of Wyandotte was the Silver Laced. Today, however, you&#8217;ll encounter multiple different varieties including Blue, <span class=\"s8\">Black, Buff, Columbian, Partridge, Silver Penciled and White. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s8\">T<\/span><span class=\"s8\">hey are good layers of brown eggs and can become broody. They are a rather fluffy-looking chicken, thanks to their short tail and back, and loose feathering.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h5><span class=\"s6\">Australorp<\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s6\">Australorps, developed in <\/span><span class=\"s9\">Australia, are another dual-purpose chicken breed. <\/span><span class=\"s6\">They originated from Orpingtons and eventually came to be known as <\/span><span class=\"s9\">Australorps. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s9\">Australorps are excellent <\/span><span class=\"s3\">layers of brown eggs, and have a single comb and docile disposition.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_97325\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-97325\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-97325\" src=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_434104270.jpg\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/GOwiaMLz-shutterstock_434104270-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_434104270-433x250.jpg 433w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_434104270-600x347.jpg 600w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_434104270-623x360.jpg 623w, https:\/\/img.hobbyfarms.com\/shutterstock_434104270.jpg 800w\" alt=\"chicken chickens breed breeds\" width=\"800\" height=\"462\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-97325\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Samantha McCourt\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Where to Buy Chicks and What to Know<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s3\">When choosing the right chickens, chicks can be bought from a variety of places. Local farm-supply stores often host \u201cchick days\u201d and will have stock tanks full of chickens or ducks you can purchase and take home right that day. Many hatcheries also offer the option to order online and have the poultry shipped straight to your local post office for pickup.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s3\"> Local breeders will also sometimes have poultry for sale. If you decide to buy from an individual, try to get a look at their flock and the living conditions before you purchase any birds. This will give you an idea of not only the history of your birds, but what problems you could run into in the future.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Here\u2019s a quick rundown of how chicks are often offered for sale.<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s10\"><b>Straight Run<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s3\">The chicks have not been sexed (had their gender checked). You are buying a random assortment of cockerels and pullets.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h5 class=\"p3\"><b>Cockerels<\/b><\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\">This is a selection of chicks that is supposed to be males only. Don\u2019t be surprised if a pullet or two slips by once in awhile!<\/p>\n<h5 class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s4\"><b>Pullets<\/b><\/span><\/h5>\n<p class=\"p3\">These chicks have been sexed and determined to be pullets (or females) only.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">K<span class=\"s6\">eeping chickens can be quite an adventure at times, but if you\u2019re ready for a little backyard companionship and fresh eggs, they\u2019re the way to go! Be careful on the number of poultry you get for your space, but don\u2019t forget to have a little fun with it. A basket of multi-colored eggs could look beautiful sitting on your kitchen table<\/span>!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions About Chickens<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\">Sometimes people have questions they feel are too simple to ask. Don\u2019t be that person! How else can we learn if we don\u2019t start with the basics? Here are a few things you might have wondered about.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Do you need a rooster for your hens to lay eggs? <\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\">Nope, you don\u2019t need a rooster for your hens to lay eggs. Roosters simply fertilize the eggs, and the hen does all the work of making them. She can do that just fine without a rooster.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">If you think you\u2019ll want a self-sustaining flock in the future (meaning you\u2019ll hatch your own eggs, whether in an incubator or stuck under a broody hen), then you\u2019ll need a rooster.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Do eggs come in different colors? <\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\">Yes! Eggs can come in a rainbow of colors\u2014they aren\u2019t all brown or white! There are varying shades of blue, green, pink, white, brown, etc.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">For brown eggs, look at the Buff Rocks, Golden-Laced Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, etc. For a more colorful egg such as blue or green, look at the Ameraucanas, Cream Legbars, Olive Eggers and so on.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">What is the difference between a \u201csingle\u201d comb and \u201crose\u201d comb? <\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\">A single comb is how a lot of people imagine chickens\u2014with a single flap of skin standing up on top of their head. A rose comb is a more flat and wide piece of skin that looks rather bumpy and lays down close to the head.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">If you live in a cold climate, a chicken breed with a rose comb might be somewhat more desirable as it won\u2019t get frostbite as easily.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">How many eggs will my hen lay? <\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\">An average layer should produce between 250 to 280 eggs a year. When chickens are just pullets, they will probably lay an egg every three to four days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">As they mature, their eggs will grow larger and they should be producing two eggs every three days. (I typically would look for an egg a day from my full-grown hens, give or take a few.)<\/p>\n<h2>Choosing the Right Chickens: Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\"> Choosing the right chickens can be a rewarding first step toward greater self-sufficiency and sustainability. Whether you&#8217;re after eggs, meat, or just some feathered friends, take time to match your breed to your climate, space, and goals. Start small, ask questions, and don\u2019t be afraid to enjoy the process. A well-chosen flock can offer more than eggs\u2014it can bring life, rhythm, and purpose to your homestead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p7\">This article about choosing the right chickens was written for Hobby Farms and Chickens magazines. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hobbyfarms.com\/subscribe-new\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to subscribe.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What&#8217;s the right chicken breed for your farm? Here&#8217;s how to determine which breeds will best meet your poultry expectations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13133,"featured_media":97326,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10456],"tags":[10510,10704,654,2046,10705,3641,10703],"class_list":["post-97319","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poultry","tag-breeds","tag-broilers","tag-chickens","tag-chicks","tag-fryers","tag-layers","tag-meat-birds"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.0 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Choosing the Right Chickens for Your Backyard Flock - Hobby Farms<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Choosing the right chickens depends on your goals. 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