Common Chicken Breeds Chart

Common Chicken Breeds

When raising backyard chickens, choosing the right breed is crucial. There are countless breeds, each with unique characteristics and quirks. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common chicken breeds you might encounter. From their egg-laying prowess to their hardiness in different climates, this table provides a general idea about what each breed has to offer.

Breed	Eggs/Year	Egg Color	Egg Size	Cold Hardy	Heat Hardy	Broodiness	Breed Colors	Description
Ameraucana	200-300	Blue	Large	Yes	Yes	No	Black, Blue, Lavender, and more	Unique blue eggs and full beards and muffs
Australorp	300	Brown	Large	Yes	Yes	No	Black	Originated in Australia. Excellent layers of brown eggs
Brahma	150-200	Brown	Large	Yes	No	Yes	Light, Dark, Partridge	Large and friendly, known as the “gentle giants”
Cochin	150-200	Brown	Large	No	No	Yes	Black, Blue, Partridge, White, and more	Friendly personality, fluffy feathers, and brooding behavior
Faverolles	200-250	Brown	Large	No	No	Yes	Salmon, Red, Black, Blue, and more	Friendly and docile, known for soft feathery appearance
Jersey Giant	200-300	Brown	Extra Large	Yes	No	No	Black, Blue, and White	The largest of all chicken breeds
Marans	200-300	Brown	Large	Yes	No	No	Black Copper, Cuckoo, and more	Rich, dark brown eggs. Good layers
Olive Egger	200-300	Olive	Large	Yes	Yes	No	Blue, Black, and more	A cross between blue and brown egg-laying breeds. Unique eggs.
Sussex	300	Brown	Large	Yes	Yes	No	Red, White, Black, Speckled, and more	Known for hardiness and active personality, great layers of brown eggs
Buckeye	200-250	Brown	Large	Yes	No	No	Red, Black, and White	Originating in Ohio, a hardy and friendly breed
Cream Legbar	250-300	Blue	Large	Yes	Moderate	Low	Blue and Gold	Friendly and attractive, known for their distinctive blue eggs. Active birds and good foragers.
Delaware	250-300	Brown	Large	Yes	Moderate	Low	Red and White	Friendly and docile, great for the backyard. Good layers of large light brown eggs.
Dominique	150-200	Brown	Medium	Yes	Moderate	Low	Black and White	Hardy and active, often referred to as “The American Dominique”. Good layers of brown eggs.
Easter Egger	200-300	Variety	Medium	Yes	Moderate	Low	Variety of Colors	A fun and unique breed, known for eggs in various shades of blue, green, and brown. Friendly and active.
Orpington	150-200	Brown	Large	Yes	Moderate	Moderate	Black, Blue, and Buff	Friendly and docile, plush, soft feathers. Good layers of brown eggs. Make great pets.
Polish	150-200	White	Medium	No	Moderate	Low	White, Black, and Gold	Fun and quirky, distinctive top knot of feathers. Active birds, but not the best layers.
Sexlink	300-350	Brown	Large	Yes	Moderate	Low	Black, Red, and White	Friendly and active, excellent egg-laying capabilities.
Silkie	100-150	Cream	Small	Yes	Moderate	High	Black, Blue, Buff, Gray, Partridge, Splash, and White	Unique and soft-feathered, docile, and friendly. Not the best layers. Make great pets and brooding abilities.
Swedish Flower	200-250	Brown	Medium	Yes	Moderate	Low	Black, Blue, and Red	Friendly and active. Distinctive flowery feathers. Good layers of light brown eggs.
Welsummer	200-300	Brown	Large	Yes	Moderate	Low	Red and Gold	Friendly and active. Rich and dark brown eggs. Excellent layers and foragers.
Wyandotte	150-200	Brown	Large	Yes	Moderate	Moderate	Black, Blue, Buff, Columbian, Partridge, Silver Laced, and White	Friendly and docile. Unique feather patterns. Good layers of brown eggs. Make great pets.