Chicken Breeds - The most beautiful and bountiful egg laying chickens of all breeds of chicken. See bantams, Phoenixes, and polish chickens!

There are many breeds of chickens from tiny to large, flashy to plain, and with a variety of colors in their eggs to choose from. You might be interested in some adorable Bantam chickens, or maybe some regal Auracana hens for your coop.

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Fascinating Kinds of Chickens

Whether you are considering adding different types of chickens to your chicken coop or you have simply decided that it is time to start Raising your own Chickens

, there are going to be lots of considerations for you to make, but few are going to be as important as considering the various breeds of chicken. There are a lot of beautiful chickens out there, ranging from the familiar white Leghorn to the Japanese Phoenix, the Amber Star and the Ancona chicken, so take a look below and consider which chicken breeds might be right for you.

Silkie Bantam

A miniature sized chicken that comes in four colors, White, Black, Blue and Buff.
These little ones are child friendly, good Mothers and are among the most popular entries at poultry shows for good reason.
Gorgeous headdress meets hysterical expression- who can resist? Silkie Bantams are known for their nearly black skin and have an unusual fifth toe.

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Rhode Island Red

When it comes to chicken breeds, the Rhode Island Red chickens are among the most recognizable, and with good reason. They are fairly heavy birds and they come in both white and red.

They were once very much a staple of the farmyard, though their breed has declined with the small farmer. Their brown eggs are considered extra large and the breed itself is known for good layers. If you are looking for a bird that will do well in your climate, the Rhode Island chicken is a good bet. It deals well with cold, it is very docile and it is comfortable in confinement, making it a fine chicken for urban or rural areas.

Minorcans

Dramatically colored and considered to be a little fussy, Minorcans are still popular when it comes to considering backyard chickens. They are also known as Red Faced Black Chickens, and their faces, wattles and large combs are indeed bright red in comparison with their handsome black body. They are very good layers, producing four large white eggs times a week, and they are known to do fairly well in confinement, though their Mediterranean history makes them ill-suited for life in colder climes.

White Leghorn

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Did you know that Leghorn is actually pronounced “Leggern?” These chickens are thought to be super layers, and in ideal conditions can produce a large white egg nearly every day.

They have something of a reputation for being fussy and temperamental birds, but overall, they do quite well as backyard chickens and they are among the most popular of the chicken breeds for just that reason. They are also known for being quite intelligent, and this, combined with their medium size makes them great for people who are just starting out with keeping backyard chickens.

Sultan

It is important to remember that not all chickens out there are meant to be great layers; sometimes, they're just meant to be pretty. The Sultan is one of the most recognizable of the ornamental chicken breeds and you can recognize they by their gleaming white feathers, the cascade of feathers on the top of their heads and their fluffy beard.
They do bear confinement well, and though they cannot tolerate cold, they are known to be very personable. You wouldn't necessarily keep this bird for laying purposes; it produces one small white egg a week. They have beautifully full crests and feathered feet, making them a crowd favorite.

Polish

Not all ornamental chickens are poor layers. Take a look at the Polish chicken, which is definitely an ornamental, but still lays two eggs a week, though they are bantams and therefore quite tiny!

These gorgeous creatures arrived on the scene in White Crested Black, Buff Laced, Silver Laced, Golden, Blue, White and Splash colors.

These lovely chickens have an enormous fluffy crest of feathers and their comb is notably shaped like a V. Though they are quite friendly and sweet, you may find that their reactions are a little strange due to the fact that their vision is limited.

They are smaller in terms of size and tend to weigh in between four and five pounds; this can make them a good target for bullying when it comes to barnyard chickens. They are not meant for winter climes, though they do well in confinement.

Phoenix

When you are after a chicken that is well aware of its own importance and beauty, look no further than the Japanese Phoenix. These birds come from an ancient breed of Japanese chicken and their high maintenance attitude reflects this. They are poor layers, producing something like one egg a week, though these eggs are quite lovely with their cream tint.

Though they are docile with enough handling, they are not necessarily friendly. Their most notable trait is their long, gorgeous tail feathers, which do require some special grooming.

Barred Rock

With these heavy birds, you'll find that you have a winner whether you are looking for a layer or a meat bird. We're not exactly sure what chicken breeds gave us this sturdy and willing bird, but it has produced extremely friendly birds that can lay upwards of four large brown eggs a week and who take on cold weather like champs.

They are not necessarily a great choice unless they have some space to roam, however; they do their best when they are allowed to range freely. You will find that these intelligent birds are great if you have the space.

Silver Laced Wyandottes

Wyandottes are beautiful and dependable egg layers. A favorite among flock owners as they are sweet tempered, hardy keepers and have gorgeous feather patterns. Wyandottes come in Silver Laced, Silver penciled, White, Black, Partridge, Columbian and Blue.

Naked Neck Turkan

Despite the name, this bird is not a cross between a turkey and a chicken, though the naked neck might fool you! The most notable trait of this breed is its red naked neck, which came about due to being bred for easy plucking.

You'll find that this means that this chicken breed is considered dual purpose, in that they are good meat birds as well as being good layers. They are fair layers who come up with two medium light brown eggs a week. They are extremely friendly and docile, and they are very tamable. Despite their naked necks, they do quite well in cold weather, and they are good chickens when it comes to confinement.

There are lots of great chicken breeds out there, so make sure that you take some time and really consider which ones are going to be right for you, and then order up in the early springtime and start Raising Baby Chicks before they are all gone!

More Chicken Breeds

Want to Meet the Popular Bantam Chicken Breeds?

Of all Types of Chickens, the Bantam Chicken Breeds are enormously popular with the city chicken crowd as they are small enough to easily grace a small plot in a city side yard. These kinds of chickens are quite amusing and friendly pets. Meet the Bantam chickens and start in the city!