Emily Carter
Chicken breeds have been distinguished for thousands of years, with factors such as geographical isolation and selection for desired characteristics creating regional types with distinct physical and behavioral traits. Today, there are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence, with new breeds being developed as recently as the 1970s. In the US, you'll find a variety of chicken breeds, from generalist breeds used in barnyards to purebred chickens, and hybrids. The most popular breeds for backyard coops include Silkie, Brahma, and Leghorn, while the rare Malay chicken, an ancient landrace breed, can reach heights of up to 30 inches.
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What You'll Learn
- Chicken breeds for egg production: Leghorns, Minorcars, Rhode Island Reds, Light Sussex, White Wyandottes
- Chicken breeds for meat: Indian Game, White Rock, Cornish, New Hampshire Reds
- Chicken breeds for ornamental purposes: Polish, Old English Game
- Dual-purpose breeds: Bielefelder, generalist breeds, New Hampshire Reds
- Crossbreeds: Black Sex Link, Cream Legbar
Chicken breeds for egg production: Leghorns, Minorcars, Rhode Island Reds, Light Sussex, White Wyandottes
There are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence, and they can be roughly categorized by their primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes. Some breeds are considered dual-purpose, being good for both meat and egg production.
Leghorns
Leghorns are America's record-breaking egg-layers, with hens producing 280-320 eggs per year. They are incredibly popular due to their productivity and are the breed of choice for commercial egg production. Leghorns are descended from Tuscany in Italy and are known for their intelligence, extroversion, and loud voices.
Minorcas
Minorca chickens are the largest in the Mediterranean class and are good layers of very large white eggs, producing 140-220 eggs per year. The breed's origin is unknown, but it is named after the Island of Minorca off the coast of Spain, where they were once found in large numbers. They may have originated in Africa and been taken to Spain by the Moors, or they may have been brought from Italy to Spain by the Romans. Minorcas were imported to America in 1884.
Rhode Island Reds
Rhode Island Reds are a good choice for small flock owners. They are relatively hardy and can handle poor housing conditions and marginal diets while still producing eggs. They are one of the dual-purpose breeds where exhibition qualities and production ability are successfully combined. This breed originated in the New England states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and was recognized by the APA in 1904.
Light Sussex
Light Sussex is a large breed that lays pale pinkish eggs. They are a relatively new breed in the United States, having been brought from England in 2007. They are known for their friendly, docile, and calm nature and are good foragers.
White Wyandottes
Wyandotte chickens are dual-purpose, being exceptional egg layers and also prized for their meat. They are highly adaptable to different climates and visually appealing, adding diversity to any flock. Wyandotte hens can start laying eggs at about four to six months old, producing around three to four eggs per week, ranging in color from cream to brown. During spring and fall, they may lay up to one egg per day.
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Chicken breeds for meat: Indian Game, White Rock, Cornish, New Hampshire Reds
There are hundreds of chicken breeds, and they are roughly divided by primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes. Some are considered dual-purpose. Here are some chicken breeds commonly used for meat:
Indian Game
Indian Game chickens, also known as Cornish Game, originate from Cornwall, England. They are rather large and stocky and are not well-known for their egg-producing abilities, but they are decent table birds. They are generally aggressive but are relatively easy to handle. Indian Game chickens are classified into Dark Indian (base colour black with green and bay or chestnut), Jubilee Indian (base colour chestnut-brown with white), and Double Laced Blue Indian (dark blue with shades of blue and brown).
White Rock
White Rocks are a heritage breed known for outstanding egg production throughout the year, especially during the cold winter months. They lay brown eggs of fine quality and size. The rapid growth, white, easy-to-dress feathers, and golden yellow skin of the cockerels make them desirable for meat. They are compact and well-fleshed at almost any age. The males reach butcher weight by 20 weeks of age.
Cornish
The Cornish chicken breed is often associated with the Cornish game hen, a USDA-approved name for a variety of broiler chicken produced from a cross between the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock breeds. The Cornish game hen is known for its tender meat, which absorbs marinades and seasonings readily.
New Hampshire Reds
The New Hampshire is an American Heritage dual-purpose chicken breed known for its rapid growth, fast feathering, early maturity, and production of large brown eggs. They are medium chestnut red in colour with a single comb and yellow legs. New Hampshires are often raised as a medium-sized meat bird and are good mothers to their young chicks, making them a good choice for those wanting a sustainable, Heritage flock.
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Chicken breeds for ornamental purposes: Polish, Old English Game
The Polish chicken breed was initially developed for ornamental purposes due to its distinct appearance and unique crest of feathers on top of its head. The breed's exact origins are unknown, but it is believed to have originated in Eastern Europe, possibly in Poland or the Netherlands, and was formerly kept for its eggs in France. Polish chickens are not particularly hardy in cold weather due to their ornamental crest of feathers and smaller body size. They are generally gentle and docile birds, often quite tame, and can be friendly with their keepers.
The Old English Game chicken breed, on the other hand, descends from ancient fighting cocks and has changed little in shape or appearance over the last millennium. They were once used for cock-fighting, and today, most Old English Game chickens are raised by experienced breeders for exhibition. The breed comes in a range of colours, including Black, Dun, White, Spangled, Brown Red, Golden Duckwing, Brassy Back, and Black Breasted Red. Some Old English Game colours are not found in any other breed. They are known for their large personalities and sweet dispositions towards humans.
While Polish chickens are not known for high egg production rates, Old English Game hens lay around 100-160 small to medium-sized, white to tinted eggs per year. Old English Game chickens are smaller, narrower, and softer-feathered in the United States than in Britain.
Both the Polish and Old English Game chicken breeds have unique characteristics that make them stand out from other breeds. Polish chickens are known for their regal crest of feathers, while Old English Game chickens have a long history of cock-fighting and are now raised for their exotic appearance.
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Dual-purpose breeds: Bielefelder, generalist breeds, New Hampshire Reds
Chicken breeds are roughly divided by primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes, and some are considered dual-purpose. Dual-purpose breeds are adaptable utility birds that are good at producing both meat and eggs. One such breed is Bielefelder, a rare German breed developed in the 1970s by Gerd Roth. It is a cross between Amrocks (Barred Rocks), Malines, Rhode Island Reds, and New Hampshire chickens.
Bielefelder chickens are prized for their dual-purpose qualities and auto-sexing ability, where males and females can be easily distinguished at birth. They are prolific layers of large to extra-large eggs, providing approximately 200-280 eggs per year. They are also known for their calm, friendly, and confident temperament, making them great for families with children. Additionally, they integrate well with other chickens, reducing the chance of pecking order disputes.
Another dual-purpose breed is the New Hampshire Reds, which originated in the state of New Hampshire, USA. They are a medium chestnut red color with a single comb and yellow legs. These birds are hardy, but their combs need protection in extreme cold temperatures. New Hampshires are often raised for meat and eggs, known for their deep, broad bodies, and are good mothers to their young chicks.
Generalist breeds used in barnyards worldwide are also considered dual-purpose. While some may be slightly better for either meat or egg production, they are adaptable and useful for both purposes.
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Crossbreeds: Black Sex Link, Cream Legbar
Crossbreeds are a type of chicken created by mating two different purebred chickens. Two examples of crossbreeds are the Black Sex Link and the Cream Legbar.
Black Sex Link
The Black Sex Link is a hybrid breed created by crossbreeding the Rhode Island Red and the Barred Rock, two famous and well-regarded breeds with long histories in the United States. The Rhode Island Red is known for its deep red and mahogany colours, and the Barred Rock is treasured for its barred plumage, reliability, and docile nature. The resulting Black Sex Link inherits characteristics from both parents, with black, regal plumage accented by brown, red, and blue colours. Black Sex Links are known for their friendly and active demeanour, intelligence, and foraging abilities. They are also healthy and hardy, with strong egg-laying capabilities and fine-tasting meat, making them attractive for both hatcheries and backyard coops.
Cream Legbar
The Cream Legbar is a rare British breed developed in the early 20th century by Reginald Crundall Punnett and Michael Pease at Cambridge University. They created this breed by crossbreeding the Gold Legbar with White Leghorn and cream-coloured Araucanas, which introduced the crest and the gene for blue eggs. Cream Legbars are known for their distinctive plumage, with a blend of cream hues and subtle black barring, and a small crest or "pom-pom" of feathers on their heads. They are excellent layers, producing around 280 medium-sized blue eggs per year, and are known for their friendly, calm, and human-friendly nature. They thrive in both cold and hot climates and are active, curious, and great foragers. Cream Legbars are also one of the top auto-sexing breeds, meaning their gender can be determined at hatching based on chick down colour and pattern.
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Frequently asked questions
There are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence, though it is unclear how many of these are present in the US.
Some common breeds of chicken in the US include Rhode Island Reds, Light Sussex, White Wyandottes, and White Leghorns.
Some chickens are bred for ornamental purposes, such as the Polish chicken, which is known for its crest of feathers that almost covers its entire head.
Dual-purpose breeds are good at producing both meat and eggs. An example of a dual-purpose breed is the New Hampshire Red, which is known for its early maturity and robust nature.
One unique breed of chicken is the Malay chicken, which is an ancient landrace breed that is supposed to have descended from the great Malay fowls of India. These birds are extremely tall, reaching heights of up to 30 inches.
