Lucas Delgado
There are hundreds of chicken breeds, varying in colour, pattern, and size. The British Poultry Standards recognise 93 pure chicken breeds, classified by size, feathering, origin, and rarity. Chickens are usually raised for their meat and eggs, but some breeds are also kept for ornamental purposes or as exhibition fowls. Purebred chickens will breed true, meaning their offspring will look like their parents, whereas hybrid chickens are the result of different matings between breeds and cannot be reproduced without going back to the original parent stock. Some chickens can be identified by their appearance, such as the Bielefelder, where females have a chipmunk stripe on their backs, and males are lighter in colour with a yellow spot on their heads.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Size | Bantam (miniature) or Standard |
| Weight | Bantam: 5.5 pounds; Standard: 10 pounds |
| Feather colors | Light brown, tan, white, black, etc. |
| Comb type | Fleshy growth at the top of the chicken's head |
| Skin color | |
| Number of toes | |
| Egg color | Blue, brown, beige, cream, etc. |
| Place of origin | England, France, Canada, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
- Check the chicken's size—standard chickens are larger than bantam breeds
- Look for distinct features—some chickens have unique appearances, like blue feathers
- Listen for noise—some breeds are known to be noisier than others
- Observe their feathers—hard feather breeds are tighter, soft feather breeds are fluffier
- Check their egg-laying habits—prolific egg-layers rarely go broody
Check the chicken's size—standard chickens are larger than bantam breeds
One of the first things you can do to identify a chicken breed is to check its size. There are two general sizes of chickens: bantam and standard. Bantam chickens are miniature chickens, about a quarter of the size of standard chickens. They also produce eggs that are a quarter to half the size of regular chicken eggs.
Standard chickens have larger chicks than bantam chicken breeds. For example, a black chick is likely a bantam, whereas a larger, uncooperative white chick is probably a standard size.
One of the largest chicken breeds is the Brahma, which is considered a standard-sized chicken. Brahmas have distinctive colouring, with white bodies, breasts, and tails, and black and white heads. They also have feathered feet, which is a feature shared by chicks such as Cochins and Silkies.
Silkies are bantam-sized chickens with black skin, black feet, and extra toes. They are known for their fine, fur-like feathers, which cover their legs, giving them a distinctive appearance. They are one of the few bantam breeds, with fully-grown Silkies being about a quarter of the size of a standard chicken, such as a Brahma.
Thus, checking the size of a chicken can provide a good initial indication of its breed, with standard chickens being larger than bantam breeds.
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Look for distinct features—some chickens have unique appearances, like blue feathers
Chickens have distinct physical features that can help identify their breed. One of the most noticeable characteristics is their plumage or feather colours. For example, the Ayam Cemani breed has black plumage, skin, muscles, bones, and even organs due to a gene that causes hyperpigmentation. Light brown or tan chickens might be Buff Orpingtons, which are bred for meat and good egg production. Brahmas have white bodies, breasts, and tails but with black and white heads. Some chickens also have leg feathers, like the Silkie breed.
Another feature to look out for is the size of the chicken. Chickens typically come in two sizes: bantam and standard. Bantam chickens are miniature, about one-quarter to one-fifth the size of standard chickens, and their eggs are correspondingly smaller. Some breeds, like Cochins, are very large, weighing up to 10 pounds.
The comb, or fleshy growth at the top of a chicken's head, can also vary between breeds. For instance, the Cream Legbar, a British breed developed in the 1930s, has autosexing traits, meaning there are distinct differences between males and females that are visible from the day they hatch.
Some chickens have unique features like blue feathers, like the crossbreed of a Buff Orpington X with an unknown breed. Others have no tail feathers, like the rare Araucana breed, which also has ear tufts.
Ornamental breeds, often considered bantams, are prized for their petite size, vibrant plumage, and unique physical traits. They are also known for their friendly personalities, making them popular additions to backyard flocks.
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Listen for noise—some breeds are known to be noisier than others
Chickens can be noisy, and some breeds are known to be noisier than others. If you're trying to identify your chicken, listen out for any noise they make.
Some chicken breeds are known for being particularly vocal. For example, the Ameraucana breed is known for being loud, with some owners reporting that their Ameraucanas sing loudly after laying an egg. The Delaware breed is also known for being loud, with one owner reporting that their Delaware chicken squawks for 30 minutes before laying an egg. Another owner reported that their Salmon Faverolle hen is their loudest chicken, with a constant stream of noise.
On the other hand, some breeds are known for being quieter. The Buff Orpington breed is often described as quiet, with one owner reporting that their Buff Orpington hen only makes noise for two reasons: the egg song and the alarm call. The Phoenix breed is also considered quiet, with one owner describing their Phoenix hen as "the quietest of the girls." The Wyandotte breed is also reportedly quiet, with one owner saying that their Wyandotte chicken "barely makes noises."
It's worth noting that individual chickens within the same breed can vary in terms of noise level. For example, while some owners report having loud Ameraucanas, others say that their Ameraucanas are quiet. Similarly, while some owners describe their Buff Orpingtons as quiet, others say that theirs are not always quiet.
Additionally, factors other than breed can influence how noisy a chicken is. For instance, higher-ranking chickens tend to be bossier and louder, and the matriarch hen can set the tone for the entire flock. Chickens may also be noisier when they are excited, startled, or bullied.
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Observe their feathers—hard feather breeds are tighter, soft feather breeds are fluffier
To identify a chicken breed, it is important to observe the characteristics of the bird, including the colour and type of feathers. Feathers can be hard or soft, and this can help identify the breed of chicken. Hard feather breeds, such as gamefowl, have feathers that are held close to the body. Their feathers are tough, narrow, and short, with tight webs. They don't have much fluff, or downy parts near the skin. On the other hand, soft feather breeds, like Cochins, have feathers that are more like downy fluff, with loose webs.
Brahmas are another breed with moderately long, broad feathers that are held close to the body. Brahmas have white bodies and breasts, with black and white heads and tails. Another breed with distinct feathers is the Silkie, which has leg feathers and unique hair-like feathers that require special care. Their feathers lack barbicels, or little hooks, that connect feathers in a web. Silkies are not resistant to water like other chickens and can get soaked, chilled, and even die.
Chicken feathers can also be an indication of the bird's health and condition. Healthy birds will have strong feathers, while infestations of mites and lice will affect the feathers. Illness may also impact feather condition, as worms can cause nutritional deficiencies that result in ragged, broken feathers.
In addition to observing the type and condition of feathers, other characteristics such as size, colour, and egg colour can help identify chicken breeds. Chickens typically come in two sizes: bantam (miniature) or standard. Bantam chickens, such as Japanese Bantams, lay smaller eggs in pale beige to cream colours. Standard chickens, like Brahmas, are larger and can have different colour variations. For example, Buff Orpingtons from England have light brown or tan feathers and are bred for meat and good egg production.
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Check their egg-laying habits—prolific egg-layers rarely go broody
One way to figure out what type of chicken you have is by checking their egg-laying habits. Some chickens are prolific egg-layers and rarely go broody. For example, Easter Egger hens almost never go broody and are known for laying between 200 and 280 eggs per year. They typically start laying eggs around 5 to 6 months of age, and their eggs can be blue, green, or pink.
Leghorn hens are also high on the list of prolific egg-layers, producing between 280 and 320 eggs per year. In fact, the record for the highest number of eggs laid in a year by a single hen is held by a White Leghorn, which laid 371 eggs in 365 days in 1979. These hens rarely go broody and provide large white eggs year-round.
Hybrid breeds, which are chickens crossed with several different breeds to enhance specific traits, are also known for their prolific egg-laying abilities. Isa Browns, for instance, can lay up to 350 eggs per year.
Another breed to consider is the Australorp, which lays around 250 eggs per year on average, although one Australorp hen was documented to have laid 364 eggs in 365 days.
Plymouth Rocks are large chickens that lay up to 280 large eggs per year. They have a strong drive to go broody, so regular egg collection is necessary. On the other hand, Sussex hens are known for their egg-laying ability and their low tendency to go broody. They can lay up to 260 eggs per year, with the speckled variety being particularly aesthetically pleasing.
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Frequently asked questions
Purebred chickens, also called straightbreds in the U.S., will breed true, meaning their offspring will look like their parents. Autosexing is a characteristic of some purebred chickens, where male and female chicks can be differentiated by appearance immediately upon hatching. Examples of autosexing breeds include the Bielefelder and Cream Legbar.
Hybrid chickens are the result of different matings between breeds or specialized strains within a breed. They do not reliably pass on their features to their offspring. Some common hybrid strains include Black Sex Link (also called Black Stars or Black Rock in the UK) and Easter Egger.
Chicken breeds are classified by size, feathering, origin, and rarity. Some other characteristics used to distinguish chicken breeds include their primary use (egg-laying or meat production), noise level, and ability to fly.
