10 Chicken Breeds for Your Farm

Nov 04, 2024

Here's a look at their unique qualities and characteristics

Title: Editorial Content Director, Successful Farming. Background Started as a staff editor at Living the Country Life magazine, then joined Successful Farming as multimedia producer. Managed content creation across several categories at Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, including automotive, non-profit and financial services before re-joining Successful Farming as editor of FFA New Horizons magazine. Currently serve as editorial content director of audio, video and custom client content at Successful Farming.

Looking for colorful eggs? Araucana is the breed for you. Searching for a tried and true bird? Rhode Island Red is probably your best bet. Whatever you're looking for in a chicken, one of these 10 timeless breeds will suit your farm. Here's a look at their unique qualities and characteristics.

The Araucana trait of laying blue or greenish eggs has persisted, and now breeders are attempting to standardize the physical makeup of the population and gain them recognition as a breed. Some of the Araucanas were rumpless and possessed some interesting ear tufts. In the future, these fowls will likely be developed into an interesting breed with both economic and ornamental attributes.

Brahmas thrive best on dry, well-drained soils and moist, cool climates. The feathering of their shanks and toes is a negative where the ground is damp and muddy. Having calm and docile personalities, they withstand confinement extremely well. It was popularly known as the chicken breed least susceptible to cold and exposure.

Cochin chickens are great eaters and indiscriminate in their preferences. This, combined with their unmatched profuseness of feathering, make them an ideal choice for colder climates and gives them the ability to eat enough to produce both animal heat and eggs during the heart of winter. Cochins are noted for extremely gentle dispositions.

Leghorns are active chickens. They are always willing to work, hunt, and scratch, giving no prejudice to flower beds or dunghill. If there is scratching to be done, Leghorns are the chickens for the job. On range they are splendid foragers and small eaters. The breed is prolific, highly fertile, and hardy. Leghorn chickens lay very large numbers of white eggs.

Chickens of this breed possess a deep and broad body, grow feathers very rapidly, are prone to go broody, and make good mothers. Their color is a medium to light red and often fades in the sunshine. The comb is single and medium to large in size; in the females it often lops over a bit. These medium-sized meat chickens have fair egg laying ability and are competitive and aggressive.

Old English Games are very hardy, extremely active, and very noisy. The mature cocks should be dubbed with a characteristic cut. This is in keeping with their heritage. Old English hens usually show broodiness but are so small and aggressive that they are not always the best choice as mothers. These chickens are capable of considerable flight and may revert to a feral state in some areas.

Orpingtons are heavily but loosely feathered. Their feathering allows them to endure cold temperatures better than some other breeds. They exist only in solid colors, are at home on free range or in relatively confined situations, and are docile. Hens exhibit broodiness and generally make good mothers. Chicks are not very aggressive and are often the underdogs when several breeds are brooded together.

The Rhode Island Red is perhaps the world's best-known fowl. It is the most successful dual-purpose bird and remains an excellent farm chicken. The Rhode Island Red is known for its hardiness and its ability to handle marginal conditions while still producing eggs. Most hens are peaceful and can become broody except within the strains that have been heavily selected for egg production.

The Rhode Island White is a moderately-sized, completely white bird. These chickens have long, broad, and deep bodies, which are carried horizontally, giving them an oblong and brick-like appearance overall. Their breasts are deep, full, and well rounded. Their heads are fairly deep and are inclined to be flat on top, rather than round.

Wyandottes are a good, medium-weight fowl for small family flocks kept under rugged conditions. Their attractive "curvy" shape, generally good disposition, and many attractive color patterns make them a good choice for fanciers as well as farmers. Common faults include narrow backs, undersized individuals, and relatively poor hatches.