Chicken breeds for beginners
Table of contents
Before buying chickens
Which breed for beginners?
Laying breeds for beginners
Bielefelder Kennhühner
Araucanas
Barnevelder
Meat breeds for beginners
Cochin's
Orpingtons
Brahma's
Dual-purpose chickens for beginners
Ramelsloher
Sussex
Welsumer
hybrid
Can I keep chickens of different breeds together?
Or maybe a dwarf breed?
If you're a beginner looking to buy chickens for the first time, you should first get a good overview of the different breeds. If you carefully consider your expectations, you'll have a lot of fun keeping chickens later on.
With nearly 200 breeds listed, the selection can seem overwhelming at first. But with a little research, you can quickly narrow down the options and find the chicken breed that's right for you. We present a selection of breeds that are ideal for beginners.
Before buying chickens
First of all, you should be clear about why you want to get chickens. Is it to provide yourself and your loved ones with plenty of fresh eggs? Or do you want to keep them for meat?
Another consideration when buying chickens is your experience. Some chicken breeds are easier to care for than others and are therefore better suited for beginners. They are easier to keep than, for example, fighting chicken breeds, which require more expertise and should be purchased by owners who are already well-versed in chicken care.
Finally, you also need to consider what criteria your property meets. How much space do your chickens have available in the coop and in the run? Perhaps the smaller bantam breeds are a good option for you.
Which breed for beginners?
Once you've defined your needs and the conditions you can meet, you can choose from a huge number of breeds. In every category of chicken, whether laying, meat, or dual-purpose, there are some that are better suited for beginners than others.
The latter, also known as dual-purpose breeds, can be described as a middle ground between laying and meat chickens and are therefore well suited for beginners.
Ideal for new chicken owners are generally breeds with a balanced and calm temperament. They should not be particularly susceptible to disease and should also be able to tolerate temperature fluctuations well.
Tip: Don't commit to a specific breed right away and keep an open mind. It's generally better to contact a breeder in your local area rather than driving across the country for a specific breed. This way, you'll save the chickens the stress of a long transport.
Hybrids can also be a good choice for beginners. These mixtures of various breeds, intended for industrial farming, lay up to 320 eggs per year and are extremely robust. However, if you want to keep or even breed chickens of a specific breed, hybrids are not the right choice.
Laying breeds for beginners
Bielefelder Kennhühner:
This breed, ideal for beginners, is a relatively new breed. It was only added to the index of the Association of German Purebred Poultry Breeders in 1980. Hens can lay up to 230 brown-shelled eggs per year. They tolerate various weather conditions well and are calm and affectionate. They also lay a few eggs in winter.
Araucanas:
Araucana hens lay up to 180 eggs a year – and they're turquoise! This makes them a special breed that many beginners love. Chickens of this breed love to roam around in their run, foraging for food. A fence at least 1.5 meters high is recommended. They are very peaceful and hardy.
Barnevelder:
This Dutch breed is also well-suited for beginners because of its trusting and calm nature. Because Barnevelders don't like to fly, they require plenty of space but no high fence. Their eggs are dark brown. Hens also lay eggs in winter, although fewer than in summer; up to 180 per year are possible.
Meat breeds for beginners
Cochin:
This Asian breed has thick, soft feathers. This makes cold weather no problem for Cochins. Because they are very lazy, they don't need a lot of space or a high fence – but the ground should be well-maintained and dry. Hens weigh up to 4.5 kg, and roosters up to 5.5 kg. Incidentally, hens can lay up to 120 eggs per year.
Orpingtons:
Orpingtons, originating in England, come in approximately 12 color varieties. Roosters reach a maximum weight of 4.5 kg, hens 3.5 kg. These chickens gain body mass quickly and should not be overfed. Even with normal feeding, they are very lazy and do not require much space in the coop or run. They are very robust and lay 180 eggs annually, even through the winter.
Brahma's:
Unlike many meat breeds, Brahma chickens are very lively and active. They run fast in their outdoor enclosures, searching for food. Because of their size, they need a lot of it. Roosters can weigh up to 5 kg, and hens can reach 4.5 kg. They tolerate low temperatures well and are friendly.
Dual-purpose chickens for beginners
Ramelsloher:
Ramelsloher chickens originate from northern Germany. This breed has been popular since the 1870s. Hens lay eggs even in winter, producing up to 170 annually. Roosters reach a body weight of up to 3 kg, and hens up to 2.5 kg. They can also tolerate low temperatures well. If there is plenty of outdoor space, they will happily forage for their own food.
Sussex:
As the name suggests, this breed originates from southern England. Since the 19th century, it has been valued as a dual-purpose breed. With roosters weighing up to 4 kg and hens weighing up to 3 kg, they are well-maintained for slaughter—and they are flightless, eliminating the need for high fencing. Hens lay a maximum of 180 eggs per year. Sussex hens are very calm and affectionate.
Welsumer:
Chickens of this reddish to orange-feathered Dutch breed are very robust and independent. Even cold weather doesn't bother them, so the coop can be very simple. The outdoor area, however, should be spacious so that the active Welsumer can find their own food. Welsumer hens lay up to 160 eggs a year and reach a maximum weight of 2.5 kg. Roosters weigh over 3 kg.
Other dual-purpose chicken breeds for beginners:
- Wyandottes and Amrocks from North America with high laying performance
- Old Styrians, who lay up to 180 eggs with ivory-white shells annually
- The winter layers Sundheimer with a laying performance of 220 eggs per year
- Vorwerk, a hardy and friendly breed from Germany
hybrid
Hybrids can also be a good choice for beginners. These mixtures of various breeds, intended for industrial farming, lay up to 320 eggs per year and are extremely robust. However, if you want to keep or even breed chickens of a specific breed, hybrids are not the right choice.Can I keep chickens of different breeds together?
Or maybe a dwarf breed?
However, if you're looking for lots of large eggs or a lot of meat, the 90 or so listed dwarf breeds are obviously not the right choice. As ornamental chickens, however, they're a great alternative—especially for newbies to chicken keeping.