The What and Why of Chicken Breeds

Which Chicken Breeds Should I Start With and Why?

Categories: How to Raise Chickens

Tags: small animals, raising chickens, chickens

Posted: March 17, 2023

Breeds and Broods

In this blog, we will explore a few breeds of chickens that are commonly raised by homesteaders and farmers alike. The following covers these breeds in some detail so you’ll know how to start your flock each season. As a side note, laying hens are easiest to start with, versus roosters who have varying degrees of aggressiveness, depending on their breed.

Plymouth Rock

The Plymouth Rock chicken is one of America’s oldest established heritage breeds. They were first exhibited as a breed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1849. The breed was accepted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Excellence in 1874. The breed became so popular that no breed was ever kept by breeders as extensively until World War ll. The breed was also one of the foundation breeds for the broiler industry in the 1920’s.

These chickens are amongst the easiest chicken breeds to raise for beginners and seasoned farmers. They’re not only good egg-layers, they’re also great meat chickens. When breeds like this are versatile (being good layers and good meat chickens in tandem), they’re always more popular, which is why this particular breed has the notoriety it does amongst farmers, homesteaders, and even hobbyists. These dual-purpose birds grow large, with laying hens growing to approximately 7.5 pounds at their largest. Plymouth Rock roosters can grow up to 10 pounds.

Hens will lay around 200-250 large brown eggs per year. Sometimes more, depending on individual conditions. Their laying is good and strong for the first few years they’re kept, but then they slowly decline in production. However, hens may continue to lay into their 10th year. The hens are usually good sitters and mothers to their young. Chicks feather quickly and are mature in 8-12 weeks, which plays into them being good broiler birds. They have a calm temperament and both males and females are sweet and docile for the most part. They are also cold-hardy since they feather early, and they can tolerate confinement as long as they also have room to roam, as they prefer to free-range.

Learn more about what to feed your chicks and chickens.

Rhode Island Red

Like the name implies, the Rhode Island Red chicken originated in Rhode Island (and Massachusetts) in the 1880’s and 1890’s. It is not only America’s best known breed, it is perhaps the world’s best known fowl. Its distinctive color and good egg production stats both helped it to spread rapidly and become popular. The single-combed variety was accepted into the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1904. The rose-combed variety was accepted into the Association in 1905.

Rhode Island Reds are a great choice for small flock owners. Since the hens usually lay somewhere between 200-300 extra large brown eggs per year, you’ll only need a few of them to produce plenty of eggs for a small family to use. Also, they can start laying as early as 6 months of age. They are also dual-purpose and make a great table bird. They’re one of the best egg-layers of all the dual-purpose breeds out there.

The hens weigh a little over 6 pounds and the roosters grow to over 8 pounds. They are hardy birds, known for their ability to handle marginal conditions while still producing eggs. Some roosters can be aggressive at times, so be wary if including them in your coop. Most hens are generally peaceful, however can become broody, except within the strains selected specifically for heavy egg production.

Shop Egg Production.

Buff Orpington

Buff Orpington chickens are the result of crossbreeding (as many chicken breeds are) by a British man named William Cook in the late 1800s. Cook lived in the town of Orpington, England, which is where we get the name of this famous egg-layer and meat bird we know today. He introduced his chickens in 1886 and the market went wild for them. As the chicks develop, their feathers turn a beautiful yellow color with white skin. These birds became famous in England within 10 years and were soon being exported to other countries, like the United States. Orpington chickens were recognized by the American Poultry Association as a standardbred in 4 varieties: Buff, 1902; Black, 1905; White, 1905; and Blue, 1923.

Farmers in the midwest favored the Buff Orpington for its superior table qualities, and its unique color, which was different from most other general purpose breeds. The qualities that won over farmers and homesteaders were their fast rate of growth, excellent egg production (200-280 large to extra large eggs per year), and fantastic table readiness. They also make great broiler chickens.

They weigh 2-2.5 pounds at about 8-10 weeks of age, they roast well at 5 months, and even as old chickens they are a great meal for the table. Roosters typically weigh 10 pounds and females weigh 8 pounds. They are not aggressive either, which makes for great peace of mind to any farmer, family, or homesteader.

Keep your chicken fed and watered.

Sex Link

Sex-linked chickens are a type of chicken that have been hybridized. The name “Sex Link” comes from the fact that chicks hatched from crossbreeding are certain colors that are characteristic and indicative of their individual sex. Therefore, their color is “linked” to their sex. Similar to how female parakeets (budgies) have pink noses and males have blue ones. Many chicken breeds are crossbred, and sex-linked chickens make for good dual-purpose birds, but because they’re so far hybridized, they cannot reproduce. Similar to how mules cannot reproduce because they’re a crossbreed between a horse and a donkey.

Sex Links are valued for their dual-purpose nature, balancing the qualities of good egg-laying (200-280 brown eggs per year), and meaty table-readiness. Sex Links have a good temperament, exhibiting a calm and friendly nature. They are also hardy in both hot and cold temperatures. Because of their hybridization, they are very productive birds for farmers and anyone who has an interest in raising chickens.

The most common average weight of a Sex Link hen is 6-7 pounds, while roosters weigh about 8-9 pounds. Since this hybrid has a good temperament, even the males are less aggressive than other chickens of similar sizes.

All-in-all, each chicken breed listed above (whether purebred or hybrid), has its own great qualities. It all depends on what you want to get out of your birds and what your individual coop set up is like, and thereby, what breeds work best for you all-around.

Want to learn more about which breed is best for you?