Keeping chickens can be a lot of fun and quite a bit of work. Some people enjoy watching their chickens in the backyard, while others treat keeping chickens as a serious business. Even a few birds can help put a little extra cash in your pocket. It doesn’t matter what the size of your flock is or your reason for raising them – the breed of chicken you choose couldn’t be more important. There are chickens that were bred for egg production, meat production, as companions, or as show birds. Having success depends on your picking the right types of roosters and hens to get started.

Picking the Right Breed for Your Purpose

If you want to keep chickens for the eggs, all you need are the hens. Most of the eggs sold on the market today are unfertilized. However, you must get a rooster if you want to hatch baby chicks to sell or keep. Crossing breeds between the rooster and hens might produce a better-quality chick in a shorter period of time. Some types of roosters have better fertility rates that help you get more chicks at a faster rate.

These are some of the most popular chicken breeds according to their purpose:

Egg Layers and Dual Purpose

Breed plays a big role in producing healthy chickens for meat and in keeping your laying hens healthy. It’s also important to provide them with a well-balanced feed. You should also feed oyster shell to make eggshells stronger and as grit for better digestion.

Plymouth Rock – These black and white chickens are one of North America’s oldest chicken breeds. They are easily recognizable by the black and white bars that give them their unique look. The white Plymouth Rocks are also popular, but other colors are rare. This breed has a friendly, easy-going temperament that makes them ideal companions.

Plymouth Rock hens lay a high number of eggs even when it’s cold. Production begins to decline at around three years of age, but it isn’t unusual for these hens to lay eggs until they are ten years old. This is another dual-purpose breed that also produces tasty meat.

Gold Star – The most common Gold Star chickens raised today are hybrids between a Rhode Island Red rooster and a Rhode Island White hen. This breed has numerous good characteristics, including its cold hardiness. The breed isn’t aggressive and lays up to 320 large to extra-large brown eggs annually. After the first couple of years, their egg production drops significantly. Gold Star chickens are also dual-purpose, meaning they are bred for meat.

Blue Star – The Blue Star chicken is a cross between Blue Andalusian and Barred Plymouth Rocks. They are blue/grey or splash with irregular splotches of black or blue. People like raising Blue Stars because of their beauty, calm temperament, and laying ability. A hen typically produces up to 240 large brown eggs each year. This breed also does well in hot climates, and it produces a good amount of meat.

If you are raising chickens for eggs, you might choose your breed based on egg color. Our chicken egg color chart lists some of the colors popular egg-laying breeds produce.

Chicken Egg Color Chart

Colored chicken eggs are just as nutritious as those that are white. Chickens that lay brown eggs cost more to feed because they have higher energy requirements. Keep in mind that using different types of roosters won’t change the color of the eggs. It is the genetics of the hen that determines egg color. If you are breeding for new colors, you must hatch the eggs to laying age to see what colors they lay.

Chicken Breeds Kept for Meat

Chickens kept specifically for meat are called broilers. People often cross hens with other types of roosters to make them grow quickly. Broilers require more protein in their diet than laying hens. Some popular breeds used for meat include Cornish Cross, Jersey Giants, and Red Broilers.

Chickens for Show

When keeping chickens for exhibition, you want to choose the best of the breed, regardless of what that breed is. The best chickens meet the standards for their breed and have the characteristics and personality to outshine the rest. Some of the most popular breeds used for show include:

1. Silkie – This fluffy head chicken has silky plumage all over that looks more like fur than feathers. It comes in a wide range of colors, including white, black, grey, and blue.

2. Brahma - This breed has been a backyard favorite for a long time. It has tight feathering with a fluffy appearance that might be dark, light, or buff in color. The Brahma is known for its beauty and ease of handling.

3. Rosecomb Bantam – This compact bird is known for its large, bright red comb and oversized white ears. The long feathers and full tail give it a unique appearance that makes it seem bigger than life.

There are many exotic chicken breeds that you might consider for your exhibition events. However, choosing one that has a friendly personality and minimal flight capabilities will help you keep your chicken grounded.

Shop at Grange Co-op for All Your Poultry Needs

At Grange Co-op, we have everything you need to house and feed your chicken flock. Shop our poultry supplies for chicken coops, feed, and much more. If you need help finding the right supplies for your chickens, contact a Grange Co-op expert with your questions.