If you want to raise chickens, this guide will help you choose the best for beginners.
These chickens are easy to raise and require less effort. However, you must follow the same SOPs to care for these easy chickens.
Below you will find the best egg-laying, meat, and ornamental chicken breeds.
What Type of Chicken Breed Do You Need?
There are several types of chicken breeds, each with pros and cons. Broilers are bred specifically for their meat, while egg layers will produce eggs year-round.
Choose dual-purpose chicken breeds to provide a good balance of meat and eggs.
Chicken Characteristics Beginners Search For
There are several characteristics each chicken breed possesses that make them ideal for beginners. For example, broiler chickens produce more meat than eggs.
Some breeds are more docile than others, and others have good personalities. You need to find out which characteristics you value the most.
Below are some of the characteristics that you should be looking for in a chicken breed.
Calmness
This characteristic is one of the most important ones when it comes to raising chickens for beginners. Calm chicken breeds are easy-going and friendly.
They don’t tend to aggress people. If you’re raising chickens for the first time, getting a calm breed is a good idea because you won’t have problems with them.
Friendly
Friendly, gentle, and calm chicken breeds are the best for beginners. So, if you want to learn to raise chickens, start with peaceful breeds. Otherwise, you may end up frustrated.
Friendly breeds are likely to follow you and lay their eggs for you. They come when you call. Such chicken breeds are ideal for beginners as they have a good temperament and are easy to care for.
Beautiful
Beautiful breeds have beautiful feathers and egg colors. If you want to start with chickens, you must get beautiful breeds. They are also good to start with as they lay eggs and are friendly.
Egg-laying ability
Egg-laying ability plays a big role in determining what chicken breed you should get. Since egg-laying breeds have many eggs and give you more eggs than meat, they’re ideal for beginners.
Large size
Large breeds of chicken are ideal for beginners as they are easy to care for. They are also friendly and lay lots of eggs. The large breeds don’t go far; they live near coops and are good foragers.
They’re also very good in terms of meat production. Chicken breeds that are large in size are safe, too. They are also not prone to predator attacks.
Quiet or Low Noise
This characteristic is important for beginners because noisy breeds of chickens frighten them. For starting out, having a quiet breed of chicken is ideal.
Quiet chicken breeds don’t make noise and are very docile. They are not aggressive, either. So, for beginners, getting a quiet breed of chicken is important.
Docile temperament
If you’re a beginner, getting a docile chicken breed is important. The best of them are friendly and calm. They don’t make any noise.
They walk around and lay eggs. Hence, they’re a good choice for beginners raising chickens for the first time.
Best Egg-Laying Chickens for Beginners
1. Isa Brown chickens
This is a breed that originated in France and has been used for a long time all over the world. Isa Brown chicken is known for its excellent egg production. Hens weigh up to 5 lbs., and roosters 6 lbs.
These are docile and friendly. They don’t make any noise. Isa Brown hens lay brown eggs and are relatively calm.
So, if you’re looking for a beginner-friendly chicken breed, this is the right one. They can lay 6 eggs per week. These chicks of this breed cost between $3-4.
2. Australorp Chickens
These are Australian chickens that have been bred for a long time. Australorps are known for their large size and egg-laying ability. They lay brown eggs that are dense.
The average weight of rooster birds is 10 lbs., and hens 6 lbs. Their temperament is good, and they are calm. You can raise Australorp chickens on a small or large scale.
They lay up to 6 weekly eggs, translating to 260-300 eggs yearly. This breed costs $3 per chick. So, this chicken is also a good choice for beginners looking for a chicken breed.
3. Easter Eggers
Easter Eggers are dual-purpose chickens with good egg production. These chickens are calm and docile, hence ideal for beginners.
They have small bodies and lay blue eggs. Easter Eggers can lay around 4 eggs per week, translating to 260-280 eggs annually.
These chickens weigh around 4 lbs. for hens and 5 lbs. for roosters. They’re very friendly and make great pets. The cost of the chicks is around $2.50.
4. Sussex Chicken
These are dual-purpose breeds that originated in the UK. Sussex chickens are docile and easy to keep. They have small bodies and lay cream to light-brown eggs.
Sussex hens produce approximately 250 eggs during their first year of laying. This is a large breed, and it weighs around 6-7 lbs for hens and 8 lbs for roosters.
They’re good as pets, too, meaning you can keep them together with children. The cost of Sussex baby chicks is around $2.50 per pound. Full-grown pullets cost about $50 each.
5. Barnevelder Chicken
These are Dutch gentle and docile breeds of chicken. Barnevelder chickens are good layers that lay around 250 dark brown eggs that are large in size. They weigh around 6.5 -8.5 lbs for hens and 10-14 lbs for roosters.
They aren’t hostile, either. Barnevelder chickens are friendly and easy to keep. Barnevelder chickens have a friendly nature and are good for beginners. They’re good to raise with children and can be kept in portable chicken coops.
Barnevelder chickens make little noise and are very suitable for beginning farmers. A chick goes for around $4, while a grown-up goes for $75.
6. Maran Chickens
These are French chicken breeds. Marans are docile and lay large, deep brown eggs. They lay an average of 160–210 eggs per year. The average weight of the chickens is 5.5 lbs for hens and 8.5 lbs for roosters.
Their temperament is good, and they make very little noise. Marans are suitable for beginners as they’re very friendly and always remain calm. A baby chick can cost you around $5.5.
Best Meat Chickens for Beginners
7. Jersey Giants
These are also known as Black Jersey Giants. Jersey Giants are large chicken breeds that are easy to handle. The Jersey Giants have a comical personality and are friendly.
The Jersey Giants are also very calm, meaning you can handle them with kids. Their large size makes them suitable for urban agriculture.
They are mainly kept for meat production. They weigh 10–11 lbs for hens and 13–15 lbs for roosters.
These chickens lay around 250 brown eggs per year. Jersey Giants can be kept in large pens. A chick’s cost is about $3.5 to $4.5.
8. Bresse
These are bred in France as dual-purpose chickens. Bresse chickens are docile and friendly.
They make very little noise, so Bresse chicken is suitable for beginners looking to raise chickens for the first time. Bresse chickens weigh 5–6 lbs for hens and 7-8 lbs for roosters.
They are known for their tasty meat. You can keep them together with the children. They lay an average of 250 eggs per year, which are cream in color. A day-old chick of this breed is about $2.4.
9. Orpingtons
These are dual-purpose breeds of chicken. Orpingtons are known for their large size and egg-laying ability. They lay large brown eggs that are dense.
Orpingtons are also good in terms of meat production. Chickens that are large in size such that the roosters weigh around 10-14 lbs and hens 7.5-10 lbs.
Orpington chickens are docile, friendly, and make very little noise. Orpington hens lay around 250 eggs per year. A day-old chick is about $3.5.
10. Delaware
These are heavy egg-laying chickens that can lay up to 200 eggs yearly. Delaware is docile and friendly.
These make very little noise, so they’re best for beginners looking to raise chickens for the first time.
Delaware is also good in terms of meat production. They lay large brown eggs that produce a lot of meat.
The males of this breed weigh around 8.5 lbs, with females about 6.5 lbs. The cost of the Delaware chicks is around $4.
11. Silkie
These are small chicken breeds, and they’re suitable for beginners. Silkies are docile and friendly. They make very little noise and are ideal for urban farming. Females weigh as low as 3 lbs, and roosters 4 lbs.
Silkie hens lay around 100–160 cream eggs per year. These chickens can be used as pets in your home.
They’re also good for meat production, so if you have some backyard space, you can keep these with your children. The cost of the chicks is around $3–10 per chick.
Best Show/Ornamental Chickens for Beginners
12. Brahma chicken
This American chicken breed lays a substantial number of eggs and is good for ornamental purposes.
They can lay about 150 eggs per year. The weight of the Brahma roosters is about 12 lbs, while for hens, it is about 9.9 lbs.
The Brahma chickens are calm and friendly. They’re also good for meat production, so if you have some backyard space, you can keep these with your children.
Brahmas make little noise, so they’re best for beginners looking to raise chickens for the first time. The cost of each chick is $7.
13. Houdan chicken
These are French chicken breeds that have been bred for show. Houdan chickens are good for egg-laying, meat production, and ornamental purposes.
They lay around 150 eggs per year. Houdan can be kept in large pens. The weight of hens is about 6.5 lbs., and roosters are about 8 lbs.
These are friendly breeds and make very little noise. You can keep Houdan chickens together with children. The cost of each chick is around $6-7.
14. Russian Orloff
These are Russian chickens that are known for their ornamental purposes. Russian Orloff was docile and friendly.
They’re also good for egg-laying, as they can lay up to 150 light brown eggs yearly. A female Russian Orloff weighs about 6.6 lbs., while a male weighs about 7.9 lbs.
They’re also good for meat production. The Russian Orloff chicken is not noisy and is suitable for beginners looking to raise chickens for the first time.
You can keep them with the children, and they’ll always remain calm. The cost of each chick is around $6.
15. Phoenix Chicken
These are dual-purpose breeds of chicken. Phoenix chickens are known for their ornamental purposes and are bred in Germany. They have small white bodies and lay white, creamy, or light brown eggs.
Its yearly egg production ranges from 150 to 180. A mature rooster weighs about 5.5 lbs. and a hen about 5.4 lbs. Phoenix chickens are also good in terms of meat production. They can be kept in small pens.
They’re docile and make little noise, so they’re suitable for beginners looking to raise chickens for the first time. The cost of each chick is about $5 per chick.
16. Sultan Chicken
These are Turkish chicken breeds that are mainly known for their ornamental purposes. They are poor layers.
Sultan chickens lay about 50 white eggs per year. The males weigh about 6 lbs. The females weigh about 4 lbs.
They’re docile and friendly. Sultan chickens can be kept in small pens as they’re not very noisy. Each chick costs around $6-$7 per chick.
17. Polish chicken
They’re known for their ornamental purposes. Polish are docile and friendly and can be kept in small pens that make hardly any noise.
The average weight of a female is 4.5 lbs. for males; it is 6 lbs. Polish chickens are good in terms of egg production and meat production. They lay around 100–150 eggs per year.
These lay white, medium-sized eggs that aren’t too expensive and don’t break too easily. The cost of each chick is about $4–5 per chick.
FAQs on Easy to Raise Chickens for Beginners
How to take care of chickens for beginners?
There are a lot of things you need to know to take care of chickens.
a) Keep your chickens happy: Chickens are fun and friendly birds. You should regularly play with them and feed them treats to make them happy.
b) Give them a place to roost: They must sleep comfortably at night. You can use a chicken coop or build one to keep your chickens safe at night.
c) Create a routine: Create a simple routine in the morning before the sun rises. For example, once you wake up, give your chickens some food. Then you can start collecting eggs.
d) Provide them with water and food: You need to fill the waterer of your chickens and feed them with food. You have to ensure that there is no shortage of either water or food.
It is advisable to keep your chickens in small pens during the first few days. The reason behind this is that they’re unfamiliar with their surroundings. Once they get accustomed to their surroundings, they will feel comfortable and start laying eggs.
When is the chicken breeding season?
You can breed your chickens throughout the year to ensure that you remain in a position where you can buy your eggs regularly. Traditionally, the best months to breed your hens are February and May.
How many chickens should you start with?
You should ensure the number of chickens you start with isn’t too large. If the number is small, you can take care of them alone. At least 3-5 chickens should be adequate to start with.
Are having chickens worth it?
Yes, raising chickens is a good source of healthy eggs and meat. Not only this, if you raise 10-15 chickens in your backyard, you will start getting returns after 6-7 months for a long time.
After raising chickens for about 10 years, I can say having chickens is an amazing thing for a business, a pet, and daily eggs.
Conclusion
Chickens are fun and friendly birds. Depending on your preference, they can be kept in large or small pens.
Chickens are also good for ornamental purposes and can be kept with your children. They come in a variety of breeds, so you have an option to choose from.
If you are interested in raising chickens for the first time, consider these chicken breeds that are good for beginners.
