Some would, With a height of 26 inches and weighing in at 15 lbs, its the Jersey Giant chicken! Many articles call Silkies the Broody Queens of the chicken world, and if youve experienced raising them, youll see why. You are using an out of date browser. They are quite regal and very gentle hens. Every type of chicken has its own personality, appearance, and traits. To help you find the right breed of chicken, we explore the top 25 chicken breeds below. 3. These hens top the list for egg laying prowess, producing more than 300 eggs a year. 4. If you are looking for the best backyard chicken breeds for egg laying, consider breeds that produce 200 to 300 eggs per year. But what makes Rhode Island Reds particularly well-suited to indoor raising is their docile nature. They also make great foster mothers, even to small animals that look nothing like a chick. They have 5 toes on each foot (most chickens have 4 toes) and have a blue comb and wattles with dark skin. Buff Orpington. So their coops must be fully covered to keep them safe. Brahma chickens are hardy birds that can withstand cold weather, so theyre a good choice if you live in an area with colder winters. This breed has a way of keeping the peace in the flock, making them rank higher in the pecking order. He likes being free-range and is considered a decent chicken for family coops. Sussex chickens can lay 200-250 large-sized eggs every year. Backyard chicken coops became increasingly popular during the pandemic as people scrambled to stay sane; and more recently, soaring egg prices have pushed "backyard chickens" to . The Easter Egger is a hybrid breed including Ameraucanas and Araucanas and a popular choice for the backyard because they are friendly and hardy. So if you're looking for chickens that'll make great pets this is a great option. The Easter Egger is particularly popular because of their ability to lay eggs in the colors of the rainbow from blue and green to pink, and brown. Chickens are a great addition to any homestead, providing delicious eggs and entertaining company. Good Feed: Provide a pelleted diet for your pet chicken. The eggs are a delightful light-speckled brown color and small to medium in size. These heavy dual purpose chickens are suitable for meat production. in order to ensure that both you and your chickens are happy and healthy! They are also great table birds and lay a lot of eggs. If you want a bird with a striking barred plumage pattern, check out another best chicken breed for confinement, the Plymouth Rock. An Easter Egger takes on the appearance of its parents and may have a fluffy beard, fluffy cheeks (tufts), or both. As its name suggests, this breed hails from the country of Belgium. For example, some chicken breeds are calm, gentle, and easygoing, while others have dominant personalities. Another plus is that Sultan chickens are known for being low-maintenance, so you wont have to spend a lot of time caring for them. Join More Than 15,000 Chicken Enthusiasts Who Have Already Subscribed. If Orpingtons appeal to you, you will surely fall in love with Australorps too! They enjoy getting treats from their keepers and do well both inside the coop and while foraging in the yard. And they love talking with their humans, especially one-on-one, and are cuddly and adorable. Classified as a small to medium chicken breed, a Pearl Star Leghorn hen can weigh about 5 lbs. You might even see them following you around or running up to you. They are best for experienced keepers owing to their tiny size, susceptibility to cold and to predators. You can also let the new group of chickens free-range and then add the existing flock to the new surrounding. Theyll find it easier to pick the perfect chickens and enjoy their backyard, homestead, or smallholding. Perhaps you are wondering whats the best chicken breeds to keep together. Maybe finches/doves/canaries would be a better fit for OP. 4. The Sussex is characterized as a calm, self-assured, and sociable bird that is simple to manage. Brahma chickens are sweet and docile that they can even pass as lap chickens despite being large; thats why theyre called gentle giants. But you would still need at least 2, better off with 3 or more. This beautiful breed enjoys a free-ranging time, but theyre easy-going and can easily adapt to any backyard chicken space. Since theyre good flyers, you must cover the run completely if you want to confine them. They have a variety of appearances as a result of their parents, but they all have a polish identity. They are not ideal meat birds and only reach a weight of 5-8 lbs. Free-ranging chickens are far healthier, more active, and less likely to become obese because they can go around freely. This breed really loves to free-range and roam around your garden. Slowly approach them with a gentle call to avoid startling them. Please let us know in the comment section! All in all, Brahma chickens make great indoor pets and are sure to provide you with plenty of delicious eggs and meat. However, they must be supervised when free-ranging because they are prone to predators. Take time to monitor the group closely after the introduction to ensure both groups are happy, healthy, and content. These chickens lay a beautiful light blue egg color and up to 150 eggs per year. The carcass offers a fair amount of meat with cockerels reaching 4 lbs by 16 weeks. They can withstand a wide range of weather, except excessive heat, and compact areas quite well. Brahma strolls calmly through the backyard while keeping a watchful eye for trouble. From the beginning, it gained popularity and continues to the present day. Besides being fun, quirky, docile, and friendly, Polish chickens can behave well even in small areas. Heat-Tolerant: The most heat-tolerant chicken breeds include the Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock, Easter Eggers, Australorp, Silkies, Millie Fleurs, and Welsummers. What is the best indoor chicken breed? Iams Proactive Health Adult Indoor Weight & Hairball Care with Chicken Cat Food - 7 lb bag. Each type of bird is genetically developed to satisfy the best attributes for which they are intended. Appearance The Araucana weighs around 4 lbs and is distinguished by fluffy ear tufts but they have no tail (rumpless) and no beard. Delaware is distinguishable thanks to its black barring pattern in its hackles, wings, tail, and white or silver plumage. Despite their growth rate being half that of commercial breeds such as Cornish crosses, they are favored for their firm and flavorful meat. This rule applies to medium and large sized chickens such as Plymouth Rocks and Cornish hens. Roosters are a mixture of red and black feathers with green iridescence. Jersey Giant. As a dual purpose breed, they can be used for meat or eggs, or both. Jan 23, 2023. It provides you plenty of time to tame chicks than retaining an adult bird that is unfamiliar to you. They make great egg producers, laying around 220 to 300 large eggs yearly. If you live in an apartment or rental property, make sure that pets are allowed before bringing chickens home. Protect your flocks from predator attacks by providing them with a safe place. Who wouldnt want chickens as pets? Due to their small size, they are not ideal as meat birds. Each species has unique characteristics and can clash with others. So, choosing this breeds bantam variety would be better if you plan to place them in confinement. Once youve decided that chickens are the right pet for you, its time to get an indoor chicken coop or cage. If you encounter any problems raising them, poultry enthusiasts can provide you with helpful information about these breeds and on raising them. The Welsummer is a great egg layer providing 200 eggs per year. The poultry birds which are raised for eggs production are called layer poultry. These qualities make them ideal for small backyard mixed flocks. In fact, they can foster other chickens just as Brahmas. Rabbit breeds come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities, which can make picking the right one overwhelming. These birds are calm and docile making them perfect family pets. The Red Sex Link is one of the best cold hardy free-range birds, and they will lay between 250 to 300 eggs per year. Another way to help new and existing groups to familiarize each other is by placing them in side-by-side runs for a week. 13. After keeping them isolated, gradually introduce new birds to your old flock. Marans are good meat chickens as they were bred to be dual purpose. Just like any other pet, chickens need to be trained on how to behave properly indoors. As one of the most common chicken breeds, In addition to being a wonderful all-around chicken breed, the quirky nature and weird antics of the, If Orpingtons appeal to you, you will surely fall in love with. Hens can lay 200 speckled or smooth dark brown eggs a year. The Buff Orpington is a color variety of the Orpington breed and is well known for their striking gold plumage and fluffy appearance. Cochins are not popular as meat birds because of their slow growth rates; however, they do have dark and textured meat that many enjoy. Next on our best chicken breeds for confinement list is another adorable fluff ball, the Cochins. Araucanas lay an average of 200 eggs every year with a unique blue color eggshell. Your email address will not be published. This is a friendly breed, often termed the "Golden Retriever" of chickens. document.write(CurrentYear) The Golden Campine is a popular breed of chicken that is well-suited for indoor raising. Buff Orpington. Silkies are among the best bantam breeds to include in a backyard flock. Starts laying eggs at. Image Credit: Vasiliy Khimenko, Shutterstock. Some good choices would be the Mediterranean breeds such as Andalusians, Leghorns, and Penedesencas. Like dogs and cats, chickens also like treats. Hens tend to lay fewer eggs in winter as their reproductive systems take a break. They will stop laying in winter. Cochins are calm and good chickens that love to sit on your lap. These chickens are calm and docile, making them ideal pets. But if you want small chicken breeds, Silkie Bantam, Belgian DUccles, and Belgian DAnvers may be the best options for you. Breeds including the Maran and Naked Neck are praised for the flavor and tender texture of meat. The Brahma is a big bird but very sweet and good with children. The name ISA Brown is not actually a breed name, but a copyrighted brand name. This kind, gentle chicken breeds love being pet and enjoys hugs and cuddles. Best Chicken Breeds for Indoors: Final Thoughts, 15 Best Chicken Breeds for Confinement and Small Backyards, Black Bengal Goat: Characteristics, Feeding & Health, Keeping Pests Out of Your Birdcage: A Complete Guide, How to Introduce New Birds to a Flock: A Simple Guide. They are typically brown in color with light golden plumage around the neck. Another way to help new and existing groups to familiarize each other is by placing them in side-by-side runs for a week. The Australorp chicken is a popular choice for many chicken enthusiasts, and its not difficult to see why. Hens can lay 280 large brown color eggs through summer and winter. Barnevelders have black plumage but the hens have a distinct brown double laced feather pattern across the wings and tail. Although they can be a little loud sometimes, they can easily get along with other breeds. The Barred Plymouth Rock is a large bird weighing up to 10 lbs. They are prized for their unique barred feather pattern that is seen in both hens and roosters. Easter Eggers are small to medium in size and are available in colors from black and copper to brown and mottled. Free Postage. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Like the Jersey Giants, Brahmas are large breeds that do not take nonsense from aggressive birds. 6 Purebred Lemon Cuckoo pekin bantam hatching eggs. She settled within a week and learned to become a confident chicken again! The Speckled Sussex is one of the oldest breeds having originated in Britain more than a century ago. The most popular chicken breeds are hardy, friendy, and excellent egg layers such as the White Sussex, Leghorns, and Rhode Island Reds. They are best known for their egg laying ability and can lay 5-6 large, light brown eggs a week. These sweet and mild-mannered chickens often bear the brunt of dominant birds, making them prone to bullying in the flock. 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