The best chickens for beginners are calm, productive, and tough enough to forgive new keepers’ mistakes. This guide covers eight beginner-friendly breeds, what they’re actually like to keep, and how to pick a few for your first flock. You can mix breeds in a single flock; chickens flock together regardless of breed.
What makes a breed beginner-friendly
Three things matter most for new keepers:
- Calm temperament (not flighty or aggressive)
- Steady egg laying (reliable, not necessarily record-setting)
- Hardy in your climate (cold tolerance for the north, heat tolerance for the south)
The eight breeds below all check those boxes.
Buff Orpington
- Eggs: About 250 a year, light brown
- Temperament: Calm, friendly, almost dog-like
- Climate: Excellent cold hardiness, moderate heat tolerance
Easygoing, kid-friendly, and broody enough to make a good surrogate mother if you ever want to hatch. Their dense feathers handle real winters with ease. Probably the most-recommended starter breed for a reason.
Plymouth Rock (Barred Rock)
- Eggs: About 280 a year, brown
- Temperament: Calm, curious, sturdy
- Climate: Excellent cold hardiness, good heat tolerance
Reliable layers that keep going through cold snaps. Easy to handle. Their black-and-white striped feathers are distinctive and they tolerate confinement well.
Rhode Island Red
- Eggs: 280 to 300 a year, brown
- Temperament: Confident, sometimes pushy
- Climate: Hardy in both heat and cold
One of the most productive backyard breeds. Watch for a single bossy bird in mixed flocks; they’ll happily run things if you let them. Worth it for the egg numbers.
Australorp
- Eggs: 250 to 300 a year, brown
- Temperament: Calm, gentle, quiet
- Climate: Good cold hardiness, decent heat tolerance
Sweet temperament with serious laying credentials. The breed once held the world record for eggs in a year. Good mixed-flock citizens.
Wyandotte
- Eggs: About 200 a year, brown
- Temperament: Calm, confident, sometimes assertive
- Climate: Excellent cold hardiness (rose comb)
Beautiful laced patterns, hardy through winter, reliable layers. Their rose comb resists frostbite better than single-comb breeds. See our Wyandotte breed profile for more.
Brahma
- Eggs: 150 to 200 a year, light brown
- Temperament: Calm, gentle, slow-moving
- Climate: Outstanding cold hardiness; struggles in extreme heat
Big, gentle, with feathered legs that make them iconic. Lower egg numbers than other breeds, but a joy to be around. Great for cold-climate keepers. See our Brahma breed profile.
Easter Egger
- Eggs: 200 to 280 a year, blue/green/pink
- Temperament: Friendly, curious, hardy
- Climate: Very good cold hardiness, good heat tolerance
The colorful-egg layer most people picture. Hardy hybrids, friendly personalities, lower price than purebred Ameraucanas. See our Easter Egger profile.
Silkie
- Eggs: 100 to 120 a year, cream
- Temperament: Gentle, quiet, famously broody
- Climate: Decent if kept dry, good in heat
The fluffy, friendly chicken that wins kids over. Lower egg production but unbeatable as pets and natural mothers. Keep them dry. See our Silkie breed profile.
How to pick for your situation
- Cold climate, want lots of eggs: Plymouth Rock, Australorp, Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red
- Hot climate: Easter Egger, Rhode Island Red
- Family with kids: Buff Orpington, Australorp, Silkie
- Want colorful eggs: Easter Egger
- Show or unique looking: Wyandotte (laced), Silkie (fluffy), Brahma (feathered legs)
For a balanced beginner flock, three to six hens of mixed breeds works well. A common mix is one Buff Orpington (calm anchor), one Easter Egger (colorful eggs), one Plymouth Rock (steady layer), and a Wyandotte or Australorp. You’ll get reliable eggs, a varied egg basket, and a good range of personalities.
FAQ
Should I get all the same breed or mix?
Mixing is fine and fun. Chickens flock together regardless of breed. You’ll get more variety in eggs and personalities. Just make sure all your breeds tolerate your climate.
How many should I start with?
Three to six hens is the sweet spot for most beginners. See our guide on how many chickens to start with for help picking a number.
Are brown eggs healthier than white?
No. Eggshell color is genetic and has zero effect on nutrition. Diet and freshness matter, not color.
How do I handle a pushy hen?
Mostly leave it alone. Pecking order sorts itself out. If a single bird is drawing blood or chasing others off food, separate her for a few days; usually that resets the dynamics. Repeated aggression or visible injury should get a closer look from a qualified veterinarian.
The eight breeds above will all serve a beginner well. If you can only pick a few, start with Plymouth Rock, Buff Orpington, and Easter Egger. We’re working on a Chicken Homestead book about getting started with backyard chickens. Sign up for the release list on the homepageif you want to know when it’s out.
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