There are so many chicken breeds not to confuse you but to match the bird to the job. For a family farm three things matter: how many eggs, how undemanding the bird is, and whether it suits your climate.
Three types
| Type | Traits | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Layers | Light, active, many eggs, little meat, eat less | Leghorn, Lohmann Brown, Hisex |
| Dual-purpose | Larger, calmer, tolerate cold better, slightly fewer eggs | Rhode Island Red, Plymouth Rock, Orpington, Adler Silver |
| Meat | Heavy, fast-growing, few eggs | Broiler crosses, Cornish, Brahma |
Names are for orientation: availability of breeds and crosses differs by region, and much depends on the hatchery.
How to choose
- Need lots of eggs — take layer crosses, but provide good feed and stable conditions.
- Need hardiness — dual-purpose breeds forgive cold and care mistakes more.
- Need meat — meat breeds or broilers on a one-season plan.
- Children and a small yard — pick calm, smaller breeds.
Breed or cross
Commercial layers are crosses, hybrids of several lines. They give the most eggs in the first year and a half, but their offspring won’t match the parents, so hatching their eggs to replace the flock makes no sense. Pure breeds can be bred yourself (on incubation), but they usually lay less.
Climate and conditions
For cold regions choose breeds with dense plumage and a small comb: it is less prone to frostbite. In hot regions light, active hens are better, and ventilation and shade are a must (climate).
Egg color isn’t quality
White, brown and even bluish shells are determined by breed and don’t affect taste or nutrition. Buyers are often used to one color, but it makes no difference to the egg’s value.
Breed and money
A cheap bird with low output costs more per egg than a pricier one that lays well. To work it out, see egg cost.
Compare your flocks
If you keep several breeds or houses, EggPulse lets you compare their laying and feed use in the same numbers. You will see which birds pay off on your farm.
