32 breeds
Best chickens for beginners
Your first flock should forgive a few rookie mistakes. These breeds are calm to handle, hardy across most climates, and steady layers — the birds experienced keepers hand new owners without a second thought.
1Golden Comet🌱Sweet and people-oriented · 250–320 eggs/yrUnited States2ISA Brown🌱Docile and affectionate · 280–320 eggs/yrFrance3White Leghorn🌱Active and flighty · 260–320 eggs/yrItaly4Black Sex Link🌱Friendly and hardy · 250–300 eggs/yrUnited States5Rhode Island Red🌱Confident and hardy · 200–300 eggs/yrUnited States6Australorp🌱Gentle and calm · 200–280 eggs/yrAustralia7Barred Plymouth Rock🌱Friendly and easygoing · 200–280 eggs/yrUnited States8Buff Orpington🌱Affectionate and docile · 180–280 eggs/yrEngland9Delaware🌱Calm and friendly · 200–280 eggs/yrUnited States10Easter Egger🌱Friendly and curious · 200–280 eggs/yrUnited States11Dominique🌱Calm and steady · 180–260 eggs/yrUnited States12Ameraucana🌱Friendly and curious · 180–250 eggs/yrUnited States13Rhode Island White🌱Calm and docile · 200–250 eggs/yrUnited States14Sussex🌱Curious and gentle · 200–250 eggs/yrEngland15Holland🌱Calm and adaptable · 200–240 eggs/yrUnited States16New Hampshire🌱Friendly and food-motivated · 200–240 eggs/yrUnited States17Wyandotte🌱Calm and confident · 180–240 eggs/yrUnited States18Cream Legbar🌱Active and inquisitive · 180–230 eggs/yrEngland19Chantecler🌱Calm and gentle · 180–220 eggs/yrCanada20Welsummer🌱Friendly and intelligent · 160–220 eggs/yrNetherlands21Barnevelder🌱Calm and friendly · 150–200 eggs/yrNetherlands22Black Copper Marans🌱Gentle and quiet · 150–200 eggs/yrFrance23Brahma🌱Gentle and docile · 130–200 eggs/yrUnited States24Buckeye🌱Friendly and active · 150–200 eggs/yrUnited States25Jersey Giant🌱Mellow gentle giant · 150–200 eggs/yrUnited States26Langshan🌱Calm and dignified · 150–200 eggs/yrChina27Naked Neck (Turken)🌱Calm and friendly · 150–200 eggs/yrTransylvania (Romania)28Polish🌱Sweet but easily startled · 150–200 eggs/yrNetherlands29Salmon Faverolles🌱Comically sweet and chatty · 150–200 eggs/yrFrance30Cochin🌱Exceptionally docile · 150–180 eggs/yrChina31Java🌱Calm and self-reliant · 150–180 eggs/yrUnited States32Silkie🌱Exceptionally sweet and cuddly · 100–120 eggs/yrChina
How this list is built: Every breed here is flagged beginner-friendly in our profiles: even-tempered, adaptable to heat and cold, and reliable in the nest box. It updates automatically as we add breeds — no hand-picking.
Keep exploring
New to this? Raising Backyard Chickens for Beginners: The Complete Starter Guide walks you through it. Or browse all 50 breed profiles.
Found your breed? Track your flock.
PoultryPal gives every bird a profile — breed, eggs, hatches, and expenses — so you can see which hens actually earn their feed. Free on iOS and Android.
