29 breeds
Best chickens for families with kids
The best family chicken is calm enough for small hands, tough enough to survive enthusiastic 'help,' and productive enough to keep the egg hunt exciting. These breeds check all three boxes.
1Golden Comet🌱Sweet and people-oriented · 250–320 eggs/yrUnited States2ISA Brown🌱Docile and affectionate · 280–320 eggs/yrFrance3Black Sex Link🌱Friendly and hardy · 250–300 eggs/yrUnited States4Australorp🌱Gentle and calm · 200–280 eggs/yrAustralia5Barred Plymouth Rock🌱Friendly and easygoing · 200–280 eggs/yrUnited States6Buff Orpington🌱Affectionate and docile · 180–280 eggs/yrEngland7Delaware🌱Calm and friendly · 200–280 eggs/yrUnited States8Easter Egger🌱Friendly and curious · 200–280 eggs/yrUnited States9Dominique🌱Calm and steady · 180–260 eggs/yrUnited States10Ameraucana🌱Friendly and curious · 180–250 eggs/yrUnited States11Rhode Island White🌱Calm and docile · 200–250 eggs/yrUnited States12Sussex🌱Curious and gentle · 200–250 eggs/yrEngland13Holland🌱Calm and adaptable · 200–240 eggs/yrUnited States14New Hampshire🌱Friendly and food-motivated · 200–240 eggs/yrUnited States15Wyandotte🌱Calm and confident · 180–240 eggs/yrUnited States16Chantecler🌱Calm and gentle · 180–220 eggs/yrCanada17Welsummer🌱Friendly and intelligent · 160–220 eggs/yrNetherlands18Barnevelder🌱Calm and friendly · 150–200 eggs/yrNetherlands19Black Copper Marans🌱Gentle and quiet · 150–200 eggs/yrFrance20Brahma🌱Gentle and docile · 130–200 eggs/yrUnited States21Buckeye🌱Friendly and active · 150–200 eggs/yrUnited States22Jersey Giant🌱Mellow gentle giant · 150–200 eggs/yrUnited States23Langshan🌱Calm and dignified · 150–200 eggs/yrChina24Naked Neck (Turken)🌱Calm and friendly · 150–200 eggs/yrTransylvania (Romania)25Polish🌱Sweet but easily startled · 150–200 eggs/yrNetherlands26Salmon Faverolles🌱Comically sweet and chatty · 150–200 eggs/yrFrance27Cochin🌱Exceptionally docile · 150–180 eggs/yrChina28Java🌱Calm and self-reliant · 150–180 eggs/yrUnited States29Silkie🌱Exceptionally sweet and cuddly · 100–120 eggs/yrChina
How this list is built: The overlap of beginner-friendly and gentle-tempered breeds from our profiles — hardy, docile, and rewarding for young keepers. 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.
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