Choosing the best chicken breeds for beginners can make raising backyard chickens easier and more enjoyable. If you’re just starting out, our Complete Beginner Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens walks through everything from choosing breeds to building your first coop. Pick the wrong breed, and you may end up with a flock that is flighty, noisy, or unpredictable, but pick the right one, and you get calm birds that lay eggs consistently.

Breed choice shapes your daily experience in many ways. A docile hen accepts handling without protest, a hardy bird survives cold snaps without extra heat, and a productive layer puts eggs on your counter three to five times a week. For beginner chicken keepers, these traits matter more than looks or novelty.

In this article, I discuss the seven backyard chicken breeds that experts and experienced hobbyists most often recommend. I’ll also show you which breeds to skip at first, how to match a breed to your climate and space, and how many birds to start with. By the end, you will have a clear plan for your first flock.

Quick Comparison of the Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners

The following breeds are widely considered the best chicken breeds for beginners because they are hardy, friendly, and dependable egg layers.

What Makes a Chicken Breed Good for Beginners?

Not all chicken breeds are equally suited to beginners. Some are calm, hardy, and productive, while others require more experience to manage. The easiest chicken breeds for beginners tend to share a few important traits that make them easier and more enjoyable to raise.

Temperament is one of the most important characteristics to consider. Friendly chicken breeds tolerate handling, stay calm around children, and integrate well with other hens in the flock. Nervous or aggressive birds can create constant stress for both the flock and the keeper.

Egg production also matters to many beginners because eggs are often the main reason people raise chickens. The best backyard breeds typically produce at least 200 eggs per year. That works out to roughly four eggs per hen each week, meaning a small flock of four hens can easily supply a household with fresh eggs.

Hardiness refers to how well a breed handles weather conditions. Cold-hardy chickens tolerate freezing winters without extra heating, while heat-tolerant breeds cope better with hot summers. Choosing a breed suited to your climate reduces the amount of extra care your flock will need.

Ease of care includes practical considerations such as noise level, space requirements, and tolerance for confinement. Some breeds adapt well to smaller backyard runs, while others prefer wide open spaces. Some hens are quiet neighbors, while others announce every egg with enthusiastic cackling.

When you combine the traits of temperament, egg production, hardiness, and ease of care, you get the characteristics that define the best chicken breeds for beginners. The breeds listed below meet most or all of these standards.

Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners

These backyard chicken breeds are widely recommended for their combination of friendliness, productivity, and hardiness.

Rhode Island Red

The Rhode Island Red is one of the most recommended egg-laying chickens in the United States. A healthy hen lays 250 to 300 brown eggs per year. If you want to understand production differences between breeds, see our guide on How Many Eggs Do Chickens Lay.

Temperament runs calm and confident. Rhode Island Reds are not pushovers, but they are not aggressive either. They tolerate handling and adapt well to new situations. Most beginners find them easy to work with from day one.

These are hardy chicken breeds in cold climates. Their single comb is somewhat cold-sensitive, but the rest of the bird handles freezing temperatures without trouble. I recommend applying a protective coating to the comb, such as a moisture-resistant ointment specifically made for poultry.

Reds are active foragers and do well with space to roam, though they also manage in a well-sized run. Beginners who want reliable egg production and low drama will find Rhode Island Reds a solid first choice.

Plymouth Rock

Plymouth Rocks, often called Barred Rocks, are a beautiful bird with striking black-and-white striped feathers. These are among the friendliest chicken breeds you can raise, and they actively seek out human interaction, often following their owners around the yard. I can’t go outside without an entourage of clucking black and white hens.

This is one of the best backyard chicken breeds for families. Plymouth Rocks tolerate children well and rarely peck or scratch. They stay calm during handling, which makes routine health checks simple.

Egg production is reliable. Expect 200 to 280 brown eggs per year from a good hen. Plymouth Rocks also lay through winter better than many breeds, so your production stays steady when daylight drops.

These are genuine backyard chicken breeds built for small farms and suburban coops. They adapt to confinement without becoming stressed and do well in both warm and cold climates.

Australorp

The Australorp holds a world record for egg production. In 1923, one Australorp hen laid 364 eggs in 365 days (Livestock Conservancy). Modern production averages 250 to 300 eggs per year, making these some of the best egg-laying chickens available to backyard keepers.

Australorps are quiet and calm. They rarely cause problems within the flock and accept new birds more easily than many breeds. Their temperament makes them a good fit if you plan to expand your flock over time.

Adaptability is another strong point as the Australorps handle both cold winters and warm summers better than most dual-purpose breeds. Originating in Australia, the Australorps easily handle the wildly swinging temperatures.

For beginners who want maximum egg production combined with an easygoing bird, the Australorp is hard to beat.

Buff Orpington

I love Buff Orpingtons, and there are good reasons why they are called the golden retrievers of the chicken world. They are large, fluffy, calm, and are the gentle giants of the chicken world. These docile chickens tolerate being picked up and carried, making them favorites for families with young children.

Orpingtons aren’t the best egg producers, but they do well with a moderate laying rate of 175 to 200 brown eggs per year. That is lower than Rhode Island Reds or Australorps, but many beginners choose Buff Orpingtons anyway because they are simply so pleasant to keep. These friendly backyard chickens add personality to a flock without adding stress, plus they are beautiful birds.

Buff Orpingtons are cold-hardy and tolerate confinement well. Their heavy feathering helps them stay warm in winter. They do not need much space to be content, which suits smaller backyards.

One note for warm climates: their thick feathers can cause heat stress in very hot summers. Provide shade and fresh water consistently if you live in an area where summers exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sussex

Sussex chickens are naturally curious and friendly. They explore their surroundings and calmly interact with people. This adaptable chicken breed suits beginners who want an active but not chaotic bird.

Sussex hens are good layers, laying 200 to 250 light brown or cream-colored eggs per year. Production holds up well even through seasonal changes.

One standout quality is heat tolerance. Sussex chickens manage warm summers better than many heavy-bodied breeds. They are also cold-hardy, which makes them a practical choice across a wide range of climates. If you live somewhere with both cold winters and hot summers, the Sussex may fit your yard better than almost any other breed.

The Speckled Sussex variety, with its chestnut and white-tipped feathers, is particularly popular with beginners who want a good layer that also looks attractive in the yard.

Easter Egger

Easter Eggers are not a standardized breed, but they consistently appear on beginner lists for their blue eggs. The color ranges from pale blue to olive green to pink. For beginners, opening the nest box to a colorful egg is a daily reward that never gets old.

These colorful egg laying chickens lay 200 to 280 eggs per year. Production is solid, and the eggs come in shades that make your carton look like it belongs in a farmers’ market. Children especially love Easter Eggers for this reason.

Temperament is friendly and curious. Easter Eggers adapt well to both cold and warm climates, which is partly why they are so popular across the country. They are not a formally recognized breed by the American Poultry Association, but they are widely available at hatcheries and farm stores.

If you want to add a conversation-starter to your flock, an Easter Egger earns her place with both personality and production.

Best Egg Laying Chickens for Beginners

Many new chicken keepers want breeds that reliably produce eggs. Fortunately, several of the best chicken breeds for beginners are also excellent layers.

Rhode Island Reds and Australorps are often considered the best egg-laying chickens for backyard flocks. These breeds can produce 250 to 300 eggs per year when properly cared for.

Plymouth Rocks and Sussex chickens are also dependable layers that balance good egg production with calm temperaments. While Buff Orpingtons lay slightly fewer eggs, they remain popular because of their gentle personality and cold tolerance.

For beginners who want colorful eggs, Easter Eggers are a fun option. These birds often lay blue or green eggs and adapt well to backyard environments.

Chicken Breeds Beginners Should Avoid

Some breeds are not suitable for first-time keepers, and starting with them often leads to frustration. Here are the most difficult chicken breeds for beginners, and I recommend passing on them initially.

Leghorns

Leghorns are excellent egg layers, but they are extremely active and often flighty. These birds prefer large open spaces and can be difficult to handle in smaller backyard setups, which makes them frustrating for beginners.

Old English Game

Old English Game chickens were historically bred for aggression and competition. While they can be beautiful birds, their strong territorial instincts can lead to fighting within a flock, making them harder for inexperienced keepers to manage.

Malay

Malay chickens are very large and powerful birds with a dominant personality. Their size and assertive behavior can intimidate smaller breeds and require more experienced flock management.

Hamburg

Hamburg chickens are energetic and highly independent. They tend to be nervous around people and often prefer large, free-range environments to small backyard coops.

How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Backyard

Choosing chicken breeds comes down to four practical questions. Answer these before you order chicks or visit a feed store.

What is your climate?

Cold winters favor cold-hardy breeds like Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, and Buff Orpingtons. Hot summers favor Sussex and Easter Eggers, and Australorps handle both. Match the bird to the temperatures you actually get, not the average.

What are your egg goals?

If you want maximum production, Rhode Island Reds and Australorps are your picks. If production matters less than personality, Buff Orpingtons and Plymouth Rocks deliver a quieter, friendlier experience.

What personalities do you want in your flock?

Some people want birds that interact with them daily. Others want chickens that stay out of the way. Buff Orpingtons and Plymouth Rocks tend to be social, and Rhode Island Reds are independent but manageable.

How much space do you have?

Backyard flock planning should take into account your square footage. A good rule is four square feet of coop space per bird and ten square feet of run space per bird. Some breeds need more room to stay content. For a full breakdown of space requirements, see our Chicken Coop Size Guide, which explains how much room chickens need in both the coop and the run.

How Many Chickens Should Beginners Start With?

Beginner flock size is one of the first decisions you need to make. The most common recommendation is three to six hens. If you’re unsure how many birds will fit your yard, see our guide on How Many Chickens Should Beginners Start With for a detailed breakdown.

Three hens give you a starter flock that is easy to manage and produces six to fifteen eggs per week, depending on breed. That is enough for a couple or a small family. Six hens double that output and still fit in a manageable coop.

Starting small lets you learn the daily routine without becoming overwhelmed. Chicken keeping is not difficult, but it does require consistent care. Feeding, watering, collecting eggs, and cleaning the coop take time each day. A smaller flock keeps those tasks short while you build your confidence.

Final Thoughts on the Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners

The best chicken breeds for beginners are calm, hardy, and dependable egg layers that adapt well to backyard environments. Every breed on this list meets those standards. None of them will make you regret your first flock.

Rhode Island Reds and Australorps win on egg production. Plymouth Rocks and Buff Orpingtons win on temperament. Sussex hens win on climate flexibility. Easter Eggers win on novelty and family fun. You can mix two or three of these breeds in a single flock without problems.

Proper nutrition also plays a big role in egg production and flock health. Our guide on What Chickens Can Eat explains safe foods and common kitchen scraps for backyard chickens.

Start with three to six hens. Get your coop ready before the chicks arrive. Plan for water, feed, and a safe run from day one. The rest you will learn as you go, and the chickens will be forgiving while you do.

Ready to take the next step? Our Complete Beginner Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens walks you through everything from chick care to coop setup to your first egg.