Choose a chicken breed by its main purpose: eggs, meat or a backyard flock. Your space, climate and willingness to care for the birds also matter.
Some breeds are kept chiefly for steady laying, others for meat, while backyard keepers may value temperament and appearance as much as production. The best fit depends on what you want from your flock and the conditions you can provide.
This guide to chicken breeds explains what to consider when choosing, so you can match a breed to your priorities before bringing birds home.
| Breed or group | Main use or egg colour | Selection note |
|---|---|---|
| Leghorn | Eggs | Strong layer; not a good meat choice |
| Minorca, Ancona | White eggs | Egg-focused options |
| Australorp, Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire Red | Brown eggs | Also consider temperament and care |
| Plymouth Barred Rock, Wyandotte, Orpington | Eggs and meat | Dual-purpose; noted for docility |
| Jersey Giant | Eggs and meat | Check housing and run fit |
| Australorp, Silkie | Meat | Dark-feathered, slower-growing options |
- 91% Share of EU consumption eggs produced in 2024 on farms with more than 5 000 laying hens
- 782 million eggs EU eggs placed in incubation in 2024 to provide laying utility chicks
- 336 million chicks EU laying utility chicks produced in 2024
- 44 000 cockerels Cockerels kept alongside the laying utility chick production in the EU in 2024
How do you choose a goal for your chicken breeds?
Choose your flock’s main purpose—eggs, meat, or both—before selecting chicken breeds, because each goal favours different traits.
Eggs or meat: A dual-purpose bird can provide both, but egg production and growth compete; choosing for both does not make a breed a specialist in either.
- Eggs: Choose an egg-focused breed if laying is the priority.
- Meat: Choose a meat-focused breed if meat production is the priority.
- Both: Plymouth Barred Rock, Delaware, Buckeye, Jersey Giant, Orpington, Sussex, Turken and Wyandotte are dual-purpose options.
Keep show birds as a separate goal
The CFAES Knowledge Hub lists show alongside eggs and meat as a flock-selection objective. If showing birds is your aim, make that a distinct choice rather than assuming a dual-purpose breed will also suit it.
Which chicken breeds suit egg production?
Leghorns are a strong choice for egg production, while Minorcas and Anconas suit white eggs and Australorps, Rhode Island Reds and New Hampshire Reds suit brown eggs.
White or brown eggs
- White eggs: Consider Minorca or Ancona.
- Brown eggs: Consider Australorp, Rhode Island Red or New Hampshire Red.
- Egg colour: Use it as a selection detail; it does not indicate a hen’s temperament or suitability for meat.
Leghorns are known as strong layers, but they are not a good meat choice. If egg production is your priority, choose for that purpose rather than expecting the same breed to suit meat production equally well.
After narrowing your options by egg purpose and colour, check temperament and whether your setup can provide the space and care the breed needs. A breed’s general tendencies do not determine every bird’s individual personality.
Which chicken breeds work for meat or both meat and eggs?
For both eggs and meat, compare Plymouth Barred Rock, Delaware, Buckeye, Jersey Giant, Orpington, Sussex, Turken and Wyandotte; each is a dual-purpose option rather than a maximum-output specialist.
Egg production and growth pull in different directions, so a dual-purpose bird is a compromise. Choose one when you want eggs and a usable meat bird from the same flock, not the highest output in either category.
- Plymouth Barred Rock, Delaware and Buckeye: consider these when you want a breed selected for both eggs and meat.
- Jersey Giant, Orpington, Sussex, Turken and Wyandotte: these are also dual-purpose choices to compare for a mixed flock.
- Australorp and Silkie: these dark-feathered, slower-growing chickens are options for meat, especially for the Asian market.
Feed for a meat-focused flock
A meat-focused flock needs a feeding plan built for growth, not simply the ration used for laying hens. Purina describes complete, high-protein meat-bird feed, including its Meat Bird feed; match the feed to the birds’ purpose and follow the product directions.
How should you compare temperament, size and care?
Compare temperament, adult size and care needs together: Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte and Orpington are noted for docility, while a Jersey Giant needs housing that fits its larger frame.
- Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte and Orpington: Their docile tendency may suit novice keepers or households with children. Temperament is not guaranteed by breed: the CFAES Knowledge Hub notes that individual birds have distinct personalities.
- Jersey Giant: Consider this named large-breed option only after checking that your coop, roosts and run can accommodate the bird.
- Climate and care: Ask the breeder or consult extension guidance about the breed’s climate suitability and specific care needs. The breeds listed here do not establish a universal climate ranking.
How should you balance egg output against flock scale?
Balance egg output against flock scale by treating commercial production as context, then choosing breeds and flock size to fit your space and purpose. In 2024, 91% of eggs for consumption produced in the EU came from farms with more than 5 000 laying hens, the European Commission reports. That scale is a contrast, not a backyard target.
- For eggs: Leghorns are strong layers, but their reputation does not determine whether they suit your housing or care routine.
- For a mixed-purpose flock: Consider a dual-purpose breed such as Plymouth Barred Rock or Orpington, while recognising that choosing for both eggs and meat means balancing those goals.
- For your setup: Match flock size to available housing and assess temperament and care needs before choosing a breed.
A backyard keeper choosing Leghorns still needs to plan housing, assess temperament and provide appropriate care. Breed reputation is a starting point, not a complete flock plan.
When does a backyard flock differ from commercial egg production?
A backyard flock differs from commercial egg production because household birds are chosen for a keeper’s needs and care capacity, while hatchery figures describe a production chain. In 2024, 782 million eggs in the EU were placed in incubation to provide laying utility chicks; 336 million chicks were produced for this use, along with 44 000 cockerels kept.
Those figures do not tell a household how many chickens to keep. For a small flock, choose birds according to their intended use and the care you can provide:
- Eggs: Leghorns are described as strong layers, but are not suited to meat production.
- Eggs and meat: Plymouth Barred Rock, Orpington and Wyandotte are among the dual-purpose options.
- Temperament: Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte and Orpington are noted for docility; individual birds can still differ.
Confirm current availability and breed details with the supplier before choosing your flock.
Frequently asked questions
Which chicken breeds are good for both eggs and meat?
Which breeds lay white eggs?
Are Leghorns a good choice for meat?
Are Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte and Orpington suitable for beginners?
Sources
- Small and backyard poultry — “SELECTING A CHICKEN BREED FOR SMALL OR BACKYARD POULTRY FLOCKS”
- extension.msstate.edu — “Choosing the Right Breed for Your Backyard Flock | Mississippi State University Extension Service”
- CFAES Knowledge Hub — “Chicken Breed Selection”
- Grubbly Farms — “Choosing the Right Chicken Breed for Your Backyard”
- Purina Animal Nutrition — “Choosing Chicken Breeds for Your Flock”