Working in a small biotechnology company, Leah enjoys gardening and raising chickens in Western New York.
Choosing the Right Chickens for a Micro Flock
While commercial egg farms select hen breeds based solely on productivity and uniformity of egg color, a backyard chicken keeper must consider a wider range of traits when creating a small flock. Most backyard chickens exist in small flocks and are used to produce eggs for a family. The following traits are desired in backyard hens:
- A friendly personality
- Excellent egg production
- Lack of flightiness
- Hardiness in hot and/or cold weather
A backyard chicken keeper may also select hens to preserve heritage breeds and to obtain unusual egg colors.
7 Best Breeds for Your Back Yard
- Barred Plymouth Rock
- Buff Orpington
- Silver Gray Dorking
- Wyandottes
- Easter Eggers
- Black Australorps
- Marans
Each of these breeds is described fully below.
Barred Plymouth Rock
The Barred Plymouth Rock is a heritage breed (first exhibited in 1849) and an excellent producer of large brown eggs. The hen has barred black-and-white feathers and a single comb. The Barred Rock is a dual-purpose bird and can be used for meat and for egg production.
Personality: These chickens are cold hardy and very friendly with their human owners. Barred Rocks are not flighty and will be content in a backyard setting. In addition, this breed is not extremely aggressive to other chickens—this is important when dealing with a small number of hens.
Egg Laying: Barred Rocks can be expected to lay 200-280 eggs per year. Hens should start laying between 16-20 weeks of age. As with most hens, egg production will decrease over the winter months. For backyard flock owners who would like to keep egg production steady, artificial lighting over the winter months will help to keep egg production rates steady.
Buff Orpington
The Buff Orpington is a British breed and is one of the best breeds for a family flock. This chicken is extremely friendly, docile, and lays large light brown eggs. These birds are exceptionally cold hardy, but may not do as well in extremely hot climates. Another dual-purpose breed, these hens are very large and will weigh 7-8 pounds (3.2-3.6 Kg) at maturity.
Personality: "Big Buffs" have a tendency to become broody, which can be a nuisance to some backyard owners. These hens are excellent mothers and the broodiness can be an advantage when new chicks are ordered, as a broody hen will raise new chicks as her own.
Egg Laying: The Buff Orpington will start to lay eggs at approximately 20-24 weeks of age. Watch for signs of imminent egg-laying, such as squatting, singing the "egg song," and the comb and wattles obtaining a red color. This breed will lay 200-280 eggs per year.
Silver Gray Dorking
These hens were introduced to Britain from the Roman Empire and have five toes on short legs.
Personality: An endangered and old breed, the Silver Gray Dorking is known as an extremely friendly chicken. Similar to the Buff Orpingtons, Dorkings have a tendency to go broody. While Dorkings will not stray far from home, they do like to roost in trees (an interesting feat for a chicken with short legs)! These hens are so docile they may be subject to pecking and injury from more aggressive breeds.
Egg Laying: Dorkings lay medium sized cream colored eggs. They are good layers, averaging about 175 eggs per year. They are a dual-purpose bird.
Wyandottes
Wyandottes come in many different colors and patterns. Silver Laced Wyandottes are the most frequently seen, but Columbian, Penciled, and Blue-Laced-Red varieties are also observed. These hens are dual-purpose and have a rose comb. They are cold hardy and large (7-8 pounds).
