Introduction: Hello poultry farmers let us discuss today about chicken breeds list. One should know about chicken breeds list for commercial viability. There are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence. List of the chicken breeds are given below;
Ameraucana
The Ameraucana chicken breed is a popular and widely loved chicken breed for several reasons. People raise them for their personalities as well, as they are bright and curious birds with cheerful spirits.
The coloring of the Ameraucana is quite variable, with several color palettes to select from anywhere from black to white, blue to wheaten. The variety of colors obtainable makes this a very pretty bird. It is considered a winter hardy and dual-purpose breed.
The Ameraucana is considered a light fowl and weights must be around 6.5lb for males and 5.5lb for females. The Ameraucana breed is beloved for its’ light blue eggs and it is a moderately good layer, producing about 3-4 medium-sized eggs/week. The Ameraucana does not have any significant health issues unlike its parent the Araucana and they will live around 7-8 years on average. The Araucana chicken breed was a very rare bird. The genetic make-up of this bird is such that that it carries a lethal gene that can kill chicks in the shell.
Araucana
Araucana chickens are strong, grow faster and chick mature quickly. They are placid birds and are vigorous and very hardy. Araucana hens tend towards broodiness and they are superb mothers. They do well in confined condition and they like to have fresh grass. On average Araucana roosters weight, about 2.7-3.2 kg and hens weigh 2.3-2.7 kg.
Araucana chicken is a beautiful breed and also known for its ability to lay colored eggs. It is a rare breed with much controversy and numerous challenges. The origin of the Araucana is still up for debate, though many believe they originated in Chile. The ability to lay blue eggs was the major reason for breeding Araucana chicken.
Australorp
Australorp breed is the Australian take on the Orpington breed. They are calm and friendly, and good layers of light brown eggs. The Australorp’s very soft, shiny black plumage has hints of green and purple in the sunlight. Australorps are an extremely delightful bird which we highly recommend to anyone who wants a pet chicken that lays dependably.
Ancona
The Ancona breed is a typical Mediterranean breed of chicken, rustic, lively and hardy. These are the general fowls that inhabit central Italy. Named after the port of Ancona these birds range widely and get flight easily. The Ancona is a particularly good egg layer.
The Ancona chicken is a heritage breed and this lovely chicken originates in the Italian seaport of Ancona on the Adriatic Sea. Exported from Italy and mostly bred in England in the 19th century, the Ancona is now very rare in its homeland.
Barnevelder
Barnevelder hens express an attractive patterning on their feathers; a brown feather with double black lacing to produce an ‘arrowhead’ effect. The Barnevelder can be express as rectangular body shape, compact with a U- shaped back. Their wings are high on the body, thus the bird does not fly well.
Barnevelders are available as bantams but they are not easily obtainable from breeders. The Barnevelder will give you 3 to 4 large brown eggs each week. The bird eggs are said to be dark chocolate and occasionally speckled.
Buttercup chicken
The Buttercup chicken breed derives its name from the combination of unique comb shape and the golden buff color of the hen’s plumage. The comb of the Buttercup chicken is essentially two single-combs that merge in front over the beak, as well as at the back. The combination on the best specimens forms a cup-shaped “crown” and that is, a cup surmounted by regularly spaced medium-sized points. Imperfectly created Buttercup chicken combs appear akin to a pair of antlers.
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Buckeye
The Buckeye breed is a dual-purpose breed of chicken with a deep, lustrous red color of plumage. They have yellow legs and skin, and, thanks to their pea comb, are cold-weather hardy. Buckeyes adapt readily to a different variety of living conditions, they do best under free-range conditions or conditions where they have room to move around. Because of their active nature, they do not do particularly well in small confined spaces. Roosters weigh about nine pounds; hens weigh approximately six and a half pounds and lay medium-sized, brown eggs.
Brakels
Brakels are a very hardy and active breed. They are good fliers, alert for predators, and good foragers. This will make them well adapted for free-ranging flocks.
These birds were a staple on small farms in the area and were bred as a dual-purpose breed with good egg production and good table quality. Hens lay about 180 to 200 eggs per year, which are quite large relative to their medium body size.
Bielefelder
The Bielefelder breed is a modern breed, developed in the early 1970s in Bielefeld, Germany. Birds are friendly and seek human interaction. They have a large frame that holds plenty of meat and roosters can weigh 10 – 12 pounds. Their size and camouflaging feather pattern will make them perfect for free-range conditions. Hens can create upwards of 230 large eggs per year.
Campine
The Campine chicken breed is originally from northern Belgium, but once it was imported to England in 1899, it was developed into a much different bird. Campines come in two color varieties they are Silver and Golden. They are fair layers of white eggs, but generally for show. This bird is considered a delicate and active breed.
Catalana
Catalanas are very excellent in the egg-laying department and valued for their meat as well. With buff-colored bodies, black-tipped tails, very large wattles and single combs (which flop over in females), Catalanas are not cold-hardy and thus have not gained popularity in cooler climates. They are good foragers that enjoy roosting in trees.
A hardy dual-purpose breed, the Catalana chicken breed has the style, alertness, activity, and foraging ability typical of Mediterranean chickens. They lay white eggs in plenty and seldom become broody. The cockerels and cull layers are noted for having good carcasses and succulent meat.
Crevecoeur
The Crevecoeur chicken breed is one of the oldest of the standard-bred fowls of France. Solid black, Crevecoeur chicken breed has crests and beards of moderate size, compact, well-proportioned bodies, and short legs. Their heads are adorned with a distinctive “v” shaped comb.
This fowl has a lean body with a steep chest, a rounded back and the shanks are a pale grayish black color and the beak has a similar color to the legs but it has a deep shade. The skin color is white while the Crevecoeur looks small and without much muscle, the bird fattens up to become a nice meat bird.
Cornish chicken
Cornish chicken is also known as Indian Game, is a meat chicken breed from the county of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Cornish chicken breeds are not good layers. On average, they produce 160 to 180 eggs per year. Cornish chickens are aggressive but moderately easy to handle and the hens are good mothers. They require more space compared to any other breeds. So, Cornish chickens may not be appropriate for the suburban poultry keepers. On average, a Cornish cock weights about 3.86 kg, a hen 2.57 kg. I feel this can occuopy in one of the best chicken breeds list.
Cornish require adequate protection during very cold weather as their feathers offer less insulation than can be found on other chickens. Because of their short feathers and wide compact bodies, Cornish breed is deceptively heavy. Due to their shape, excellent Cornish often experience poor fertility and artificial mating is suggested. Cornish are movers and require space to exercise and develop their muscles.
Cinnamon Queen
The Cinnamon Queen breed is a modern-day production breed that lays brown eggs. They are a cross between a Rhode Island Red rooster and a Rhode Island White hen breed. Cinnamon Queens were developed particularly for their prolific egg-laying ability. Pullets will lay 250 to 300 eggs per year and start much sooner than heritage breeds.
Delaware
The Delaware breed originated from crosses of Barred Plymouth Rock roosters and New Hampshire hens. This breed has well-developed egg and meat qualities, and a calm and friendly disposition. The breed is noted for rapid development and fast feathering of the chicks. Cocks produce to 8 pounds and hens to 6 pounds. They have moderately big combs and medium-sized head and neck. Their body is moderately very long, broad, and deep.
Dorking
Dorking chicken breed is to be found in several colors, the most ancient of these being the White, the Colored, and the Silver Gray. Much old literature speculates that the White Dorking chicken breed is the original variety.
Dorking hens are excellent winter layers and could be said to be good layers except for their propensity to sit after laying 35-50 eggs. They are excellent sitters and mothers; often staying with the chicks far longer than hens of other breeds. Dorking hens tend to welcome chicks of other hens.
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Gournay
These birds weigh 4 to 7 pounds and have a round body and small head. Their feathers are regularly mottled black and white. They have orange color eyes and a thick beak, and a well-developed breast with delicate and flavorful meat.
Hens are sweet but will go broody and they lay around 3 white, extra-large eggs per week. The Gournay is very easy to tame and handles confinement well, making them a rare but excellent choice for backyard chicken keeping.
Hamburg
Hamburg breed was found in Holland in the 14th century, but their origins are unclear. These birds are very popular for their egg production. They lay about 200 eggs per year, but they consistently lay for years longer than other breeds.
These birds make a good addition to a backyard flock with room to forage. They are robust, active, and spirited, and light eaters.
Houdan
Houdan chicken breed was developed in France and they are descended from the ancient 5-toed fowl that were once common in France and Belgium. Houdan breed is historically held in high esteem for both meat and production qualities.
Houdans have both crests and beards, and black with mottled white plumage. They have five toes on each foot. They are reasonably hardy but in the right climates can rival Leghorns in egg production.
Java
The Java breed is considered the second-oldest breed of chicken developed in America. Javas come in four varieties are Black, Mottled, White, and Auburn. The Black Java breed is noted for the beetle-green sheen of its feathers, a green sheen more brilliant than any other black fowl except the Langshan.
Mottled Javas must have very intense red eye color, and their feathering is black with splashes, or mottles, of white. The White Java breed was admitted to the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection but was removed before 1910 as it was felt that it and the White Plymouth Rock were too similar.
Javas are a good breed for free-ranging homesteads and are known for their egg production and table qualities. The Black Java breed is known for the brilliant beetle-green sheen of its feathers.
Jersey Giant
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Jersey Giant chicken breed is the largest dual-purpose chicken breed in the American Class. It is excellent for eggs as well as meat. Jersey Giant hens lay more eggs compared to other breeds. They lay large light brown eggs and mainly known as good winter layers.
Jersey Giants are the largest purebred chicken. The weight of mature roosters is 11 to 15 pounds and they are generally 22 to 26 inches tall. Mature hens 9 to 11 pounds and generally 16 to 20 inches tall.
The Jersey Giant chicken breed was developed between 1870 and 1890 in New Jersey. You can probably guess that these birds are big. Rooster’s weight in at 13 pounds and hens can easily grow up to 10 pounds and they are the largest purebred chicken breed. They are known to be fairly excellent layers compared to other large breeds and are good winter layers.
Leghorn
This is one of the best breeds of chicken breeds list. Leghorn chicken breed originates from Italy, being sent to America around 1830. Commercial strains of white Leghorns can be good egg layers, laying around 250 or more eggs per year.
Leghorn chickens are active and efficient foragers. This breed chicken is always willing to work, hunting and scratching. They are prolific layers and rarely go broody and non-sitters. They lay throughout the year and eggs are white and are of excellent size. They grow faster and mature quickly.
Marans
Marans hens lay around 150 to 200 dark brown eggs each year depending on the variety. Marans are historically a dual-purpose bird, prized not for their dark eggs but their table qualities as well.
Marans chicken breed is a dual-purpose breed and known for both its fine meat qualities and extremely dark eggs. They produce large enough to be used for meat production as well as for eggs. On average, Marans hens produce about 150 to 200 eggs per year.
Marans chicken breeds are a fast-growing breed and extremely hardy that will thrive in almost all climates. They are normally docile and quiet and pretty active.
Minorca
Minorca breed is a Mediterranean breed of a domestic chicken, and are the largest fowl from this region. They have a greenish-black glossy plumage, and large, bright red combs and wattles. These help with dissipating heat and they also have very large, almond-shaped, white earlobes, common to other Mediterranean fowl. Minorcas are not broody, but good layers of large, white eggs. They are hardy and rugged, taking well to free-range conditions.
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Naked Neck
Naked neck chicken breed is naturally devoid of feathers on its neck and vent. The breed is also known as Transylvanian Naked Neck, as well as the Turken.
They will make for a good dual-purpose utility chicken. They have about half the feathers of other chickens, so they are easier to pluck if raised for meat. They lay a respectable number of eggs.
Nankin chicken
The Nankin chicken breed is one of the oldest known bantam chickens. The Nankin chicken breed is overall a chestnut color with black tail feathers, with the cocks being a deep chestnut, and the hens being lighter. They have rose or single combs, but all have bright red wattles, faces, and earlobes. Nankin chicken legs are slate blue, although they can be white, due to a defect resulting from a hidden recessive gene in the males.
The Orpington breed is a large chicken, weighing between 8 and 10 pounds on average. It has very soft feathering and white skin. The Orpington breed has a broad body, and its wide stance places its body fairly close to the ground. The Orpington chicken is a large fowl with soft feathering that masks the true size of the bird. The feathering allows the endurance of cold temperatures better than other chicken breeds.
The Orpington has a single or rose comb (depending on the standards of the country), red wattles and white earlobes. The hen does tend to go broody and is thought to be an excellent mother. Orpington lay about 200 eggs per year and if you’re thinking about adding some to your flock, we suggest the Buff Orpington.
Plymouth Rock
I really like this breed and one of the best breeds of chicken breeds list. Plymouth Rock chicken breed is hardy, long-lived and larger sized breed. Some of the varieties of this breed are mostly raised for meat and some of the varieties are good layers. Plymouth Rock has a moderately deep full breast and they possess a long broad back. Plymouth Rocks are respectable layers of large brown eggs. They average around 200 eggs per year which equate to about 4 eggs per week.
Plymouth Rock is a good general farm chicken and they are docile while showing some broodiness. They possess very long, broad back and a moderately deep, full breast. And they have a single comb of moderate size.
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Rhode Island Red
This super chicken breed and one of the best breeds of chicken breeds list for commercial livestock farming. Rhode Island Reds are a great option for beginner chicken-keepers or expert small flock keepers. Developed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the late 1800s, these birds are a hardy and dual-purpose breed. They are low maintenance and can tolerate less than favorable conditions. Hens lay about 5 to 7 eggs per week.
Sumatra
You can consider this poultry breed as one of the best chicken breeds list. Sumatra chicken breed is a distinctive fowl that look less like domestic poultry than other chickens. They have rather long tails carried low enough to appear drooping and they have multiple spurs on each leg, and a high degree of greenish luster on jet black plumage. Sumatra chicken breed is generally not aggressive, however, cockerels are known to be agitated during the breeding season. Hens do go broody and are considered excellent mothers.
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