Which Backyard Chicken Is Right for You?
The pandemic has brought on a slew of new hobbies and habits—with one notable uptick in chicken ownership. And since it seems that so many people are leaving the city to buy a country home, the chicken trend might last longer than a season. So we thought it best to help you decide which chicken you should actually buy—even if you're staying in the city. And who better to inform us than Chris Lesley, editor in chief of Chickens and More, a backyard chickens magazine?
As more and more people turn to backyard chickens for their eggs, their meat, and their company, they may be surprised to learn that there are many different types of chicken breeds available. Choosing that first flock can be overwhelming, sifting through hundreds of breeds and the many traits (physical and emotional) people use to divide and rank them. Fortunately, building a starter chicken flock can be easily done on the basis of a small handful of the most important traits; questions about pedigree and striking feathers can be saved for a later date.
Good for: Eggs
Obviously, most of the people who keep chickens decide to do so for the eggs, and so choose a breed looking to maximize their output, as humans have done for hundreds of years. Modern hens usually lay between two and six eggs a week, depending on breed. At the upper end of this spectrum are industrial hybrids, which will produce a staggering amount of eggs for about two years, then drop off dramatically, followed by production-focused heritage breeds, like the Rhode Island Red and the Australorp, both of which average five or six eggs a week and will produce (and live) longer than a hybrid hen.
Good for: Cuddles
While they are production livestock, many people also love their chickens as pets, and they want their pets to love them right back. Any hen raised from a chick will have some affection for the humans who raised her, but there are definitely some breeds that are more willing to (safely and hygienically) interact with and cuddle their humans than others. Chief among these are, unsurprisingly, breeds that were raised to be pets or ornamental birds, like the cochin and the silkie. These are friendly breeds notable for their striking feathers and docile personalities, though not their high production rates; both the cochin and the silkie usually lay two or three eggs per week.
Good for: Urbanites
Chickens are only becoming more popular in urban environments, and while this is mostly a good thing, it does raise the question of which breeds of chicken can do well and stay quiet in small spaces. After all, urban chickens are much closer to their neighbors, and they’re also likely not to get the exercise of having a run, which does mean they’ll need a bigger coop (approximately three times bigger) to allow them to get their exercise. And like dogs, some breeds can deal with being cooped up like that better than others.
Probably the number one option for urban chicken keepers: bantam hens, which are typically just smaller versions of popular standard breeds, although “true” bantams, with no standard counterpart, exist as well. Bantams are great because they’ll produce roughly the same amount of (admittedly smaller) eggs in significantly less space and using fewer resources.
There are also standard breeds that do well in small spaces, notably the Plymouth Rock and the Dominique—both American heritage breeds bred to be reliable producers for small homesteads. The biggest rule for urban chicken keepers, though, or anyone worried about their nearby neighbors’ reaction to the birds, is not to get a rooster. That’s a one-way ticket to a noise complaint.
Fortunately, it’s hard to go wrong when choosing chickens—as much as every breed is specialized to fulfill a specific niche in the human-chicken relationship, at the end of the day, most chickens will produce a few eggs, cluck a bit, and make a serviceable Sunday dinner if need be.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
