Choosing a chicken breed

Pickin' your chicken ain't easy.

There is a myriad of chicken breeds available, and choosing a breed really comes down to what you’re after. Is the chicken a pet? Do you want something pretty to look at? Are you after eggs? Or, do you want to raise meat birds? One of the best guides to chicken comparisons I've found is this Quick Reference Guide - it covers most of the breeds of chicken and highlights their pros/cons. This guide tends to focus on heritage breeds (which is my preference) but there are also hybrid options.

What's the difference, I hear you ask?

Hybrid vs Purebred There are many breeds of chickens available, ranging from commercial hybrids to heritage purebreds. Hybrids are pretty much super-bred for an economical purpose, such as egg laying or meat. Australorp hybrids, Leghorn hybrids and ISA Browns are fantastic egg layers. ISA Browns will lay an astonishing amount of eggs in their first years - around 300+ per year. That said, the laying life of a hybrid is typically shorter, and will decline quickly after the first few years. Chickens can live for 10 years, and backyard chicken keepers I know have little inclincation to kill and replace their flock, so a long laying life is beneficial for all involved. Purebred hens tend to lay less, but longer. They are also less prone to reproductive cancers and issues, which are more common in the hybrid strains.

What's best for the backyard? I think your average, home-living chicken keeper wants:

• Eggs, for as long as possible

• To keep the hens in a relatively small space (not a fullscale farm)

• Somethign that won't panic whenever you walk past or attack their children

• Looks decent (maybe its just me)

Based on that, I'd reccommend:

• Barnevelder

• Plymouth Rock

• Australorp

• Sussex

• Araucana (this lay blue eggs, which is just too cool)

• Wyandotte

There are a myriad of other breeds, and lots of other great options. For example, I adore the chubby build of an Orpington or Cochin, but hear they are rather broody. If I end up expanding my flock, I'll probably consider adding one to the group. Out of the above list I’ve selected five – Australorp, Buff Sussex, Light Sussex, Araucana and Silver Laced Wyandotte. These choices really came down to what was available on the day – I would have been happy with any of the others on the list. Of course, all chickens are different. Each individual has different personalities, genetics and traits. Only time will tell which breeds come out on top for me.

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