The ICYouSee Handy-Dandy Chicken Charts: Our Flock (Backyard Breeds)

The Chicken Breed Charts
Our Flock (Backyard Breeds)		Full Alphabetical List
Chicken Resources on the Web
Why another chicken page?

On this chart are the breeds we have included in our flock either currently or at some time in the recent past. Unlike most of the breeds on the main ICYouSee Handy Dandy Chicken Breed Chart, all are breeds with which I have had first-hand experience. Most of the breeds listed on this page can be called Dual Purpose -- breeds developed both for their egg production and use as table birds. With a few exceptions, all of our birds, hens and, in in some cases, cocks, have done well in a mixed-breed, backyard, small-scale free-ranging flock. All of the breeds have proven robust in our New York State climate. Some have thrived, and all have survived in an unheated, partially insulated hen house through winters where outside temperatures can reach 20 below (Fahrenheit), with the worst damage being some loss of comb due to frostbite by some single comb cocks.

NOTE: If the table does not quite fit on your screen, make sure your page fills the whole screen and then try decreasing font/text size.

Breed (with links to other sites with images and more information)	Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?	Class and Type	Origins	Egg color & productivity; egg size	Comb / Skin color / Earlobes	Brooding Hardiness Maturing	Behavior
Ameraucana FS PB 0	Black, Blue, Blue-wheaten, Brown-red, Buff, Silver, Wheaten, and White Easter Eggers are common. Standard Ameraucanas are rare. 88%/8% (EEs/pure) 5.5 lb/2.5 kg	APA (1984): Large: All Other Bantam: All Other Clean Legged PC: Not recognized Layer Fancy: Muffed, Bearded	South American. May or may not be genetically related to the Araucana. Standardized & accepted into the APA in 1984. Most hatcheries, however, sell mongrel Easter Egg chickens that may lay blue, green, or other colors of eggs.	various shades of blue (Only Easter Eggers are supposed to lay green eggs, but finding purebred Americaunas that lay blue eggs can be difficult)	pea white with slate colored shanks	good brooder very cold hardy moderately early maturing	well adaptable to confinement or free range; mostly calm, non-aggressive [all but one of our blue-green egg layers have been mongrel Easter Eggers rather than purebred Ameraucanas; most all of ours have been very friendly & easily handled.]
The chipmunky blue-egger.				medium
Andalusian FS OK PP box GO PB	Blue Still popular as a show bird. 32% Standard: 5.5 lb/2.4 kg Bantam: 1.75 lb/0.8 kg	APA (1874): Large: Mediterranean; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Light, Rare Layer Fancy: Blue feathered	Developed in Spain & England in mid-19th century. Studied by Gregor Mendel in experiments in genetics & heredity. Blue color does not breed true. Black & Splash (White) are necessary for breeding, but are not permitted to be shown.	chalk to creamy white	single white skin, slate blue shanks white	mostly a non-setter hardy; heat tolerant; combs subject to frostbite early maturing	economical eater; adaptable to confinement, but prefers free range; active, flighty, noisy, avoids human contact
The original blue.				large
Breed (with links to other sites with images and more information)	Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?	Class and Type	Origins	Egg color & productivity; egg size	Comb / Skin color / Earlobes	Brooding Hardiness Maturing	Behavior
Barnevelder FS OK Om PP box GO	Double-laced, Blue-laced, White, Black, others Little known until recently. 4% Standard: 6-7 lb/2.7-3.2 kg Bantam: 2.25 lb/1.0 kg	APA (2001): Large: Continental PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose	Developed in late 19th C./early 20th century. in Holland for dark egg laying. Developed from an older local variety that may date as early as the 12th century. In recent history, some strains have been bred for show and others for the darkness of their eggs.	very dark reddish brown, with matte finish	single yellow skin & shanks red	can be non-setter or good brooder less cold hardy; good in damp conditions slow to mature, & some chicks can be easily bullied	well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, friendly
Famous for large dark brown eggs.				large
Brahma FS OK PP box PB 0	Light, Dark, Buff Less common to rare. 48%/20% (light/all other) Standard: 9 lb/4.1 kg Bantam: 2.6 lb/1.2 kg	APA (1874): Large:Asiatic Bantam: Feather Legged PC: Soft feather Heavy Dual Purpose Fancy: Feather Footed, outside only	Introduced from China in mid-19th century. The largest breed at the time. Before the name Brahma was settled on, they were also called Chittagongs, Shanghais (as were the Cochins), and Brahmapootras.	brown	pea yellow skin & shanks red	good brooder robust; very hardy in heat and cold slow to mature	adaptable to confinement or free range; mostly gentle; can be easied handled, but also standoffish; has a tendency toward fatness
Large and regal.				medium
Buckeye FS OK AL	Nut brown, only Very rare. 12% 6.5 lb/2.9 kg	APA (1904): Large: American PC: Not recognized Dual Purpose	Developed by Mrs. Nettie Metcalf of Warren, Ohio, in late 19th century. Never widely popular.	brown	pea white skin & blue/gray shanks red	can be broody very cold hardy moderately slow maturing	adaptable to confinement, very adaptable to free range; calm, friendly
Buckeye brown bird from the Buckeye state.				medium
Campine FS OK PP box 0	Golden, Silver Uncommon. 40%/32% (golden/silver) 5 lb/2.2 kg	APA: Large: Continental; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft feather Light Layer	May have ancient ancestry, but refined & further developed in Belgium in the 19th century. Braekel is a closely related European breed. Some males are hen-feathered.	white	large single white skin, blue shanks white	non-setter hardy; comb subject to frostbite quick feathering but late maturing	economical eater; adaptable to confinement, but prefers free range; flyer; alert, lively; inquisitive; some are rather wild, others can be friendly
Beautiful bird with unique pencilling.				medium
Breed (with links to other sites with images and more information)	Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?	Class and Type	Origins	Egg color & productivity; egg size	Comb / Skin color / Earlobes	Brooding Hardiness Maturing	Behavior
Delaware FS OK AL	White [Columbian] Rare. 32% 6.5 lb/2.9 kg	APA (1952): Large: American; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Not recognized Dual Purpose	Developed by George Ellis in 1940 in Delaware. Unknown in most of the world.	medium to rich brown	single yellow skin & shanks red	can be broody robust; hardy in heat & cold early maturing	well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, friendly
A broiler cross that became a breed.				large
Dorking FS OK Om AR PP box GO RB club	Silver Gray, White, Colored Extremely rare. 16%/4% (silver/all other) Standard: 6.5 lb/2.2 kg Bantam: 1.0 lb/0.8 kg	APA (1874): Large: English; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft feather Heavy Dual Purpose Fancy: Five-Toed Short legs	Ancient; believed to have been introduced to England by Romans -- based primarily on a description by a Roman writer of a chicken with five toes.	creamy white to light tint	rose & single white skin & shanks red	great brooder; good mother less hardy in general, cold hardy chicks delicate & slow to mature	adaptable to confinement or free range; does not scratch excessively; calm; stately or awkward; fattens easily; gentle; friendly; easily tamed & handled
Short legged, very ancient, very English.				medium
Breed (with links to other sites with images and more information)	Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?	Class and Type	Origins	Egg color & productivity; egg size	Comb / Skin color / Earlobes	Brooding Hardiness Maturing	Behavior
Faverolles FS OK Om AR PP box club	Salmon, White Once rare, but gaining popularity. 44% Standard: 7.5 lb/3.4 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1.0 kg	APA (1914): Large: Continental; Bantam: Feather Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose Fancy: Bearded & muffed Feather footed, outside only Five-Toed	Developed in France in early 19th century.	creamy tint	small single white skin & shanks red [hidden by feathers]	can be broody robust; cold hardy; because of fancy feathering, not suited for foul weather early maturing	bears confinement well; alert; calm; very docile; genteel; prone to bullying by others
The French Poodle of chicken breeds.				medium
Hamburg or Hamburgh FS OK PP box 0	Silver-Spangled, Golden-Spangled, Golden-Penciled, Silver-Penciled, White, Black Less common. 56%/24% (silver-spangled/all other) Standard: 4 lb/1.8 kg Bantam: 1.5 lb/0.7 kg	APA (1874): Large: Continental Bantam: Rose Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Light Layer	Developed in Holland (not Germany) before 1700; may be ancient. Historical names include Pheasants, Moonies, Crescents, Corals & Everlayers.	low-gloss white	rose white skin, slate blue shanks white	non-setter hardy; cold hardy very early maturing	very economical eater; likes wide range; less tolerant of close confinement; high flyer; very flighty; spritely, active, avoids human contact
The spritely, little "everyday layer."				small
Jersey Giant FS OK PP box	Black, White Uncommon. Was in decline; Blacks seems to be holding their own. 56%/28% (black/all other) 10 lb/4.6 kg	APA (1922): Large: American Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Heavy, Rare Dual Purpose	Developed in New Jersey in 1870s. Never commercially popular, but bird of choice for capons	brown	small single yellow skin, dark shanks red	good brooder; protective mother robust; very cold hardy very slow to mature	not an economical eater; adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, gentle, easily handled
The chicken world's largest breed.				medium to large
Breed (with links to other sites with images and more information)	Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?	Class and Type	Origins	Egg color & productivity; egg size	Comb / Skin color / Earlobes	Brooding Hardiness Maturing	Behavior
Lakenvelder FS OK Om PP box GO	Black/white/black pattern. Rare. 52%/20% (silver/gold) 4 lb/1.8 kg	APA (1939): Large: Continental; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft feather Light Layer	Developed in Germany in early 19th century. Golden Lakenvelders are not standard. Vorwerk is a bantam with the black/gold/black pattern.	white to light tint	single white skin, dark shanks white	non-setter hardy early maturing	well adaptable to confinement or free range; flyer; flighty, avoids human contact
Shadow on a sheet.				small
Langshan FS OK box GO PB	Black, White, & Blue. Uncommon. 32%/16% (black/all other) 7.5 lb/3.4 kg	APA (1883): Large: Asiatic; Bantam: Feather Legged PC: Soft feather Heavy Dual Purpose [formerly Meat] Fancy: Feather Footed, outside only (some varieties are clean footed)	Introduced from China in mid-19th century. Major Croad introduced them to England & gave his name to an early variety of Langshans. In Europe & elsewhere, distinctions are made between Croad & Modern Langshans.	brown [Croad Langshans once lay very dark brown]	single greyish white skin, dark shanks red	can be broody very hardy; cold hardy slow to mature	well adaptable to confinement or free range; active for their size; graceful; not as calm or docile as other large breeds
The long-legged, high-tailed, and feather-footed regal bird.				medium
Leghorn FS OK Om AR PP box GO PB RF club	Dark Brown, Light Brown, White, Buff, Black, Silver, Red, Black-Tailed Red, Columbian Common. 84%/80%/32% white/brown/all other Standard: 4.5 lb/2 kg Bantam: 1.75 lb/0.8 kg	APA (1874): Large: Mediterranean; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Light Layer	Ancient, but greatly developed in 19th & 20th centuries. Honored by the Romans, and the white variety was reportedly developed for use in ceremony and foretelling the future. One of the most popular birds around the globe.	pearl white (non-white feathered varieties are less prolific.)	large single; also rose yellow skin & shanks white	non-setter hardy; combs subject to frostbite very early maturing	economical eater; well adaptable to confinement or free range; flyer; flighty; spritely, noisy, nervous, usually avoids human contact
The ultimate egg machine.				medium to large [commercial whites' are especially large]
Breed (with links to other sites with images and more information)	Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?	Class and Type	Origins	Egg color & productivity; egg size	Comb / Skin color / Earlobes	Brooding Hardiness Maturing	Behavior
Marans FS Om PP box GO RF	Dark, Cuckoo, others Once little known, but now becoming trendy. 4% Standard: 7 lb/3.2 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1.0 kg	APA: Not recognized PC: Soft Feather Heavy Layer Feather or Clean Footed,depending on country standard or strain	Developed in France in early 20th century. Since French and English standards are different, and both have been imported into North America, standardization in the United States may not occur any time soon.	dark chocolate brown	single white skin & shanks red	non-setter but occasionally broody some strains less hardy	well adaptable to confinement or free range; varies widely by strain: very active; calm or wild, difficult or easy to manage
Known for one thing -- chocolate colored eggs.				medium to large
New Hampshire or New Hampshire Red FS OK Om PP box GO	Light brownish red, only Fairly common 72% Standard: 6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam: 1.9 lb/0.85 kg	APA (1935): Large: American; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Heavy, Rare Dual Purpose	Developed in New Hamphire from the Rhode Island Red in early 20th century.	light to medium dark brown	large single yellow skin & shanks red	good brooder & mother robust; cold hardy, except combs subject to frostbite very early maturing	well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, can be friendly or aggressive
New Hampshire's answer to Rhode Island.				large
Orpington FS OK Om AR PP box GO	Buff, Black, Blue, White Only buffs are still popular. 88%/8% (buff/all other) Standard: 8 lb/3.6 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg	APA (1902): Large: English; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose [formerly Meat]	Originally developed by William Cook in Orpington (County Kent) the 1880s. Some varieties developed by his daughter.	brown	single white skin & white or dark shanks red	good brooder; excellent mother hardy; very cold hardy moderately early maturing	adaptable to free range; very adaptable to confinement; docile; affectionate, easily handled; can be bullied
Big friendly bird.				medium to large
Plymouth Rock FS OK Om AR PP box GO club	Barred, White, Buff, Silver Penciled, Partridge, Columbian, Blue Popular 96%/84%/52%/32% (barred/white/prtg/all other) Standard: 7.5 lb/3.4 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg	APA (1874): Large: American; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose	Developed in New England in 19th century. Once common on the homestead, still popular in the backyard.	light (or pinkish) to medium brown	small single yellow skin & shanks red	broods, but infrequently; good mother robust; very cold hardy somewhat early maturing	well adaptable to confinement or free range; docile, friendly, easily handled
Once upon a time America's favorite breed.				large
Breed (with links to other sites with images and more information)	Varieties / Rarity / What's a hen weigh?	Class and Type	Origins	Egg color & productivity; egg size	Comb / Skin color / Earlobes	Brooding Hardiness Maturing	Behavior
Rhode Island FS OK AL Om AR PP box club	Rhode Island Red & Rhode Island White (two separate breeds) Popular, but purebreds are uncommon. 68%/44%/28% (production/red/white) Standard: 6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam: 2 lb/0.9 kg	APA (1904/1922): Large: American; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose	Developed in New England in 19th century.	rich medium brown	large single; also rose yellow skin & shanks red	broods infrequently; can be dutiful mother robust; cold hardy, except combs subject to frostbite moderately early maturing	well adaptable to confinement or free range; active, calm & fairly docile, can be aggressive (cocks are especially notorious)
Best of breeds for producing brown eggs.				large
Sussex FS OK Om AR PP box GO RF	Speckled, Red, Light Uncommon. 44%/0% (speckled/all other) Standard: 7 lb/3.2 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg	APA (1914): Large: English; Bantam: Single Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose	Developed in county of Sussex in early 19th century.	creamy to light brown	single white skin & shanks red	good brooder & mother robust; very cold hardy moderately early maturing	well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm; gentle; active; can be curious; friendly; easily handled
An old English favorite				medium to large
Welsumer or Welsummer FS AR Om PPPP box GO club	Red Partridge Once little known, but gaining popularity. 12% Standard: 6 lb/2.7 kg Bantam: 2 lb/0.9 kg	APA (2001): Large: Continental PC: Soft Feather Light Dual Purpose	Developed in Holland in 20th century.	rich dark terracotta brown	small single yellow skin & shanks red	mixed reports on setting & brooding hardy; cold hardy moderately early maturing	economical eater; well adaptable to confinement or free range; lively, but not especially flighty; energetic; friendly
Backyard bird with big brown eggs.				large
Wyandotte FS OK Om AR PP box GO PB	Silver Laced, Golden Laced, White, Buff, Partridge, Silvered Penciled, Columbian Popular. 92%/64%/24% (slver/gold/all other) Standard: 6.5 lb/2.9 kg Bantam: 2.2 lb/1 kg	APA (1883): Large: American; Bantam: Rose Comb Clean Legged PC: Soft Feather Heavy Dual Purpose	Developed in New York State & Wisconsin in late 19th century.	light to rich brown	rose yellow skin & shanks red	broods, but infrequently; excellent mother robust; very cold hardy moderately early maturing	well adaptable to confinement or free range; calm, industrious, usually docile, but can be aggressive; some are aloof, others friendly
The "bird of curves."				large

The links in the first column of the chart lead you to sites created and developed by other individuals. They are not part of the chicken chart site, and I have not helped create and do not claim responsiblity for them.
Numerous books (new and old, and including those by authors Harry Lewis, Lewis Wright, Alanna Moore, H. S. Babcock, Caleb N. Bement, Frank L. Platt, Louis M. Hurd, James E. Rice and Harold E. Botsford, Joseph Batty, Ian Kay, Eric Bailey, Page Smith and Charles Daniel, and Tamara Staples), articles from Mother Earth News, Organic Gardening, and Science News, the Murray McMurray and Glenn Drown's Sandhill Preservation catalogs, and multiple Web sites (especially the Web sites in the "KEY TO LINKS" section below) were consulted in creating the chicken chart. Sources, of course, do not always agree, so personal judgments, common sense, and some limited personal knowledge were also used in determining the final make-up of the chart. If you have corrections or suggestions, please let me know.

Notes on symbols and keywords:

• KEY TO LINKS: In order to squeeze all the information into one chart I have had to be brief. The links in the first column are marked with what may seem too brief and cryptic, but they are shorthand for links to excellent sources of information. There are many other good sources on the Web, but these are the sites I found most useful for information about specific breeds. Descriptions of sites are found on the page of of chicken links, but here at least are the names and authors of the Web sites:

  = portrait (illustration rather than photograph) available on the Web. Illustrations are either by Diane Jacky, found either on her site or in an online poultry catalog. Photographs of most breeds can be found at the FeatherSite, the "Breeds Parade" section of Chickenbox, Joke Osinga's Kippenrassen, and on many other chicken pages.

  FS = Barry Koffler's FeatherSite (usually lots of photographs available)

  OK = Oklahoma State University's Department of Animal Science's Poultry Breeds

  PP = PoultryPage from Britain

  box = Johan Opsomer's Chickenbox from the Nederlands. Links are to the main page. You will have to explore the site to find individual breeds.

  PB = Palm Beach County Poultry Fanciers Association Breed Encyclopedia

  0 = other notable pages specific to the breed, clubs and personal pages

• VARIETIES AND RELATED BREEDS: Among the poultry associations of different countries, different breeds are officially recognized and different varieties within the same breed are accepted. Not all breeds listed here are recognized by the American Poultry Association, but for the breeds that are APA Standard, I have tried to use the APA accepted varieties. For some breeds, I have listed colors that are available, not that are recognized varieties by either the APA or another official poultry association. Names and terms also differ around the world.
• CLASS AND TYPE:
  Class:
  APA = American Poultry Association
  PC = Poultry Club [of Britain]
  Chicken breeds have been classified many different ways. Class as defined by the American Poultry Association indicates place of origin. The Poultry Club in the UK uses classes based on type of feathering, Soft (or loose) and Hard (or close) and body type, Light or Heavy.
  Type: Breeds can also be separated by the purpose for which they were originally developed. Dual Purpose were develped for both meat and eggs. These days, most of these breeds are only found in backyards and small farms. Layers are those breeds that are principally used for egg production. As a general rule these birds are active and lively, lighter in weight than most other standard breeds, not broody, and not particularly friendly. Game breeds were once bred for cockfighting. It is believed they were the first chickens to be bred by humans. As a general rule, they are noisy and pugnacious, but some can be very friendly toward humans, and hens can be very protective mothers. As a rule they have low egg production. Fancy breeds are those with special features, such as crests, feathered feet, unusual colors, beards, muffs, or five toes. Some fancy breeds are strictly ornamental, but many others are will also be found among the layer and dual purpose breeds, as well. Bantam breeds are little birds of ornament and pleasure. The term bantam comes from a small chicken that originated in the Bantam region of Java, but after they were introduced to Europe centuries ago, any small variety of fowl was called a bantam. Bantams include both miniature versions of the large standard breeds and True Bantams, breeds for which there is no matching large standard. The descriptive term True, however, does not mean a naturally diminutive breed, since many True Bantams have been highly engineered by breeding programs.
  indicates breeds used as broilers, fryers, or roasters. Since the days of Cornish X Rock dominance, however, no breed of chicken is used commercially as table birds. Although some breeds have local reputations for flavor and tenderness, in most cases, the birds are raised for meat simply because of their size. Caponizing increases both size and tenderness.
• RARITY: Notes on rarity are primarliy related to availabilty in North America. The figures listed in orange after each short note are data gathered in February 2003 survey of hatchery catalogs and other poultry breeder lists. Some were obtained in the mail, and others were found online. For standard breeds, 25 hatcheries/breeders were used; for bantams 15 hatcheries/breeders were used. A list of sources used is available upon request. Availability of quality exhibition birds is not addressed in this data.
• EGG RATE:

  = poor

  = fair

  = good

  = very good

  = prolific

  I have been inexact with the egg rates, because egg production is only partly influenced by the breed of hen, and because numbers I have seen have been all over the place. Egg production of an individual hen is dependent on such other factors as age, health, nutrition, space, housing, sanitation, light, humidity, temperature, and contentment. Although one Black Australorp laid a record 364 eggs in 365 days, your Australorp may not reach half that number in her best year. Different lines of the same variety have been bred for different reasons, emphasizing ornamental over egg-laying values, or vice versa. After hens reach 3 years old, they start to decline in egg production by 15 to 20 per cent each year. A friend tells me she had an eight year old pet Aracauna who in her last year dutifully laid one egg a month.

  = good winter layer

  Chickens tend to be much better layers in the spring and summer; good winter layers are those hens whose weekly egg rate show significantly less drop in the colder/darker months.

• EGG COLOR: Egg colors used on this page are inexact estimations and will also appear differently on different monitors. Egg colors, of course, will vary from bird to bird. I have heard one chicken fancier complain that none of his Barnvelders, Marans, or Welsummers ever laid the famed dark brown eggs they were supposed to, but instead laid eggs no darker than that of an average Rhode Island Red.
• EGG SIZE:Sizes listed are not in conformity with USDA grades and combine large, extra large, and jumbo. In general, small eggs average 55 grams or less (under 2 ounces). Medium eggs average 55 to 60 grams (about 2 ounces). Large eggs are 60 grams or more (more than 2 ounces). Size is based on those laid during a hen's prime laying years. Pullets will lay much smaller eggs, and, as hens get older, they will lay increasingly larger eggs. Size of eggs will vary by both variety and individual hen. Perhaps the best example of this is the leghorn, since the commercial white has been developed to lay a very large egg, but most other varieties lay medium sized eggs.
• COMBS: An illustration of male comb types from an old poultry textbook can be found several places around the Web. A hen's comb is generally smaller than a coxcomb, and in the case of the large single comb, the hen's comb flops over rather jauntily instead of standing erect like a large single coxcomb.
  The University of Illinois Extension site includes descriptions of combs with its illustrations. It also describes a Silkis comb [silkie's comb?], which is most elsewhere called a walnut comb.