The price of eggs has skyrocketed and more and more people are turning to raising their own backyard chickens so that they can have their own supply of eggs. We have been raising chickens here since we moved here over 9 years ago. I have a previous post that you can read all about how to get started with raising baby chicks but this post will be all about the best beginner chickens if you are brand new to starting a backyard hen house.
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Supplies Needed for Raising Chickens
There are several important factors to consider when raising your own backyard chickens. In addition to having a proper chicken coop for them to live you will need to make sure water and food are readily available. When deciding to raise chickens it is important to make sure if you live in a neighborhood that you are permitted to have chickens in your city. In addition you want to make sure you have enough space dedicated for the chickens to run outside of the coop.
The exterior area is called the chicken run and there are several types of chicken runs you could create. We have found with our flock of a dozen that an area that is about 160 square feet is good, this is the size our run was before we extended the area to about 960 square feet. The only reason ours was extended was because the grassy area by that side of the driveway wasn’t being utilized for anything else.
We do have a lot of space for our chickens to free range outside however this is not necessary when first getting started.
There are many types of chicken coops for your chickens, you can find many online to purchase or at your local feed store and there are also DIY building options. The chicken coop that we have came from a friend who had moved into a house and wasn’t going to use the building so it was hauled on a tractor over to our house. The interior of the chicken coop should have an area for nesting boxes where the hens will lay eggs and then an area that they can perch on as they like to be off the ground at night when roosting.
Chicken Breeds
There are copious amounts of chicken breeds available for purchase and it can be very overwhelming if you are a first time chicken owner to decide on which breeds you should start with. We have raised many chicks over the last 10 years that we have been living at the farmhouse and these are the top five breeds that I would recommend:
- Barred Rock (also called Plymouth Barred Rock)
- Rhode Island Red
- Easter Eggers
- Sex links
- Buff Orpington
All the above breeds are great options for beginners, however if I was telling you which ones to choose I would advise to start with the Plymouth Barred Rock (we just called them Barred Rock). This is the breed we started with and they are good layers, low maintenance and great for first time chicken owners. We have also found that the Barred Rock are a friendly breed and have been known to follow me around when they know I have treats.
When we are in need of some new layer hens we usually go to our local farm store and see which chicks they have in stock and they usually have a variety of the ones I have listed above. Again the reason I would choose these is because we have raised all of these breeds and they have all been good egg layers and are breeds known for their high egg production. For our family this is important as we use the eggs ourselves and also sell to local customers.
For some new chicken owners the look of the chicken may be what makes the choice, I would however caution against the look of the mature hen and steer away from any breed of chicken that may be popular on Instagram or with influencers. The heritage breed chickens such as silkies may look super cute but they lay fewer eggs and may pose more of a challenge to a beginner.
If you live in a colder climate (anything below an USDA Zone 7) the list I have provided of best chicken breeds are those that do well in colder climates and the winter months.
Egg Color
If you go into any grocery store you will find white eggs when shopping in the egg department. And contrary to popular myth, the color of the chicken egg has nothing to do with freshness, it all has to do with the breed of the chicken. The majority of the breeds I listed above with the exception of the Rhode Island Reds will lay large brown eggs, the Rhode Island Red breed will lay a white egg. When the eggs are different colors it is fun to know exactly which hen may have laid that specific egg. Another breed we have raised that laid white eggs was a Campine, this was a smaller breed chicken and therefore the white eggs were on the smaller side.
There are many other egg colors you may have seen online, including a deep red, green and varying shades of brown. Some of these colors are laid by chickens that are more rare and are higher priced when buying them as chicks.
Purchasing New Chicks
When first purchasing your new baby chicks there are several options available: local farm store or online. I will be completely transparent and let you know that I have only ever bought our chicks from our local farm store. I have looked into purchasing online, however the price point online is usually significantly more expensive than the local store and there are usually ordering thresholds you have to make when purchasing online. However an advantage to ordering online is that there are many different breeds available from a hatchery.
Choosing a hardy bird can make all the difference when you’re just getting started as a new chicken keeper, and beginner-friendly breeds help take the stress out of raising a happy, healthy flock. As I have mentioned this is my personal experience with having a backyard flock. But by starting with chickens known for their hardiness, gentle temperaments, and proper care, you’ll build confidence and enjoy the rewards of fresh eggs and daily chicken companionship sooner. No matter which breed you choose, a little preparation, patience, and curiosity will go a long way—before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a seasoned chicken keeper.
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