Have you been thinking of raising your own chickens and eggs rather than buying them at the store? Choosing the best chicken breed for your homestead significantly impacts the results.

There are countless chicken breeds out there and they each have their own unique set of pros and cons. Do you want egg layers or meat producers? Heirloom or hybrid breeds?

When I first started my flock, I did a lot of research. I also talked to other chicken people, watched chickens in action, and then made my choices. Here are my best tips for choosing the perfect chicken breed for your homestead.

How to Choose the Best Chicken Breed

Before I started raising my own chickens, back in 2014, we visited friends in Georgia and New York who had chickens. We didn’t go there for the express purpose of chickens – it was just an added bonus!

Talking to people who already had chickens helped me choose the best breeds for our own property and smoothed over concerns I had at the time.

Research Chicken Breeds

Did you know free range chickens will roost in trees? Seeing their chickens was so awesome and cemented my desire for old, heirloom breeds – breeds that haven’t had being a chicken bred out of them for the sake of production.

I never considered getting a rooster until I talked to my friends who have roosters and met their roosters. I always thought of roosters as aggressive and mean. However, roosters play an integral part in flock management.

Who knew males can be useful? 😉 Roosters actually protect their flocks by alerting their girlies to potential predators. We live in a rural area and have hawks, coyotes, raccoon, owls, all kinds of predators for chickens.

Until I met a couple nice roosters, I never knew that different rooster breeds have different qualities. I wanted a protective rooster, but I don’t want one that will hurt my kids or be super aggressive to his women. Talking with friends helped me realize it is possible to get a rooster like that.

More Resources for Chicken Breed Research

My kids and I poured through catalogs like Murray McMurray and read books like Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, Backyard Chickens Book Package and Backyard Chickens: The Beginners Guide to Raising and Caring for Backyard Chickens. The books are packed full of useful information and came in handy when we finally got our chicks.

Why the Right Chicken Breed Matters

Different chicken breeds are known for different things. Some chickens are known for high egg production or excellent meat. Some are suited for specific climates.

You’ll have more enjoyment and satisfaction if you choose a breed that suits your purposes and are relatively low maintenance. Once you get more experience, try breeds that might be more challenging.

Having the right chicken breeds also makes the task more manageable. Right now people are wondering if having chickens is cheaper than buying eggs at the store. The jury is out on that, but it’s definitely not as easy. Chickens are work and having the right breed will make the process easier.

By carefully considering factors such as egg production, temperament, climate resilience, and dual-purpose capabilities, you can ensure that your chosen breeds will thrive and contribute to a successful and sustainable homestead.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Chicken Breed

As I mentioned above, I talked with a lot of chicken people before we started our flock. This helped me so much. Take the time to look at all the factors before you choose the chicken breeds.

• Egg production: Some breeds are known for laying large quantities of eggs. Will you eat that many? What will you do with any extras?
• Meat production: Are you going to butcher chickens at home for food? Some breeds lay fewer eggs but have better meat.
• Dual Purpose Birds: Chickens that are good at laying eggs and producing meat are known as dual purpose.
• Climate resilience: Some breeds are cold-hardy and thrive in northern regions, while others are better suited for warmer climates. Some do not thrive in heat so make sure you have a plan to keep them cool.
• Temperament: Chickens definitely have different personalities. Just like dog breeds are known to be playful, high energy, or calm, chicken breeds also have specific characteristics.
• Space: Will your chickens be free-range? Do you have that much space at your homestead? Pay attention to recommendations for how much space is needed for different chicken breeds.

Beginner Friendly Chicken Breeds

Ultimately, I decided to order my chickens through our local Farm & Fleet store. The prices were good and the chicks came from Cackle Hatchery. I had a conversation with a high school employee that cemented my breed decisions.

He had his own organic egg business and he lives less than a mile from me! He recommended breeds based on characteristics I wanted: good egg layer, winter hardy, potential to be broody, and a nice rooster. I also needed birds that I could order in small batches.

Based on his recommendations and my research, my first chicken order consisted of the following:

• 7 Black Australorps (1 rooster and 6 hens)- winter hardy because of their black color, one of the best brown egg producers there is, nice roosters.
• 3 Araucana (hens) – Easter Eggers. My daughter was especially excited about green and blue eggs.
• 3  White Sultan (hens) – white egg layers, fancy hair, nice chickens, broody.

For beginners, I recommend choosing chicken breeds known for being easy to care for, friendly temperament, and reliable egg production. Breeds like the Rhode Island Red and Plymouth Rock are excellent choices due to their hardy nature and consistent egg-laying abilities. The Buff Orpington is another beginner-friendly breed as it is docile and thrives in a variety of environments. Australorps are also calm and produce a lot of eggs.

Setting Up Your Homestead for Chickens

Setting up your homestead for chickens requires planning to create a safe environment for your flock. Start with a well-designed coops adequate space, ventilation, and protection from predators. Ensure the coop has nesting boxes for egg-laying and roosting bars for the chickens to perch at night.

For free-range chickens, you’ll need a secure and spacious run for them to forage and run around safely.

Provide a balanced diet with access to clean water at all times. A secure, spacious run is essential for free-range chickens, allowing them to forage and exercise safely.

Proper feeding and nutrition are crucial; provide a balanced diet with access to clean water at all times. An occasional chicken treat doesn’t hurt either. 🙂

Keep an eye on their health and you’ll have healthy, productive chickens roaming about your homestead.

Where to Buy Chicks

When I first started my flock, I ordered from our local Farm & Fleet. If you have a similar tractor supply or farm supply store, I recommend checking with them first. They are usually able to order in chickens plus they give good advice for what breeds are best for your local area.

You can also order chicks directly through the mail from chicken suppliers such as Meyer Hatchery or Murray McMurray

How Many Chickens to Start a Flock?

I’ve been told to start with at least 6 chickens. This keeps your flock manageable but also doesn’t decimate the project if something happens. It will give you a steady supply of eggs without being overwhelming.

I strongly encourage you to start with this lower number so you can learn all the basics of chicken care before you add to the flock.

Having chickens made me feel like a legitimate homesteader! They are kind of the gateway to adding other birds such as ducks, geese, and turkeys. Share your tips for beginners with chickens in the comments.

More Chicken Posts for Your Homestead

• Beginners Guide to Raising Baby Chicks
• How to prepare for mail order chicks
• Keeping chickens warm in winter
• Beyond Chicken: 5 Alternative Types of Eggs to Try