Choosing chickens for a backyard flock involves more than deciding how many eggs you want or which feather colors you like. The friendliest chicken breeds can make especially good choices for families, new chicken keepers and flocks that will spend plenty of time around people.

Chicken temperament varies by breed, although individual personalities vary, too. Even within a typically docile breed, you may have a hen that prefers to keep her distance or another that follows you around the yard. Roosters can also be considerably more assertive than hens, so breed reputation should be considered a starting point rather than a guarantee.

If you’re looking for chickens that are generally calm, people-friendly and easy for beginners to enjoy, these six breeds are worth considering.

Key Takeaways

• The friendliest chicken breeds tend to be calm, people-friendly and relatively easy for new chicken keepers to handle.
• Orpingtons and Australorps are known for their friendly temperaments and reliable egg production.
• Wyandottes are calm and independent, making them a good choice for keepers who don’t need highly people-oriented chickens.
• Easter Eggers are often docile and add plenty of variety to the backyard flock, especially with their colorful eggs and diverse appearances.
• Plymouth Rocks are intelligent, alert and friendly without being overly dependent on people.
• Sussex chickens are confident, active foragers that generally do well around families and children.
• Breed tendencies can help guide your choice, but individual chickens have their own personalities.

Orpington

The Buff Orpington is quite possibly the most recommended breed for new chicken keepers. It’s a large, dual-purpose breed bird, meaning it can be raised for eggs and meat. “Buff” in its name refers to its feather color. The hens are prolific layers of large brown eggs. Orpingtons are very intelligent, known to be good foragers and good mothers, and are a calm, friendly and very enjoyable addition to the backyard.

Australorp

The Australorp hails from Australia, developed through careful breeding of Black Orpingtons that were originally imported from England. The Australorp is recognized as its own breed. Like her Orpington cousin, the Australorp is very friendly with people. She is assertive enough to lead a flock without micromanaging her flock mates of lower social status. The Australorp is a prolific, reliable layer of large brown eggs.

Wyandotte

The Wyandotte is a beautiful dual-purpose chicken breed and a good egg layer. She’s calm and friendly, but in the way that she prefers to keep to herself and her flock mates. She’s a decent forager that runs a little slower due to her size. Her size also can contribute to health problems related to obesity and even bumblefoot, an infected abrasion on the foot, from landing heavier. She’s also a terrible flier, making her a good choice for a yard without a privacy fence.

Easter Egger

The Easter Egger is actually a hybrid, not a true breed, but they are fun for kids because they can lay green, blue, pink, white, brown or slightly tinted eggs! Each hen doesn’t lay a rainbow, but each does have her own special egg color sure to surprise everyone the day she begins laying. The Easter Egger is a little smaller than the larger birds above, but she lays extra large eggs. She’s also very sweet and docile. Because she’s a hybrid, each of her Easter Egger friends will have different feather colors, so the kids can identify each of them easily.

Plymouth Rock

Rachel Hurd Anger

The Rock breed comes in many varieties, the most popular for the backyard being Barred and Partridge. This breed is very intelligent. They’re good foragers and alert to aerial predators. The hens are friendly and bold, but not overly interested in humans. This dual-purpose breed lays large brown eggs. The Barred variety is especially popular with modern, small-scale meat producers, a revival of its early 20th-century popularity. It’s said to be a tasty bird, so it’s a great breed for those interested in raising meat chickens at home.

Sussex

The Sussex, whether light, red or speckled, is a very friendly, happy bird. She’s a heavy, dual-purpose breed, and she was once a popular table bird like the Barred Rock. She’s a bright and confident leader within a flock, and she’s an aggressive forager, often underfoot, eating pests in the garden. She’s great around kids, but she’ll chase after anyone holding food. Don’t let her see you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the friendliest chicken breed?

Orpingtons are often considered one of the friendliest chicken breeds. They tend to be calm, people-oriented and easy to handle, making them a popular choice for families and new chicken keepers.

What chicken breeds are best for families with children?

Orpingtons, Australorps, Easter Eggers, Plymouth Rocks and Sussex chickens can all be good choices for families. Temperament varies among individual birds, however, so children should always be supervised when interacting with chickens.

What is the calmest chicken breed?

Orpingtons are known for their calm temperament, while Wyandottes are also generally quiet and easygoing. Individual personality, flock dynamics and handling can influence how calm a particular chicken is.

Are friendly chicken breeds good for beginners?

Yes. Friendly, calm breeds can be easier for new chicken keepers to handle and enjoy. However, temperament is only one consideration. Egg production, climate tolerance, space requirements, broodiness and breed size can also help determine whether a breed is a good fit.

Are hens or roosters friendlier?

Hens are generally easier to manage in a backyard flock than roosters. Roosters can vary widely in temperament and may become territorial or protective, particularly as they mature. A breed known for friendly hens isn’t necessarily a guarantee of a friendly rooster.

Choose the Right Chicken for Your Flock

Choosing one of the friendliest chicken breeds can be a great way to start a backyard flock, particularly when children will be spending time with the birds. Still, breed temperament is only part of the equation. Consider your available space, climate, desired egg production and whether you want a bird that is highly people-oriented or more independent.

Most importantly, remember that every chicken is an individual. Give your birds time to settle in, handle them gently and pay attention to their personalities. You may discover that your favorite chicken isn’t the one you expected—it’s the one that wins you over.

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