Looking to add a little patriotic flair to your backyard flock? Choosing red, white and blue chicken breeds is a fun and festive way to celebrate your love for country—especially around holidays like Independence Day or Memorial Day. Beyond their colorful plumage, these breeds are reliable layers, hardy birds, and charming additions to any coop. Whether you’re just starting your flock or planning to add more birds, these feathered friends bring color and character to your homestead.
Here are five full-colored breeds you can raise to create the perfect red, white and blue poultry flock.
🐔 Cochin: A Fluffy Breed with Patriotic Variety
Beloved by Queen Victoria, the feather-legged Cochin is a favorite with families because of its gentle, friendly nature. The bantam version of this chicken breed is just as affectionate … and comes in red, white and blue colors.
This colorful Bantam Cochin trio is ideal for chicken owners who have small yards, small children or both … or who simply want beautiful, full-feathered birds.
🐔 Orpington: Buff, Blue & Black for a Colorful Coop
One of America’s most popular backyard birds, the Orpington has earned its place in chicken owners’ hearts with its reliable egg production, amusing antics and mellow disposition. While the Buff Orpington can be commonly found in flocks throughout the country, White Orpingtons and Blue Orpingtons are slowly gaining prominence with poultry keepers.
The Red Orpington, developed by W. Holmes Hunt in 1911, remains a fancier’s favorite. But this breed can be purchased from specialized breeders as well as some commercial hatcheries.
🐔 Silkie: White and Blue-Gray Birds with Unique Style
This sweet, serene bantam was described as a chicken with “hair like cats” by explorer Marco Polo in the 13th century. Today, the Silkie is kept for companionship, for exhibition and for its fabulous mothering instincts.
Silkies come in both bearded and beardless chicken varieties, and both come in white and blue colors. Red Silkies are challenging to find. Your best bet is to check with Silkie breeders who dabble in color projects.
🐔 Ameraucana: Blue Egg Layers with a Patriotic Hue
What better breed to display the colors of our country than the chicken that practically has America in its name? This cold-hardy heritage hen is known for the beautiful, sky-blue eggs that it lays.
Ameraucanas are cheery, sociable chickens that enjoy roaming, foraging and satisfying their endless curiosity. Blue Ameraucanas and White Ameraucanas are recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA), as is the breed’s brown-red variety … which may not be fully red but hopefully that can be overlooked due to its patriotic name!
🐔 Leghorn: Classic White Breed with Strong Egg Production
Although this breed originated in the Livorno region of Italy, the Leghorn has become almost synonymous with American egg production. Despite historic—and ongoing—ties to commercial egg farms, the non-industrial Leghorn is actually a hardy heritage bird well suited for homesteads and hobby farms.
This extremely active chicken is an instinctual forager that can hunt and scratch for most of its food if given the opportunity. The Leghorn also lays an average of 300 eggs per year, one of the highest rates of lay in all poultry. The Red Leghorn and the White Leghorn are recognized by the APA. The Blue Leghorn is officially recognized in the United Kingdom but not in the U.S., though specialized breeders may produce this variety in America.
Red, White and Blue Chicken Breeds: Final Thoughts
Whether you’re planning your flock around national holidays or simply love the idea of a colorful, cohesive coop, these red, white and blue chicken breeds offer both beauty and practicality. From fluffy white Silkies to blue-egg-laying Ameraucanas and classic white Leghorns, there’s a patriotic pairing for every backyard setup. Celebrate your flock—and your country—with birds that bring charm, character, and a splash of festive color to your homestead.
This article was about red, white and blue chicken breeds was written for Chickens and Hobby Farms magazines. Click here to subscribe.
