Are you thinking about starting a backyard chicken coop of your own? Are you looking for small egg laying hens? If you have always wanted one, it helps to know more about the different small chicken breeds that you can bring into the backyard flock and take care of for years.
If you would like to have smaller chickens in the coop, there are several breeds to consider getting. Not all chickens are the same. Some are smaller than others and have different temperaments.
If you know more about these animals, you can decide which ones to add to the chicken coop when you build it.
Silkie Chickens
The Silkie chicken is one of the smaller chicken breeds. These animals are fluffy and come in different colors, including white, brown, and black. People commonly use these chickens for their eggs because each chicken produces around 100 of them per year.
One of the reasons people love Silkie chickens is because of their calm temperament. They are friendly, docile creatures that love being handled by their owners. Not only are they friendly, but they are also adorable. If you love chickens in general, you will become a huge fan of the Silkie chickens.
Japanese Bantams
The Japanese Bantams are small chickens that come in a wide variety of colors, including brown and red, white with a black tail, entirely black, and more. These little chickens come from Japan, which is how they got part of their name.
- They are known to lay eggs that have a cream color.
- The average adult male Japanese Bantam weighs less than two pounds.
- The adult females weigh anywhere between 0.88 and 1.12 pounds.
- One of the unique features that these small chickens have is their tails.
- The tails swoop up and often hang above their heads, which is not something you see with every other chicken breed.
Sultan Chickens
The Sultan chickens come from Turkey and have a unique appearance about them. Their tail points upward to the sky, and they have lots of feathers. These chickens come in black, white, and blue variations. When the chickens lay eggs, the eggs are white and do not have a slight tint like some other eggs from different chicken breeds.
These chickens are a great choice when you want to have friendly chickens in your coop. They are known for behaving well and are not naturally aggressive creatures. While these chickens are beautiful creatures, they are incredibly hard to find. You may have trouble finding any Sultan chicken to add to your coop, but if you do end up with some, consider yourself lucky!
Polish Chicken
Polish chickens are stunning, exquisite creatures that are commonly used for ornamental purposes. They have a stunning collection of feathers attached to them. Besides their natural beauty, these chickens lay around 200 eggs per year, making them great for anyone who wants to use the chickens for egg production.
- You may wonder if these chickens are aggressive.
- Although they might look it because of their unique appearance, they are friendly, meaning they are fantastic to have around children.
- If you have kids who would like to help with taking care of the chickens, this is an excellent breed to choose from.
Leghorn Chicken
Leghorn chickens are small but not as small as some other breeds. They can weigh up to seven or eight pounds as a mature adult chicken. These chickens do lay up to 280 white eggs per year. While they lay many eggs, they are not as friendly as some of the other small chicken breeds.
- They are known for being nervous when handled.
- If you have patience and the willingness to work with chickens that may attempt to run away from you, the Leghorn chickens may be suitable for your coop.
- However, if you want friendly, docile chickens that are not nervous, these are not the ones to get.
Sussex Chicken
Sussex chickens lay eggs and are also commonly used for the meat they provide. You may have no plans on killing the chickens for meat. If you would rather keep them for the eggs they produce, it helps to know that the average Sussex chicken will lay around 250 large eggs per year.
The eggs’ color may be brown, cream-colored, or even tan, so you never know what you might get from your chickens.
- Most Sussex chickens lay eggs for up to three years.
- These chickens are not as small as the Japanese Bantams, but they are docile like them.
- They are aware of their surroundings and are not nervous like the Leghorn chickens, making it easier to handle them when you need to.
- You can find these chickens in various colors, including white, brown, speckled, and buff.
Denizli Chicken
The Denizli chickens are colorful creatures that often come in a blend of brown, black, and red. There are different groups for this breed because some of the Denizli chickens have different body structures and colors.
- Male adult chickens can weigh up to eight pounds, while their female counterparts typically weigh up to six pounds at most.
- These chickens have longer crows than others, with their crows lasting for about 20 seconds at a time.
- Unfortunately, these chickens are a rare breed and are not that easy to find.
- They are also a bit aggressive, which means they are not the best breed to choose when you plan to have children around the chicken coop.
If you’re not quite ready for chickens in your backyard you may want to consider adding quail. They are a fantastic small livestock for hobby and backyard farms. See The Nitty Gritty Basics on Raising Quail.
Small Backyard Chicken Breeds
Standards size chickens are great but small breeds might be better for your needs. Now that you have learned about some of the most amazing small chicken breeds, which ones do you think you would like to care for in your chicken coop?
Regardless of the specific breed that you select, you can have fun caring for these amazing animals for as long as you would like.
Chickens often do not get nearly as much credit as they deserve. Most of them are loving animals that display good behavior and enjoy running around throughout the day while laying eggs that you can sell and profit from.
If you can provide a comfortable shelter, these small chickens you choose to get can thrive on your property, living their best lives.
More on Backyard Chickens
Chicken Coop Plans and Tips
Hens That Lay Colored Eggs
Your Guide to the Best Chicken Nesting Boxes
Fight Your HOA for Backyard Chickens
How to Have Happier Chickens 11 Tips
Chicken Facts You Need to Know
How to Make Money with Chickens
The Backyard Chicken Coop 5 Mistakes That Will Cost You
Fresh Eggs Everything You Need to Know
Flies in the Coop How to Get Rid of Them Naturally
Top Chicken Predators For Backyard Homesteaders
Tips for a Rodent Free Coop
