The Best Chicken Breeds for Eggs and Personality

By Lindsay Metternich | Harmony Helpers

If you’re thinking about adding chickens to your homestead—or even your backyard—one of the first big questions is:What breed should I get?

When we got our first flock, I didn’t know what I was doing. I picked the fluffiest ones, the ones with the prettiest names, and maybe one or two because the kids begged. (Okay, all of them because the kids begged.)

But now, after years of collecting fresh eggs and watching chicken drama unfold like a feathery soap opera, I’ve learned this:Some breeds are better for beginners. Some are friendlier with kids. And some lay so many eggs, it’s like they’re trying to win a contest.

So whether you're after consistent egg layers, sweet lap chickens, or a colorful coop full of personality, this guide will help you pick the right girls for the job.

🥚 What to Look For in a Chicken Breed

• Egg production (how many and how often)

• Temperament (sweet, shy, sassy, or standoffish?)

• Climate tolerance (cold-hardy or heat-loving)

• Broodiness (some want to hatch babies constantly, others don’t care)

• Noise level (important if you have neighbors!)

• Looks (let’s be real, feather flair matters too)

🐔 My Favorite Chicken Breeds (For Eggs and Attitude)

1. Buff Orpington

✨ The Golden Retriever of Chickens

• Eggs: 3–5 per week (light brown)

• Temperament: Sweet, calm, cuddly

• Great for: Families with kids, cold climates

These fluffy girls are so gentle. They’ll follow you around, sit in your lap, and even let toddlers carry them around like stuffed animals.

2. Barred Plymouth Rock

✨ Reliable and Friendly

• Eggs: 4–6 per week (brown)

• Temperament: Curious, confident, social

• Great for: Beginners, mixed flocks

Barred Rocks are the steady workhorses of the coop—dependable layers, not easily spooked, and always up for a snack.

3. Easter Egger

✨ The Artist of the Egg World

• Eggs: 4–5 per week (blue, green, pink, or cream!)

• Temperament: Quirky, independent

• Great for: Colorful egg baskets, fun-loving keepers

Easter Eggers are just fun. They come in wild feather patterns, each one unique—and their eggs are pure delight.

4. Australorp

✨ The Quiet Overachiever

• Eggs: 5–6 per week (brown)

• Temperament: Calm, consistent, low-drama

• Great for: Cold weather, daily eggs

These black-feathered beauties are egg machines—and quietly sweet. They’re not show-offs, but they’ll win your heart.

5. Silkie

✨ The Fuzzy Unicorn Chicken

• Eggs: 2–4 per week (cream or tinted)

• Temperament: Docile, cuddly, borderline magical

• Great for: Pets, lap chickens, broody mamas

Silkies are fluffy, quirky, and adorable. They’re not prolific layers, but they will try to hatch everything—including golf balls.

6. Rhode Island Red

✨ Bold and Hardy

• Eggs: 5–6 per week (brown)

• Temperament: Confident, occasionally bossy

• Great for: Cold winters, beginner flocks

They’re tough, bold, and dependable. If you want eggs and aren’t worried about snuggles, RIRs are a great choice.

7. Speckled Sussex

✨ Charming and Chatty

• Eggs: 4–5 per week (light brown)

• Temperament: Friendly, vocal, curious

• Great for: Interactive families, colorful flocks

They’re the social butterflies of the backyard—talkative, gentle, and downright gorgeous with speckled feathers.

🐣 Best Picks for Families with Kids

• Buff Orpington

• Silkie

• Easter Egger

• Speckled Sussex

These breeds are known for being gentle, calm, and patient with little hands.

🌡️ Best for Cold Climates

• Australorp

• Buff Orpington

• Rhode Island Red

• Barred Rock

They have the fluff and feathering to handle frost and snowy mornings.

🧺 Chicken Starter Shopping List

• Chicken coop (predator-proof, with nesting boxes)

• Run or fencing

• Layer feed + feeder

• Waterer

• Pine shavings or straw bedding

• Oyster shell (for calcium)

• Grit (for digestion)

• Treats (mealworms, kitchen scraps)

• First aid basics (Blu-Kote, wound spray, gloves)

Final Thoughts: Choose with Your Heart and Your Lifestyle

Every chicken has a story. Some will become lap buddies. Some will rule the roost.Some will make you laugh every day, and some will lay so many eggs you’ll be handing cartons to strangers.

Start with 3–6 girls. Mix and match breeds if you like a little variety. Watch their personalities unfold like a reality show. And remember—this is supposed to be joyful.

The best breed?It’s the one that makes you smile when you see her scratching in the dirt.

You’ve got this, friend.Welcome to the chicken life.

— Lindsay