My Favorite Chicken Breeds

Over the past two years I have raised a wide range of chicken breeds. I love chickens so much, it's hard to really pick favorites, but in general I prefer a large breed with a sweet temperament. Getting a basket with tan, chocolate, blue and green is pretty cool too! Here are some of my favorite breeds (but watch to find out why!):
1. Marans
2. Easter Eggers
3. Ameraucana
4. Orpingtons
5. Cinnamon Queens
6. Wyandottes
7. Brahmas

[@oldchickenlady]

The best all around hen I have ever had is my Dorking. She is quiet and peaceful and goes Broody every spring! She is a great momma and when she is done with the chicks, she lays a white egg every day! She is 7 years old and still going strong. She hatched 10 chicks this year and all of them are healthy and strong.

[@justonemorestoryfarm]

Just found your channel through the recommendation of the Pretend Farmer. I really enjoyed this video and I am looking forward to watching more of your videos. Your farm is beautiful as are your chickens! I love that you have Buff Orpingtons... those are my favorite.

[@lynnlamont3485]

I have Speckled Sussex, Lavender Orpingtons, Rhode Island Blues, and a Buff Brahma. I have been very pleased with my selection thus far. I would have more but I'm in the city limits. I love to watch them. I wanted friendly, quiet breeds. The Rhode Island Blues are a cross so you get some variation in color pattern. Three are black with a few reddish feathers on their chest. One has a black head & neck and light grey feathers tipped with a darker grey. I love Babycakes, my Buff Brahma. She stays close to her food and coop. She is not flighty because of her size. My 11 girls are quite spoiled. 😊

[@iplantseeds4639]

Thank you for sharing your favorite breeds. Gives a little bit of an idea of what I’m gonna get the spring here in Alaska. 🙏👍

[@littleladyhomestead]

You're welcome! Happy planning and enjoy your new flock when you get them!

[@ShakiraYah]

They are all gorgeous ❤

[@kdavis450]

I love chickens so much too! I have always been an animal lover but never thought I would love chickens so much! I currently have a disabled, indoor chicken whos going on 2 yrs, an Olive Egger. She does lay green eggs about every other day. This year I am getting a BBS Maran, Golden Cuckoo Maran, an Austra White, Speckled Sussex, Green Queen, Blue Orpington, Cream Legbar, 2 Mottled Houdans and 2 Mille Fleur d'Uccle Bantams. I have had other breeds in the past but this time I went with breeds I haven't ever had. I cannot find any Turkens near or around me. They are one of my faves as well as Barred Rocks. I agree, I get so much joy watching them and interacting with them. They are like relaxing therapy. I don't really watch tv, well none but live chicken tv. =-)

[@littleladyhomestead]

Hahaha! Enjoy them!

[@Msmeomeo]

I also love to love and raise chickens, I share my life and those chickens are my relaxation time.

[@DerafsheKavian]

Thanks for the reply. Merry Christmas to you, family, and the entire homestead. Hope to see more chicken videos in the future.

[@littleladyhomestead]

Merry Christmas to you as well!

[@jabra-6019]

I am still in the study phase so I have not yet bought any chickens, and this was great to see! Also, you yourself are so pretty and sweet! I love your smile and felt almost like we were friends though this is the first of your vids for me. I am now a follower. 🙂

[@user-py3qh2sf9z]

Really enjoyed this! Interesting mix of breeds and beautifully presented. Dave Banks

[@taga-bukid21]

Very nice looking flock. I just started raising heritage chicken hoping I could get different breeds soon, all I got do now is 4 different breeds.

[@kl1958]

What hatchery do you purchase your chicks from? Looks like you take care of them.....they are very well taken care of and look very healthy.

[@davidpoon5645]

I love yr chickens so much They all beautiful and sweet too

[@littleladyhomestead]

Thank you, I love them so much!

[@DerafsheKavian]

Very nice looking flock. Thanks for taking the time to show them. May I know which hatchery are your easter eggers from?

[@littleladyhomestead]

I ordered them from Meyer Hatchery last and was very happy with them. Since then, I ordered my cornish crosses, wellsummer rooster and polishes from Cackle Hatchery and had a good experience as well.

[@tracysmith5948]

Hi from Belgium 🇧🇪 love your chickens!

[@littleladyhomestead]

Hi Tracy, thanks for watching!

[@chanceskip52]

I have an Electra fence around my pins top and bottom and so far I haven't lost any since, although it would help with Halks and it has kelp other pretoirs away from my pins however I do free range mine during the day it do help at night.

[@littleladyhomestead]

I'm glad you haven't had any losses! It's definitely hard when it happens. Mine have a predator proof coop for protection at night and electric fence for predators during the day. I think having them near the treeline has helped with the hawk issue so far. They were in an open field on top of a hill before and that seemed like the perfect opportunity for a hawk to swoop down. 🤞🏻 they don't get any more!

[@ericsplace3004]

Good looking chickens!

[@wyattdean5658]

Nice flock. I got 18 hens and 10 chicks brooder (10 days old+/-). All different types, but for me what's Specked Suxxes. So gentle and calm.

[@littleladyhomestead]

How fun! I've never had a speckled sussex but they are beautiful and it's nice to hear they have such sweet personalities ❤️

[@kerryl4031]

I loved my orpies, I started with 3 - a blue splash, a buff and a lavender splash. They were absolutely delightful birds. I now have pekins which just make me laugh all the time. Had other breeds along the way. Some I did not like as they were mean. My pekin rooster is called The Milky Bar Kid as he's lavender but has that creamy yellow head and neck feathers. The other girls are Wipsa, Crunchie, Rolo, Aero and Fudge is my oldest going on 6 - the others are new babes.

[@okidokidiego5783]

Muy, bonitas tus pollos y gallinas,you have nice and pretty chickens. That is my next step in my live to have those

[@theoestep]

You didn't do the black chicken with the black feet. I have one like that and was waiting to hear what variety it was.

[@pretendfarm]

That’s a fine looking flock of chickens you’ve got there little lady! You just won a subscriber ☺️

[@littleladyhomestead]

Thanks so much! It looks we have a lot of the same breeds!

[@pretendfarm]

@@littleladyhomestead i keep accumulating more! Chocolate Orpingtons will be here next month so be sure and check them out! Your videos are very well put together. I look forward to seeing more of your chickens as well!

[@organixgirl]

I would put small pallet huts around so they can run under them to hide from hawks or small tarp covers like 1-2 throughout the yard I’d leave the eggs to day 25-26 some take longer

[@user-wb9rj3jw5f]

I juts bought a hen that is light orange with white tips and black speckles...al little bit of blue haze..Can you guess what this maybe cross breed may be?

[@homesteadmoon]

Lovely video, Lovely You & Lovely bird babies!🐤🐔💜 Gladly subscribed☺

[@littleladyhomestead]

You are so kind, thanks!

[@UsmanFaraz854]

Nice video and the way you work and manage all this is great effort. You can be inspiration for many women around stay blessed and keep it up😊😊😊

[@Kahobbyfarming]

Hi! you had beautiful and multiful breed of chickens its great.

[@littleladyhomestead]

Thank you!

[@evelynrogers7145]

What state are you in ?

[@danielwagner6290]

A true white Rock lays brown eggs not white eggs. If it lays white eggs you don't have a Rock chicken.

[@littleladyhomestead]

Thanks for the clarification. I got my wires crossed somewhere on that one!

[@annuitcptis3032]

Probably a leghorn.

[@marciaolson4878]

Our Americauna was always the loudest in a previous flock, but now we have two and they’re both pretty quiet. I guess all are unique!

[@danielwagner6290]

Thanks for sharing!

[@littleladyhomestead]

Of course! Thanks for watching!

[@heatherbrown8304]

Our lavender Orpingtons haven't played extra large eggs. They are laying medium light brown eggs. We have 6 hens and a rooster. They are beautiful birds. They are known for being boody and take to being a great mother. Hopefully one day we will get some chicks from them. The rooster was suppose to be docile but he sure does not like me lol.

[@littleladyhomestead]

So sorry about your Rooster! It's such a crapshoot whether they'll be nice or not. I'm sure he's beautiful though! I only have one Lavender orpington and she's massive. Way bigger than my buffs. Good luck breeding them!

[@battlebornoutreachministri5073]

Love my chickens too

[@littleladyhomestead]

They're so much fun!

[@ummuyusuf3706]

I really enjoyed your video thank you so much 😊

[@littleladyhomestead]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@starfox401]

I'm a newbie with only 4 chickens. What's your favorite for egg production?

[@littleladyhomestead]

So far my red star ( aka ISA brown) is the most reliable layer. She rarely misses a day! I also have 4 new Cinnamon queen chickens that are supposed to be just as reliable, but mine haven't started laying yet. They lay a medium-large light brown egg. I also love Marans for their large chocolate brown eggs, they just don't lay as much as much. The ameraucanas lay pretty blue medium eggs too. So it's up to you whether you're after production, size or color :) good luck finding your favorite!

[@opalezell2166]

I want to get some marans..for the dark eggs.

[@WanderingNature]

Thank you so much

[@douglasfick4817]

Nice, thank you

[@zouhairsuleiman1453]

They are all beautiful I used to breed Pigeons

[@littleladyhomestead]

Thank you. My family had pigeons while I was growing up. They are a lot of fun too!

[@pennyhochhalter3065]

I just came across this how fun thanks, but I do have a ? How much property do you need to call it a homestead.

[@littleladyhomestead]

Hi! I don't think there's an exact definition. I've heard some people describe their 0.5-1 acre properties as homesteads. I think it mostly depends on what you do with it. For now, we produce our own eggs, dairy, chicken, beef, and pork. I'm not very good at gardening, but I'm trying my best to produce most of our vegetables, at least for fresh eating. We also have berry bushes and fruit trees. So with time and practice, hopefully we'll be able to produce most of our food on our property. To me, that's what a homestead is :)

[@okidokidiego5783]

I like the small door at chicken house,that is a good idea become I have 3 dogs and they want to go out of my fence.

[@TexarkanaPrepper]

Great video.

[@sandybarbee8401]

THIS is not fair !!! You're so cute , I'd buy nearly anything you're selling ! I can't decide whether to buy chicks or grown !!!

[@littleladyhomestead]

Haha, thanks 😊 I've always gotten mine as chicks to have extra bonding time (and they're so cute!) But I'm sure if you went straight to buying laying hens they would love you just as much after a couple weeks of you feeding them treats everyday! Mine always fly out of the coop when I walk out of the door because I usually have scratch or kitchen scraps for them ❤️

[@sandybarbee8401]

@@littleladyhomestead , It's just a hard habit to break . Have ALWAYS had chickens but moved here 6 years ago and it WORE ME OUT so I put off getting any but am feeling better now and am tired of what WallyMart calls "eggs" . Decisions are hard to make sometimes ! Tryin' to decide IF , Chicks or Grown , What breeds , Buy or use my incubator !!! Decisions , decisions ! ! ! ! !

[@willforeman74]

Thanks for making this video!

[@littleladyhomestead]

Sure, thanks for watching!

[@RORYTHEAWESOME000]

A sworn enemy of a chicken hawk is a crow,so getting black chickens would help. I recommend Black Australorp Black Stars stuff like that. I hope I helped your flock!❤❤❤ Also I think you should name your rooster buddy!

[@andreamckay8135]

She doesn’t really seem to care.

[@bohemianfapsody9218]

I’m sure he has a name already but: Chanticleer!

[@rebeccaplumlee9601]

Rooster names... of course FogHorn, depending on his crow - any loud sound name Banger, Drum, JackHammer! Or if he's got softer crow Squeak (I had a Banty with that name), DingDong, Hooty

[@littleladyhomestead]

Haha! I love those! We named him Wilson a while ago, but that doesn't hold a candle to any of those!

[@NickLeeds]

Are these all Hens? Any roosters 🐓🐓?

[@kl1958]

Just subscribed. Enjoy your channel and videos. Hope it works that you can get your family cow. Have dairy farm experience. They do take work and effort but family cows are like a member of the family.

[@littleladyhomestead]

Thank you for the encouragement! Hopefully we'll get that new family member in 2023 💕

[@kl1958]

@@littleladyhomestead Good luck! Hope it works out for you folks. Keep up the great work on your channel!

[@MarioLopez-ob5rv]

How old are your turkeys?

[@littleladyhomestead]

They are 6 months old. I hope I can get a Tom for them this year!

[@tombradley2263]

Can you make a funny vlog trying to catch chickens? Lol😆❤️

[@catherinegrace2366]

My chicken coupe is The Red, White and Naked Chicken Coupe. Rhode Island Red, White Leghorn and German naked neck. I have 2 roosters because I was going to breed RIR and White Leghorn. However! Things don’t always work the way we want and have changed my plan. Buddy is my Rhode Island Red rooster and he will be the rooster for the coupe. Romeo is my German Naked Neck or Gerkin rooster and he free ranges. He looks like a turkey buzzard is running around on my property. I love him.❤️ I bought 25 hens, a mix of RIR and naked necks and they’re just starting to lay. I’m going to let my rooster loose, he’s caged right now but I will let him loose soon. My hens are SO PRETTY right now though! Thank you for all you shared. I know the losses are hard to take and it’s like something comes out of nowhere sometimes. Grrrr Lord bless you! New subscriber!

[@davidpoon5645]

I do have some in my back yard but I still have a huge land some day if I have chickens farm

[@littleladyhomestead]

That's great! We had back yard chickens in our little yard before we moved here :)

[@davidpoon5645]

In California land so expensive hard to afford have a big land

[@mesm3035]

The second one looks like a Faverolle

[@eawhite87]

Are you sure Sheila isn't a Salmon Favorelle?

[@littleladyhomestead]

Oh wow, she sure looks like one! She was sold as a green queen but a few of my Easter Eggers lay green eggs, so I can't be sure which ones come from who. Either way, I love her!

[@eawhite87]

@Little Lady Homestead See if she has five toes. If so, definitely a salmon favorelle and they are endangered and desirable in backyard flocks.

[@krisfelton1142]

I have a light sussex bantam named Betty and like your Betty she is always broody. Maybe I should change her name to Broody too :)

[@carolsanborn5332]

No Plymouth Barred rock?

[@littleladyhomestead]

For sure! Her name is Winnie and she's about 2 years old. I've heard great things about them but Winnie mostly stays to herself. Her brother was the nicest, friendliest rooster though. Sadly, we had to get him a new home because we weren't allowed to keep roosters in the city we used to live in.

[@carolsanborn5332]

@@littleladyhomestead Oh, I'm glad you approve of Barred (Plymouth) Rocks, because Im getting 3 of them as well as 3 each of Buff Orpintons +Black Australorp hens. If we get a rooster by accident , I wanted to make sure they weren't viciously mean. My rooster was very sweet. I'm sorry to hear you weren't allowed roosters. That'd be sad to me if our rural town forced me to lose a rooster just because he wanted to crow. We are getting new neighbors this spring so I hope they won't mind if we have a rooster. Hopefully they will want chickens too. ♡ God bless !

[@kida12]

Did you name the roo yet? How about Wilson?

[@littleladyhomestead]

Oooh, I love Wilson! We've been calling him Randy but only because Matt keeps using it as a joke because he knows I hate it 😆 I think I'll try Wilson out

[@davidpoon5645]

I wish I have huge land like you have

[@littleladyhomestead]

We came from 1/4 acre, so this is a big change for us and we are so thankful to have the land.

[@leighton1991]

did i see polish chickens there 😮

[@sanjayrana381]

❤

[@littleladyhomestead]

Thanks!

[@Jerry-gf9bf]

I enjoyed your video very much, but White Rocks lay brown eggs, and all types of Plymouth Rocks lay brown eggs. White Leghorns lay white eggs.

[@cbhooi330]

She is the Lady .

[@venkateshnagilla2294]

Hii, I want to buy these breeds or eggs, I'm from India

[@littleladyhomestead]

I would look online to see if any hatcheries are nearby you. Good luck!

[@leann.guerra1indiana245]

I think you could name the rooster Hugo 😊

[@nedamm5677]

Go for a Salmon Favorelle ... they have great personalities. Their eggs are creamy blush. Hens are easily sexed. Sweet hens!

[@JesusKathrynMiller]

✝️😇🔯🧄🐑👽🤍🕊️🔭🎇🦅🇺🇸🌏🌠🪐🌎🌠🪐🌍🌠🪐Holy Psalm 91 Jesus and KathrynMiller say Thankyou for sharing ✝️🤍✝️🤍✝️🦅🇺🇸🍀🍀🍀

[@marvinalbaniaofficial150]

Can i buy eggs maam im from philippines and how much?

[@littleladyhomestead]

Unfortunately I don't ship eggsbut I do hope you'll be able to find some local to you!

[@zsuzsuspetals]

It's bad enough to lose them to a hawk or coyote but it's infuriating that people let their dogs roam and kill livestock. A friend of mine lost her entire flock due to the neighbor's dog. They had the cameras to prove it. You have a beautiful farm and flock! Your turkey is adorable.

[@bryanhighley4942]

You’re adorable

[@pamelapruett7833]

Name the rooster Rainbow

[@rudiyuli7978]

Haloo..im from indonesia

[@chrishellemaitland5775]

Your rooster looks like a. Ricardo or Reggie to me

[@littleladyhomestead]

Love those!

[@todphillips3935]

The rooster? Bucky

[@littleladyhomestead]

Thanks Tod! My husband tried to get "Randy" to stick but we've been calling him Wilson recently :) I like Bucky, though. Go Badgers!

[@todphillips3935]

@@littleladyhomestead those are all good names. I like Randy

[@laquansykes1903]

Can u sale me a few birds ma’am?

[@littleladyhomestead]

Sorry, not at this time. I have a good number in my flock to meet my needs. But most of these breeds are commonly available at feed stores or online hatcheries. Good luck!

[@tvscreen5889]

call the rooster either the colonl or kfc

[@littleladyhomestead]

I love those names!

[@TOPMOSTPOP]

*FAYO GIANT CHICKEN BREED FACTS* I made new breed Fayo Giant chicken breed. I began by using 4premium strains Jersey Giant fed diet unlike any other@ a cost of $1,000 per bird. That 1st year I averaged 75g vs 64g egg size2 yeild bigger stronger chick& fertility rose 35%. Chickens get locked in DNA/color/shape gene pools like dogs due to ludicrous "Standards of "Perfection" rule. Crossbreeding dog makes much better dog. So, 1st I corrected this problem with 4Jersey bloods. Chicken feed currently limits protein so egg not too big to fit a carton = tiny chickens we have today vs 25lbs 1900. Feed is 20% innocuous brutal to digest seed coat saps chicken energy 2digest vs my birds ate 50% meat bone hide fur fish scales organs & all with greens salt spices garlic wood ash, sugar& sprouted oily dry corn. My Jersey Giant initial new breed Gen1 emphasis focused on massive bigger then ave. leg strains 2forage much deeper with energy efficient calm demeanor they are tractors. They get many more insects. Initial cost Gen1 averaged $28 an egg these breeders eggs av. 64g with horrendous 45% fertility due to inferior feeds. Diet was key my eggs became huge thru diet unlike any other. Chicks became muscular Secretariats. Best? Facts: ...6 of my Gen2 birds yielded 9lbs fat = as much calories as 175lb deer in 6 months. No other bird touches this. Chest cavity packed with 1lb premium organ fat prized by chefs & 1/2 lb fat riddled thru meat like wagyu beef. Did u know oil = #1 killer of off grid survivalists. Human organs begin fail in 1 week without oil = why people died en mass depression eating fat free rabbits. Oil is basically non existent on farms & in nature it is manufactured product only. No money = no oil. Chicken fat th oil of all oils the cullinary chef leverage king of kings. My moto is delete money. I bred my Gen2 with a Fayo Giant Gen1 rooster. A STUNNING bird unlike anything I have ever seen. He would knock on door jump on my arm come in at night, yet guarded thflock like a master sheep dog he owned thfarm. Pure Fayoumis by far most intelligent dog like birds. This trait stuck with my Fayo Giants u can discern th intelligence just looking @their eyes. Fayo roosters tolerate each other yet are fierce regarding hens THEY NEED 2B. Thus was born my Gen 3 Fayo Giants. Fayomis mature fastest crowing 4.5 months with legendary disease resistance& lay earliest on minimal protein. Streamlined, refined Hondas vs my original Gen1 Jersey as a clunky cumbersome loose fitting Ford. My garden engines: Premium diet = superiour (fall only) manure 4garden I use zero fertilizers just thick mulch & my birds. All thworlds problems can be solved in thgarden no other farm animal can make bread& cookies& pastries& gives u meat (eggs) every day while continues work 4u. Fayoumis were eaten by Egyptian Pharoahs. They lived wild thousands of years till today. My Fayo Giants just from cmpletely dffrnt next level factory. Immediately they strike u as a wolf vs a Jersey Giant being a big inferior design domestic dog. Friendly yet fiercely street wise &independent. I have no inerest in raising breeding birds. I live on food forests I build& sell& I coined thword. People breeding grossly inferior birds using "Standard of Perfection." It stifles suffocates gene pool while on crippling feeds with deliberate protein ceiling/all across thboard methods my velociraptors told me absolutely dont work. This has cost me absolutely massive losses with 40 incredibly dreadful teeny tiny tuff bad tasting breeds. 15hour days 1.5 years yeided my Gen1 Fayo-Giant.

[@ThelittleQuerque]

Turkey is drama 😂😂😂

[@evelynrogers7145]

What are you doing to protect your birds ? Predators will keep coming back

[@noonelikedee]

Name him sunny

[@littleladyhomestead]

That's really cute!

[@evelynrogers7145]

Any sexlinks will not produce the same bird because there mixed.

[@bryanpersig3055]

First to comment

[@jamal-1986]

You should not let predators eat your chicken...that is so sad and you have to be more attentif.

[@andreamckay8135]

PLEASE do not get any more chickens or turkeys. You’re obviously irresponsible when it comes to protecting them….