The Best Backyard Chicken Breed for YOU!

In this video I will go over the breeds of chickens that I have raised and give you the info so you can see which ones are right for your flock!
I'll cover temperament, egg color, egg production and broodiness.

[@kerrycarter9428]

We raised all kinds of birds when we had our ranch. Our son was a chicken mogul at age 9. Sold eggs to all of the nurses I worked with. And he could manage big incubators and hatchers like a pro. We raised not only chickens, we had bobwhite quail, chuckers, many different types of pheasants, and also had white ducks, guineas and peacocks. Even a turkey named Pricilla! You are so right about their different personalities. Chuckers are the most curious, quail are skittish, ducks are a riot. Guineas are like having a security detail, you know when something is up. Also had horses and other farm animals. It was great fun when our kids were growing up. Miss it sometimes, but now that we are older, we just worry about the garden. Great memories though. Love seeing your girls.🐓

[@NextLevelHomestead]

That is so great!!

[@kenebarb5377]

Bob White quail are hard to beat when it comes time to eat lol.

[@lgrillo]

I’m not planning on getting chickens, but I felt compelled to watch the whole dang video anyway!

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Well I appreciate that 😊

[@gardengatesopen]

I'm with Lynn. I'll never have chickens of my own. But I always enjoy a good chicken update! And of coarse, that coop you've got goin' on Bryan! Well, that's to die for! I actually wouldn't mind having chickens. But only if somebody else takes care of them! That sounds pretty cold, doesn't it! Pffffthhh 👅💦 I would enjoy watching them parade through my yard, a few times a week. Scratching up leaves & eating bugs & fertilizing as they go! Those are nice qualities in a visitor! I wouldn't even mind setting up a few small fences to keep them from destroying some of my plants. Plus, eggs are a very😊 nice bonus! I think I would like the blue eggs the best... And I do enjoy watching actual chickens, as I often do here on You Tube! My biggest excuse for not having chickens of my own is that I have rheumatoid arthritis and so my hands don't really open all the way anymore. Which means I wouldn't be able to pick the chickens up. I'm pretty sure picking them up is a requirement in caring for them! But honestly, the REAL reason is that, in person, those chicken feet, (& the beaks too) they kinda skeeve me out! 🫣 However... After watching chickens on various You Tube Channels for years now, I really wouldn't mind having a few chickens hanging around! (Y'all are talking me into it by osmosis!!) I've often fantasized about sharing some chickens with my next door neighbor! Now THAT would be the perfect scenario for me! Blue Eggs & Ham, yes please, Sam I Am! Ans the best part- I could send their lil' feet running home every evening! 🤭

[@jordanallen3078]

I'm getting some chickens this week. Hopefully the farm store has some of those white leghorns!...tho i would love to have the more chill/friendly chickens that let you pick them up

[@Happyfarmgirl]

45 years of chicken keeping. Favorites are Welsummer, Wyandots and Ameraucana. Love my chickens.

[@arzugultekin9761]

Hi,I am looking the buy Wyandots eggs.

[@ibchrisL]

I have a small flock of 4 of Buff Orpingtons. I live in an area where my county dictates a limit of 4 chickens or I would have more! I chose one breed because of their clam and friendly temperament and because I wanted a level harmony in the flock. I handled them a lot when they were chicks and have been rewarded with super friendly girls. They follow me everywhere, while I’m gardening or just hanging out in the yard. They interact with me and love to sit in my lap and sometimes take a snooze. They have a calming therapeutic effect on me too. They cruise around the yard in a never ending pursuit of bugs. The best organic pesticide ever! They are my top pick breed.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Orpingtons are the best!

[@kimm59]

Yep I live in town I'm pressing my luck I got four now too

[@petlover071]

I like Brahmas. They come in a variety of colors, they lay large eggs, they make a good multipurpose bird (meat and eggs), They are more docile and quiet. (Roosters don't get mean very easily).

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Thanks for the tip

[@KyleKaiser7]

By the time our chicks are out with the big girls, we will have 15 chickens total. We have Brahmas (1 Light, 1 Dark chick, and 1 Buff chick, as they’re my favorite breed so I like having 1 of each😅), a White Leghorn, a Rhode Island Red, a Barred Plymouth Rock, 2 Ameraucanas, a Black Jersey Giant, a White Silkie (the large variety, not a Bantam), a Buff Orpington (our alpha chicken), a Mystic Maran (French Black Copper Maran rooster bred to a Barred Plymouth Rock hen; a lesser known crossing, but their egg production and egg size are from the Rock and the egg color from the Maran), an Olive Egger chick, an Exchequer Leghorn chick, and a Blue Splash Maran chick.

[@ulluvelez2802]

Like how you explain the pro and cons ❤about the various breeds

[@sheepdog1715]

Rhode island reds stands the heat and cold and a really good layer plus they are pretty

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Good to know

[@kerrivincent85]

Chicken breeds are like Pokémon..gotta catch ‘em all!🤣 I have 24 chickens & 13 different breeds.🙈🤷🏼‍♀️

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Yes!!! So true

[@countrygurlgardener8968]

I say this same thing all the time..it’s SOO true 😂🙌🏻 I have 28 chickens & they’re all different breeds 😅

[@kath-phlox]

As a chicken wanter this filled my heart and made me smile. I can't have chickens, I live in a tiny house with a tiny garden. For one, I wouldn't be allowed to have one in my garden and it's so small I couldn't stop the chickens treating my meagre space as a buffet. But it was a pleasure seeing your girls and all the different ones that make up egg harvest.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Thank you!

[@colbystrawder4589]

You should try rabbits!

[@empresskimberly4410]

I love my Buff Orpintons❤️. Beautiful and friendly

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Yes!

[@Jesus-Christ-Is-My-Lord]

I just purchased this breed. I'm very happy to have them as companions.

[@Mariposa_46]

I love chickens -i was around them growing up and miss not having them now.

[@patriciajohnsonson8639]

My favorite breed is Buff Orpington. I had three Buff Orpington, three black Austrolorps and three Barred Rocks. The Buffs were so fun. One especially liked me and ran to each end of the chicken run when I walked by. The three Buffs always were up front in the flock to greet me when in went into the run to freed them or clean. So cute. The Barred Rocks were fun too. The Black Austrolorps were the most fragile. I lost one to a flu and one to exposure. For some reason, she didn’t stay in the coop during an especially bad storm.

[@Prettykittychimi]

I strongly don’t recommend a Leghorn as a backyard bird if you let her roam around freely and have neighbors. My Leghorn, Patricia could fly over the 6 foot chain link fence, rocket launch from the porch to the front yard to lay eggs in the carport and would sleep in the tree if I didn’t put her up before dark. She was also LOUD. Her big dumb comb got frost bite when it got down to single digits, so not very winter hardy. She also died before she was even two due to fluid in her abdomen, maybe tractor supply is to blame for that one. HOWEVER, she did lay a ton of eggs the first year and had the funniest personality, very smart and clever. She was secretly my favorite. 😢 Great list, I’m in search of two new ones, this is helpful info, thanks!

[@davinasquirrel7672]

The slimmer breeds tend to fly over fences. Heavier breeds stay put in the yard.

[@krickette5569]

I currently have 33 chickens, 30 ducks, 2 geese, 2 pigs, 2 cows (each with a calf). I love all my different chickens for different reasons. When I first started with chickens I just got what I liked but soon learned that aerial predators, color matters. Once that lesson was learned I focused on black chickens. Hawks are less likely to bother black chickens because from the air, they resemble crows and crows will attack hawks. I bought Jersey Giants (black). Both the roosters and the hens are quite large so they are a dual purpose breed. I also have Easter Eggers because I love the different egg colors and because (as you said) they have such great personalities. However, they are the ones who are looking for a way to escape on the days when I keep the chickens in their pens. I also have Buff Cochins. They are a Super friendly breed with Gobs of fluffy feathers that remind me of old fashioned petticoats. I have two of them, one is Mrs. Butterworth and the other is Mrs. Marples. I have two Cuckoo Maran's for their egg color, a Wellsummer for egg color and the rest of my flock are barnyard breeds. I have more eggs than I know what to do with from them and I also have eggs from my ducks (which are my favorite eggs to eat) I give eggs to my family, friends and neighbors and sometimes sell them too. This summer I am adding at least 3 Speckled Sussex and 3 more Cuckoo Matan's.

[@roserizzo3094]

How fun this video was to watch! I don't have room for chickens but am interested in hearing about them.

[@dandiedoodles1]

I am coming late to the party - but there are brown leghorns. Same exact breed and laying habits, but absolutely beautiful birds. Definitely not boring white, lol.

[@tjduprey]

Oh thats funny about naming your eggers. My favorite hen is an egger. Her name is Marge. Large Marge because she was the first "normal" size hen and she looked huge compared. We have a few named. The bantam rooster is General. The egger rooster is Blue. And the barred rock are Betty and Barbara. There are another 60-80. It fluctuates. Other than ones the grandkids name and rename, the others are just "here chicken"

[@NextLevelHomestead]

That’s awesome 😁

[@Jesus-Christ-Is-My-Lord]

Rhode island reds and white leghorm breeds are my favorite. They lay a lot of eggs and are very friendly. I currently purchased Orpington chickens.

[@davinasquirrel7672]

In the last batch I got a Buff Orpington, and she is a very chill chicken. Very friendly to the rest of the flock (and me), and the friendliest of the new batch. She has been a late bloomer, as when I got her, she was quite small in height (but round-bodied), and I called her Lucille ButterBall, because she was a butter ball! Just in the last few weeks, at about age 1yr, she has almost doubled in size, and now she is a huge (rather massive) fluffy chicken. The other two that I got at the same time were a Columbian Wyandotte (massive bird, but more a gentle giant, now alpha chicken, but she does not need to enforce it) and a gold penciled Wyandotte, also a good sized bird. The Columbian lays a very large egg, the gold penciled a smaller (medium) sized egg. I also have a Maran-White Plymouth Rock cross (3/4 maran) but the white rock appearance is more dominant, dark brown eggs. And finally, I have a Silver Dorking (off white egg). The Dorking is not a great layer (average or below). My recent loss, at age 10, was a mixed breed (no idea what breeds) who was a champion layer and pretty much laid well up until the end. Never believe the "they don't lay much after two years", utter rubbish! I get all the different breeds because they are pets, with names, and it makes it easy to tell them apart. In selecting breeds, the heavier breeds are less likely to fly over fences if you have them free ranging in the yard. The skinnier breeds will often be fence flyers (not an issue if you have a fully enclosed run). All the Orpingtons have a tendency for broodiness, including the Australorp. But the Orpington breed(s) do tend to be non-aggressive and very friendly. Skinnier breeds can be more flighty, less friendly. The Wyandottes are supposed to be better winter layers, although mine have yet to come back into lay after the molt. To pick my breeds, I did a spreadsheet! Generally considered breeds with 200+ eggs per year, because of the smaller flock. In the next batch I will get either a light or coronation sussex, maybe a lavender orpington or white rock, and I need a black one, so probably Australorp.

[@girgriffin4902]

I just picked up 7 of a variety of breeds and I'm about to pick up 7 or 8 ( or more if I can get a discount) Australorp Chicks from a backyard breeder in an hour. They're all only 7 days old and so far, I'm really enjoying the new title of "Mother of Chickens!". That's what my husband and son call me now. They're going to be such spoiled little egg producers!

[@Lilginabanina]

I have two black langshans from mcMurray hatchery . They are only 6 weeks old. They don’t care about the pecking order. Very chill laid back a lil shy but loooove to lay in my hand. They do it on their own.

[@Squiggsish]

I would love to see that spreadsheet!! Choosing chicken breed(s) is a headache!

[@davinasquirrel7672]

@@Squiggsish Easy enough to make your own. Look up several sites (yes they differ) on the stats of each breed. Mainly you focus on whatever is important to you. If broody is too much, avoid. If flighty is not want you want, avoid. Narrow it down. My Buff Orpington is a broody miss, but she has such a lovely friendly personality to humans and the rest of the flock. Such a sweetie. Love her to bits.

[@user-jx9qk4uv3q]

We just got Easter Egger, Wyandotte and Buff Orpington. These have been the most reliable for us next to the Rhode Island Red. Nice presentation, especially helpful for beginners.

[@craftywamama]

This video helped a lot! We are about to get chickens for the first time and Buff Orpington and Easter Egger are on the top of our list. This video confirms we are making a good choice! Thank you.

[@darla123]

Thank you! This was very helpful. I can't til I move!

[@jerryf581]

That Wyandotte...Holy Crap! That is a beautiful bird!

[@NextLevelHomestead]

It sure is!

[@davinasquirrel7672]

Wait until you see the Columbian Wyandotte. 😍

[@PinkLady54]

​@@NextLevelHomestead isn't that the bird You did not give us laying stats for?!? It was exquisite looking but... temperament & productivity are key when I will have to have a chicken tractor to keep the coons out in a city lot in a small town. 😢

[@butterlite100]

I love watching other folks enjoying chickens. Are they very cuddly pets aside from laying eggs?

[@nanhayden8438]

hahaha - i love that as well!

[@davinasquirrel7672]

If you want them cuddly (and sitting on your lap), then get them as chicks (5-12 weeks old) or hatch them. Then handle them a lot. I still miss my 'lap chicken' who passed away about four years ago. Every time I sat out there with them, she would be on my lap, just loved being stroked.

[@champagnegardening5182]

I have two Easter eggers. They are hilarious. Cleopatra and Queeny. My leghorn is amazing. We call her Elsa.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Love those names!

[@djeoutdoors]

While I don’t have chickens I do love watching the videos about them. Thank you for such a interesting video! 👍

[@NextLevelHomestead]

You’re welcome!

[@christys.6922]

I really wanted a Lavender Orpington, but settled for a Buff Orpington when I couldn't find one close to me. She's very sweet. I adore Plymouth Barred Rocks - they are the sweetest, friendliest chickens and great layers. I also have some Easter Eggers for color variety and one Buff Brahma because she's pretty and fancy.

[@bethdevitt6956]

We have 8 Isa Browns. They lay jumbo brown eggs. They lay close to 300 eggs a year.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Wow!

[@juliedaly8953]

I love your gardening videos but with having chickens myself I really enjoy your homesteading videos just as much! Your coop is absolutely beautiful!we have 11 , 3 lavenders but don’t have any blue egg layers! Goals! Txs for sharing!❤️🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓❤️

[@NextLevelHomestead]

You need to get some! 😁

[@debbiewilhelm3035]

Please take us along when introducing the younger chicks into the flock. Great chicken video.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

You got it!

[@Gardeningchristine]

My parents have to fence their garden because of deer. I painted it black for them and they absolutely loved it. Thanks for the idea!

[@NextLevelHomestead]

You’re welcome!

[@sharonhardesty8588]

I have Americana chickens, very docile and beautiful colored eggs

[@wytchwoodhomesteadandkenne5036]

My main egg layers are Buff and Lavender Orpingtons. Dual purpose for profit are American Bresse. My rare obsession are Ayam Cemani. But my babies, my "for the love of the bird" are Easter Eggers. I have some gorgeous birds and I love them all. ❤

[@MissouriCrookedBarnHomestead]

I have 3 Columbian Wyandotte's, 3 Black Sex Links, and 2 Buff Orpington's. I've had chickens and other barn fowl for most of my life, over 40 years. Out of all of these, my favorites are Australorps. They're amazing at egg production, their eggs are enormous, they great meat producers, they are gentle, and they adapt to any condition.

[@davinasquirrel7672]

I recently got a Columbian, such a gentle giant (now the alpha). Pretty too! I had never seen one until I picked her out. There are feathers over feathers over feathers!

[@ritalr15]

My 1st Australorp, Diamond. Does not let you hold her. She is kinda shy. But the other 3 are younger and a little more friendly

[@karenclemens3273]

I am a new chicken owner. I bought babies when two days old. I bought based on egg production, dual purpose and predator savvy. They are 7 months old now and laying an egg a day. I have 2 Cream Leg Bars, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Jersey Giants and 1 Easter Eggers. The eighth Easter turned out to be a rooster. All have survived a beginner like me, thanks to videos, like this. My hens have all the above attributes, plus personality. Both my reds jump on my back as well. I love my girls and I believe in Chicken Math. 🤣

[@featheredfriendshomestead]

My top egg layer is Barred Rocks they are very friendly but i love my Mille Fleur D'uccles they are the friendliest and want to be held and loved.

[@blkmjcwmn61]

I am getting 3 gold laced Wyadotte and 4 Buff polish hens next week...I'm so excited!

[@NextLevelHomestead]

That’s awesome!!

[@jaynea4320]

I have 17 Gold Laced Wyandottes. Love them, but don't expect to handle them. They will hang out with you but don't want to be touched. They don't tolerate other breeds very well.

[@user-eq6sj9rj2z]

❤❤❤ I love that I love your chicken. I'm an old ranch girl. I've always had chicken, but you have a few. I don't know about. I love to watching this and yes, I miss chickens. I gotta hit some. I've already got my penspelled but I've been searching for the ones I really want this time. Before I had some money because I got so overwhelmed with how many there were but I do like the silkies because they're black me. At it's got a lot of minerals in for health. The orientals keep them only because their black mineral meat. That was actually the first Chinese. We're the ones with chicken noodle soup made with this black man.Thank you very much

[@theresapelican9621]

Best video ever!! Loved it… took lots of notes for the future!! Thank you!!!

[@christiestoker8746]

Do the eggs taste any different?

[@Bullfrog0302]

We will be getting chickens in the spring. This has really helped on deciding what ones to get

[@lisagayhart2482]

Really like leghorns because they are hardy, have enough sense to hide from hawks. They are hard to catch but they follow treats into coop

[@kimm59]

I just got two baby buff orpingtons because of egg production great video thank you

[@tjduprey]

Our first chicks were bantam. Their eggs are so tiny! We love the rooster and his hens but other than amusement they are a waste of chicken space lol... we have Easter egger mutts for the joy of the rainbow eggs. Same for BCM. And a few other specific hens for pure production purposes. We don't eat our chickens. Our excess roosters go to rooster camp and their meat feeds food insecure families.

[@truthinlovemama]

So if space is limited, do you think it’s better to get larger chickens but less of them?

[@johnlord8337]

Great vid on this subject.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Thanks!

[@eithanlong1355]

#1 barred rock. Dual purpose,good winter and summer good with kids my daughters fav and they are sweet can hold them. 2 cinnamon queen second to the barred rock better than road island red 3 cream legbar... cool eggs sometimes fun Easter egg hunting. They are vocal... All the chickens come running with the dogs when we get home

[@heidiquint7206]

Best producing chickens I owned were Australorpes (really loved my blue laced Australorpe. Also like Buff Orpington and Wyandotte chickens.

[@childofgod94]

I love my silver laced wyandottes. They have super cool personalities. Seem like they would be great mothers if I only had a rooster but im holding out for the perfect gentleman. The only thing is they're a little flighty, which scares me because I have dogs that aren't fully acclimated to the chickens yet. This video helped me decide my next chicken breeds, orpingtons and easter eggers.

[@lwallin3217]

Thank you very much. I learned alot about different types of chickens! I enjoy yoyr teaching style too.

[@justpyrite591]

I really want to try raising chickens, but I live in an urban/suburban area near a park. We have raccoons, hawks, cats and black bear regularly in our vicinity.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

As long as you secure the run... we have all those also

[@Prettykittychimi]

I have all those too plus coyotes and mine roam freely in the backyard. My cats are terrified of the chickens. They’re not as fragile or dumb as they may seem, they have a system at surviving. I wouldn’t give up over that.

[@SusanSmith-de4lm]

Yesterday, my neighbor showed me a fox caught on her security camera. She said a cat previously traversed the same area. Definitely will have to keep a close eye on predators. I have two small Chihuahuas too so I'm taking extra precautions for our chicks not yet ready for outside.

[@karenschwartz5209]

Very interesting!! Thanks😊

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Glad you liked it!

[@michaelpenrose4288]

Just got my first batch of mixed eggs for my incubator. I have Ducks here already but 1st time to attempt chickens. There are 4 buff Opringtons in there just by complete chance plus a Blue Oprington and 3 Wyandotte eggs. I'm happy thay I seem to have chosen wisely for a novice. Only in the incubator 5 days now. It is a little early in the season here in Ireland but will candle tomorrow so fingers crossed.

[@bclarkquilts]

I have Bantams and they are a variety of colors. The only reason I have these is because a friend who was moving gave them to me, but as a new chicken owner I also felt like their small size made them less intimidating. Gave me a good start. But all my eggs are white and I really want some colors! I have a friend who has told me she'll give me some eggs next time my Mama goes broody. It'll be interesting to see how my flock handles having big chickens around! I didn't know it was possible to love chickens but I love mine!!! I have 7 hens and 2 roosters and 3 new chicks (one is a roo and it was sooooo fun the first time he crowed!) They are all named after my great aunts, uncles and grandparents..... Bernice, Dorothy, Henrietta, Rosalie, Nettie, Cora, Ethel, Belle and Fern. Roos are Jennings and Merrill and the new one is Cecil (hubby's grandpa.) We had such fun naming them!!

[@NextLevelHomestead]

That’s awesome!

[@lindah1515]

I had a bantam pair years ago. ( Hen and rooster) she was broody a lot, and hatched out turkeys once and ducks once, besides her own. All at different tines. It was so much fun.

[@fishnlady]

We were thinking about getting started with chickens this Spring but weren’t sure due to job situation but now that’s settled so next Spring we are going to give it a try. I had decided on the Buff Orpington. PerhapsI should also get a couple of White Leghorns too. Thanks for describing their personalities and number of eggs they lay. Very helpful information.

[@growagarden54]

We have 2 australorps. They are all black and their feathers shine blue/black in the sun. I chose this breed because they are quiet, lay large brown eggs, and are dual purpose. Out of the 2, only one goes broody. The second has never gone broody, which is interesting. I got them as pullets because I wanted to make sure that we got hens and no roosters. Plus, we only wanted 2 chickens for my husband and me.

[@DebadooCreates]

This was very interesting. As a rule, I'm not fond of birds. They're noisy, & oh my, the messes they make. BUT.... I love the"idea" of having fresh eggs from healthy birds that aren't full of antibiotics. I'm in central texas where temps can range from 110 or sometimes a little more to below zero. The below zero is short lived. We are on the outskirts of town but houses are close together & the yards are not huge. Our 3 small dogs believe every bit of the yard belong to them lol. Maybe I just need to find someone I can buy really good eggs from, & since I'm a crafter, get some different sized wooden eggs, paint & splatter them up, & put them in a wire basket to look at lol.

[@nicolefisher3593]

My all time favourite are Icelandic chickens, they’re pretty neat looking and are super hardy which is desirable in the winter where I live

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Awesome!

[@donnabrooks1173]

I would love to have buff orpingtons. They are beautiful.

[@tinapraesel3901]

My #1 is Black Australorp for their color that helps to keep the hawks and eagles away. Lost one to a hawk on a cloudy day. Also eggs are a light brown. I had 5 got set even though they are not known for it. #2 Easter Egger I love their friendly attitude. It is a plus that you get blue or green eggs. #3 Golden Wyandot for friendly and eggs plus possible meat.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

All great choices!!

[@susanwalker247]

Glad you had something different today.... i love my birds.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Me too!

[@dshel4]

Barred rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and Easter Eggers are my fav 3. I have some Sapphire Gems now I think I may love…gotta see how they lay and that will be a couple more months.

[@purplewombat1923]

I love pretty coloured chickens! If I were going to have chickens, I would try to have the speckley breeds :-)

[@davinasquirrel7672]

There are so many breeds out there. Try for the laced or penciled breeds, they are super pretty.

[@dustinchadwick2887]

So that's funny, while watching the video I made a list of the hens I would like to start with and the 3 I put down ended up being your top 3! Thank you for the video!

[@camicri4263]

I never had chickens myself but getting some after the 19th. Super excited and scared at the same time and that's because I am slow to move and balance issues at the moment, which kinda takes your wings down to size. My husband was discouraging me to have them because of that but I just bought them and didn't tell him. Ugh, will find out, he likes animals so I hope is going to be ok. If not, tough! I would have brought them last year when we moved but he said not to because we had so much to do, so here we go! Thank you for the video! ❤️🤗🤗

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Good luck! You can do it!

[@davinasquirrel7672]

Chickens are totally addictive. I am sure your husband will come around.

[@jessicajackson9164]

Hi! I loved this video. I would like so much to have chickens in my yard , but my husband doesn’t want to…it would be another animal to look after. But one never knows the power of persuasion…One thing I would have liked to know is, what kinds of chicken feed there are and the cost. Thank you for the very nice video.

[@KB-gx5bs]

Love my Buff Orpingtons too - they are so friendly and the only ones with names due to their sweet social behavior. One loves to sit on laps. The other ones I currently have are Black Astralorps, which are tough and big egg producers for me, but not as friendly and can be quite the bullies to my Buffs. However, both breeds are super hardy in a cold climate like Maine. Think I need to add a couple of White Leghorn though...

[@bernieshomestead6416]

My favorite chicken breeds are the Barred Plymouth rock the buff Orphington, and the Easter Egger I’ve been raising chickens since 2006, and I love it. It is not only a hobby it’s become a little side business for me.

[@georgelevy3985]

My favorite breed is the Rhode island reds because I am into egg production

[@nedamm5677]

Favorite chicken breeds ... Americana, Welsumers, and Salmon Favorelles. Blue Andulsians are great if warm weather - flighty but SMART. Played dead with my dog and as soon I grabbed my dog... jumped up and ran!! Love your rainbow eggs - kinda hoped you were going to match egg to bird. Maybe next time.

[@texasnurse]

I've had a variety of breeds in the 24 years that I've had chickens. My favorite have been Arucanas and the Speckled Sussex I currently have. We called the Barred Rocks we had several years ago the Crips because they were so mean.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

That’s awesome!😆

[@lisapayne2352]

I just bought my first pair! I have a Black star & a blue Plymouth Rock! 😅

[@deecooper1567]

Such a variety 👍👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@user-rf7st1io9o]

Have 6 buff Orpington and first time backyard keepers. Love the breed, easy to raise and very quiet ( no complaints from neighbors). Friendly and they follow us around every time that we are in the yard. Recommend the Orpington breed for 1st timers or living in a residential area.

[@raneesmith3530]

I have Australorp and Dominique both are good layers and seem to get along with other hens

[@NextLevelHomestead]

That’s great!

[@tinab7791]

These are my first chickens but I have two Lavender Orpingtons, two Easter eggers and two Welsummers. These supposed Easter eggers and Welsumners look exactly the same and I suspect I just got four Welsummer, but we'll find out when they start laying in the next month or two. Hands down the Orpingtons are the sweetest things. They are my lap birds and are also at the bottom of the pecking order because they're just so nice. They don't mind being held at all instead of screaming like I'm trying to eat them (like the others do).😆 One of them literally thinks I'm her mom and she gets so upset when I leave, even now at about 3 months old.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Orpingtons are the best! They are Emilie’s favorite

[@kathiegettinger8374]

Thank you! Great information!

[@phenixwars1]

This was a fun video. It's so amazing how they lay different color eggs! So cool. I loved the chicken cam at the end too 😆

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Thank you!

[@HollywoodRuby]

LOVED THE DIFFERENT BREEDS DESCRIPTIONS!!! we are just breaking ground for a coop that I hope to start out with 3 to 5 chicks and I understand chicken math I’m a little afraid of it since I could not get just one dog I had four at one point, however, not afraid of the work, etc. I now have a 1 acre garden. It’s our home and I am looking forward to sharing greens and, all the experiences good in bed with our own little flock of chickens.

[@redfoxfarmsms4149]

You’re right, chicken math is real! I’ve enlarged my coop twice already and have plans to do it again this fall. My favorite breed is Easter Egger followed by Australorp (I have blue and black ones) and Speckled Sussex. All 3 breeds are friendly and get along well with the other chickens. I hope to add Cream Legbars after the coop enlargement.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Sounds good!

[@MrsBadger]

I’d add Sussex chickens to the list of gentle breeds ❤

[@lisabrown6908]

Thank you, so much, for your help and insight! I am very new to chickens and am so excited to get started!

[@thizizliz]

I would never have thought about all those breeds in one coop. So cool.

[@madfishermanmadfisherman4299]

My favorite chickens are rhode island reds and California whites. They lay large eggs and about 300 eggs each year

[@SPshaun]

My favorite chickens of all time were Araucana. I found them at a feed store 11 years ago. They were friendly and laid gorgeous blue or blue/green eggs. They were productive layers too. Still laying after 6 years. We had someone visit with a Labrador and although we warned them to watch their dog when we saw the interest in our coop and chickens, it broke down the fence and killed both my Araucanas and an Andalusian, my second favorite chicken. I’m down to 4 chickens. I tend to go for the productivity rather than egg color. I have zero interest in dual purpose birds and have raised meat birds. Good lord, that it not for me.

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Oh wow!

[@jamesdellamonica3422]

Very informative, thank you.

[@kristastern2616]

Love all your videos, but really enjoying the chickens I have almost all the egg colors you have, also have 3 silkies and one silkie wyndott cross

[@NextLevelHomestead]

That is awesome!

[@SusanSmith-de4lm]

Before watching your video we bought three chicks, one was a buff orpington. Other two were prairie bluebell egger (feathery feet) and light braham, but its dark, misidentified? The orpington has grown the fastest, bigger by almost double the size. The most gentle of the three and seems to like to be involved as I clean their temporary tote, always around my hand as I scoop up their poop with a plastic spoon. If I take one out the others cry for it. They are a lot of fun, abt three weeks old. We have our wood and are going to build their coop.

[@phini108]

definitely contemplating doing a shared chicken venture with my neighbor once she gets back from her cross country trip. took a class already. wont have the space to have a large flock to have the full spectrum of egg colors I'd love. i do have an aesthetic fondness for the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte. So gorgeous! Buff Orpingtons are wonderful!

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Great idea!

[@theresa337]

So fascinating!

[@irili100]

Hi Brian, could you post a picture of the pumpkin bug, caterpillar, fly or beetle in the next post. We only have a fly and it is possible that it means another insect. Thank you very much.🙏

[@pablobasalan7702]

Wow nice color of eggs

[@janebishop5885]

Good man. Beautiful birds.

[@nevapetersheim3351]

Amen ❤️ thank you!🔥

[@themakeupnurse3419]

very cool. thank you for this information.

[@LaurieH57]

I had a few Polish cresteds and Jersey giants. I ended up liking my Black Copper French Marans. But I gave everyone away. Loved my chickens.

[@fonzg78]

Thank you! Now I’m looking for a good place to order some of these from.

[@clancarney2541]

we are looking at our first flock this coming spring. Thank you for this, it talked my husband into letting me getting some more breeds than just leghorns. (my hubby loves old WB cartoons)

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Awesome!

[@tonyh2663]

I have one chicken so far. Its a Barred Rock. She is a laying machine.She lays an egg a day even though its winter now. Maybe I will get a Buff Orington next. Thanks gor the info.

[@pjsviking]

Fave breeds: Rhode Island Red, Black Minorca, Plymouth Rock and Barred Rock. We prefer these multi-purpose breeds that add colour to the barnyard, lay larger eggs - during summer get alot of double-yolkers. The egg shell colour never was of interest to us. Always enjoyable and informative videos - take care and thanks!

[@NextLevelHomestead]

Thank you!