Keeping chickens in the back garden has become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years. Not only do they provide fresh eggs, but they also make great pets and can help with garden pest control. However, with so many different breeds of chickens to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones are best for your backyard. In this post, we’ll take a look at the ten most popular types of backyard chickens in the UK, their characteristics, and what makes them unique.
Rhode Island Red
The Rhode Island Red is one of the most popular backyard chicken breeds in the UK. They are a hardy breed that can adapt to almost any climate and are known for their ability to produce large brown eggs. They are friendly birds that are easy to care for and make great pets.
Leghorn
The Leghorn is another popular breed that is known for its high egg production. They are small birds with slender bodies and come in a variety of colours, including white, brown, and black. They are a little more skittish than some other breeds but are still friendly and easy to care for.
Plymouth Rock
The Plymouth Rock is a friendly and docile breed that is perfect for backyard chicken owners. They are known for their striking black and white striped feathers and are great layers of brown eggs. They are also a hardy breed that can adapt to most climates.
Sussex
The Sussex is a British breed that is renowned for its friendly and docile temperament. They come in a range of colours, including white, red, and speckled. They are good layers of medium-sized eggs and are a hardy breed that can cope with cold and wet weather conditions.
Orpington
The Orpington is a large and fluffy breed that was first developed in Kent, England. They come in a range of colours, including black, blue, and buff. They are friendly and easy to handle, making them ideal for families with children. They are also good layers of large brown eggs.
Wyandotte
The Wyandotte is a breed that is native to the US but has become popular in the UK in recent years. They are a hardy breed that can adapt to most weather conditions and come in a range of colours, including silver, gold, and blue laced. They are friendly birds that are good layers of medium-sized brown eggs.
Marans
The Marans is a breed that originated in France and is known for its dark brown eggs. They come in a range of colours, including black, copper, and white. They are a friendly breed that is easy to care for and can adapt to most weather conditions.
Brahma
The Brahma is a large and impressive breed that was first developed in the US. They come in a range of colours, including black, white, and buff. They are friendly birds that are easy to handle and make great pets. They are also good layers of large brown eggs.
Hamburg
The Hamburg is a small and active breed that is native to Germany. They come in a range of colours, including black, silver, and gold. They are a friendly and alert breed that is good at foraging and can adapt to most weather conditions. They are also good layers of small white eggs.
Silkie
The Silkie is a unique breed that is known for its fluffy feathers and black skin. They come in a range of colours, including white, black, and blue. They are friendly birds that are easy to handle and make great pets. They are not the best layers, but their unique appearance makes up for it.
Conclusion
If you are looking to buy chickens for keeping at home, hopefully, the information here will have given you a better idea about which breeds to choose.