19 White Chicken Breeds for Backyard Flocks, From Leghorns to Silkies
October 23, 2026
Not every white chicken breed was bred for the same reason. Some were shaped by commercial hatcheries chasing egg numbers, while others were refined by hobbyists chasing a single feather pattern or a perfectly placed crest. The domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) comes in hundreds of recognized varieties, and a surprising number of them wear solid white plumage as their signature look.
White chicken breeds generally fall into four practical categories worth knowing before you pick one for a flock:
- High-output egg layers, bred almost entirely for white egg production
- Dual-purpose farm breeds, kept for both eggs and meat
- Bantam and ornamental birds, valued for size, feathering, or temperament rather than production
- Rare heritage and regional breeds, preserved for history and genetic diversity as much as utility
This rundown covers 19 white chicken breeds and varieties, with practical notes on origin, purpose, and what each one is actually like to keep.
1. White Leghorn
The White Leghorn is the breed behind most white eggs sold in American grocery stores, and it earns that reputation through sheer output. The breed traces back to Livorno, Tuscany, and breeders in the United States, England, and Denmark later refined it into the lighter, athletic layer known today. The American Poultry Association recognized White Leghorns in 1874.
They are an egg-laying breed that can produce between 150 and 320 large to extra-large, white eggs a year, with hens commonly laying around 280 eggs per year under good management. They rarely go broody, which helps keep them focused on laying instead of sitting. That trait, paired with excellent feed conversion, is exactly why modern commercial hybrid layers still carry heavy Leghorn ancestry in their lineage.
Leghorns are active, alert, and not particularly interested in human contact, so they suit keepers who want eggs more than a lap pet.
Important Note: The white variety of Leghorns might be more visible to predators than darker-feathered breeds, so secure housing matters more with this bird than with camouflaged alternatives.
2. White Plymouth Rock
White Plymouth Rocks share the same sturdy, rectangular body as their famous Barred cousins but carry solid white plumage instead. The breed developed in New England in the 1800s as a practical farmstead bird, valued for calm temperament and steady brown egg production rather than flashy appearance. It remains one of the defining American chicken breeds still kept on small farms today.
White Plymouth Rocks also have an unusual footnote in poultry history. A USDA researcher at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center crossed white Plymouth Rocks, silver-gray Dorkings and white Leghorns to produce a breed with good egg-laying capabilities that could also provide a decent carcass once its laying days ended, a bird now known as the Lamona. That experiment shows how useful white Rock genetics have been well beyond their own breed standard.
Docile and cold-tolerant, White Plymouth Rocks handle confinement and free-ranging equally well, which is part of why they stayed popular through generations of changing farm practices.
3. White Wyandotte
White Wyandottes carry a rose comb close to the head, a feature that reduces frostbite risk and makes the breed genuinely practical for cold-climate flocks. The breed originated in the United States in the late 1800s and was prized from the start for its rounded, curvy body shape and thick layer of insulating feathers.
Wyandottes are dual-purpose birds, producing a respectable number of brown eggs while also growing a decent carcass. Temperament runs calm to mildly reserved, and hens tend to go broody more readily than high-production layers like the Leghorn.
Because the rose comb sits low and tight, White Wyandottes tolerate harsh winters better than single-combed breeds, making them a common choice across the northern United States.
4. White Orpington
Few breeds match the White Orpington for sheer approachability. Developed in Kent, England, in the late 19th century, the breed was built around soft, loose feathering that makes the bird look noticeably larger than its actual frame.
Orpingtons rank among the most consistently docile chicken breeds kept in backyard flocks, tolerating handling, children, and close confinement with little fuss. They lay a steady supply of light brown eggs and go broody often enough to raise their own chicks if a keeper wants that option.
Pro Tip: The dense underfluff on White Orpingtons hides mites and lice more easily than tighter-feathered breeds, so check skin and vent feathers during routine handling rather than relying on a quick visual scan.
5. White Cornish
White Cornish, sometimes labeled White Indian Game, look nothing like the other breeds on this list. The body is short, broad, and packed with muscle, a trait inherited from Asian gamefowl brought into England during the breed’s development in Cornwall.
This stocky build is exactly why White Cornish became foundational stock for modern broiler production, and the breed still carries some temperament traits from its gamefowl ancestry, including assertive roosters that need experienced handling. Hens lay relatively few eggs, since the breed was never selected for output.
Keepers who raise White Cornish today are almost always after meat production or preserving genetics tied to the broiler industry’s history, not egg baskets.
6. White Silkie
The White Silkie is instantly recognizable, and almost nothing about it looks like a typical chicken. Feathers lack the barbicels that normally zip barbs together, giving the plumage a soft, fur-like texture rather than a sleek feathered surface.
Beyond the unusual feathers, Silkies carry several traits found in few other breeds:
- Black skin, bones, and even internal organs due to a genetic condition called fibromelanosis
- Five toes per foot instead of the usual four
- Turquoise-blue earlobes
- Strong, near-constant broodiness, often used to hatch eggs from other breeds
Originating in China, the Silkie is a true bantam-sized breed kept almost entirely for temperament and novelty rather than production. Their calm, friendly nature makes them a frequent choice for families and for keepers introducing children to poultry care.
7. White Cochin
White Cochins are built for volume rather than speed or output. Originating in China and popularized in the West during the 1840s “hen fever” craze, the breed carries exceptionally dense feathering that extends all the way down the legs and over the toes.
That feathering adds bulk without adding much actual meat, which is why Cochins are kept mainly as calm, ornamental birds rather than production stock. Egg laying is modest, and hens go broody frequently enough to make reliable surrogate mothers for hatching eggs from other breeds, including the fluffy, textured feathering sometimes used in breeding programs tied to frizzle-feathered varieties.
Their gentle disposition and tolerance for confinement make White Cochins a reliable choice for keepers prioritizing temperament over egg counts.
8. White Crested Polish
The White Crested Polish wears a domed crest of feathers on top of its head, a look striking enough that the breed shows up constantly in poultry photography despite being a relatively impractical farm bird. The crest grows from a bony protuberance on the skull rather than sitting flat like a simple topknot.
That same crest creates real care considerations. It commonly obstructs forward vision, which affects foraging behavior and increases predator vulnerability in free-range setups. The breed fits naturally alongside other crested chicken breeds kept primarily for exhibition and ornamental appeal.
Common Mistake: New keepers often assume Polish chickens are flighty because of their odd, head-bobbing movement. In most cases the bird simply cannot see well due to the crest, not because it is naturally skittish.
White Crested Polish lay small to medium white eggs in modest numbers and are rarely chosen for meat or heavy egg production.
9. White Dorking
The White Dorking is one of the oldest documented chicken breeds still kept today, with roots tracing back to poultry the Romans brought to Britain. The breed carries a distinctive extra toe on each foot, a polydactyl trait shared with only a handful of other breeds worldwide.
Built long and rectangular rather than round, Dorkings were historically prized dual-purpose table birds in England. The White variety sits alongside the more commonly seen Silver-Grey Dorking, and both share the same five-toed feet and short legs that give the breed its low, substantial profile. Keepers interested in grey chicken breeds often encounter Dorking lines while researching the breed’s full color range.
Dorkings lay a fair number of white to tinted eggs and tend toward a calm, unhurried temperament suited to smaller enclosures.
10. White Faverolles
White Faverolles developed in the village of Faverolles in northern France during the 19th century, bred specifically as a practical winter table bird for the Paris market. The breed combines several distinct features rarely found together on one bird:
- A full beard and muffs framing the face
- Feathered legs and feet
- Five toes per foot
- A short, wide body built for cold-weather hardiness
Faverolles are known for an unusually sociable, easygoing temperament even among roosters, which makes the breed popular in mixed backyard flocks. As one of the more distinctive heritage chicken breeds still bred today, the White Faverolles lays a moderate number of light brown eggs and adapts well to cold climates thanks to its heavy feathering.
11. White Jersey Giant
True to its name, the White Jersey Giant is the largest standard chicken breed developed in the United States, created in New Jersey in the late 1800s as an attempt to produce a chicken large enough to replace small turkeys on the table. Roosters commonly reach well over 11 pounds at maturity.
Despite the imposing size, Jersey Giants have a reputation as gentle, slow-moving birds that rarely show aggression even as adults, earning a place among the largest chicken breeds kept in backyard settings. The breed grows slowly compared to commercial meat birds, taking considerably longer to reach full size, which limited its commercial success even though it remains a favorite among heritage breed keepers.
Egg laying is moderate rather than prolific, with hens producing brown eggs at a steady but unremarkable pace.
12. White Ameraucana
The White Ameraucana belongs to a breed developed in the United States during the 1970s, built from South American Araucana stock to preserve blue egg genetics while breeding out the lethal genes tied to the original tufted, rumpless Araucana. The result is a sturdy, pea-combed bird with a full beard and muffs.
Unlike most other entries on this list, Ameraucanas lay blue-shelled eggs rather than white or brown, a trait that surprises many new keepers who assume white feathers mean white eggs. Breed development happened entirely within the United States, placing it firmly among American-developed chicken breeds rather than imported stock.
Key Insight: True Ameraucanas are often confused with Easter Eggers, a far more common hybrid that also lays colored eggs but lacks a fixed breed standard. Genuine Ameraucanas must match strict conformation requirements, including the pea comb and clean legs.
13. White Sussex
White Sussex chickens descend from one of England’s oldest dual-purpose breeds, with roots in the county of Sussex dating back centuries before formal breed standards existed. The variety was developed alongside the more widely recognized Speckled and Light Sussex color patterns.
Calm, curious, and good foragers, White Sussex hens lay a reliable supply of light brown eggs and tolerate both confinement and free-ranging well. The breed remains a staple among common dual-purpose chicken breeds kept across the UK and, increasingly, in American backyard flocks seeking a hardy, friendly table-and-egg bird.
14. Light Brahma
Light Brahmas carry mostly white plumage accented with black hackle and tail feathering, a pattern that still earns the breed a spot on most white chicken breed lists. Developed in the United States from Asian stock imported in the mid-1800s, Brahmas quickly became known as gentle giants of the poultry world.
Heavily feathered legs and feet give Light Brahmas excellent tolerance for harsh winters, reinforcing their reputation as dependable cold-weather chicken breeds. Despite their large frame, Brahmas are calm and easy to handle, and hens continue laying through colder months better than many lighter breeds.
Egg production is moderate, with brown eggs arriving steadily rather than in the high volumes seen from dedicated layer breeds.
15. Sultan
The Sultan is an ornamental breed developed in the Ottoman Empire, imported into England in the mid-1800s as a palace fowl before spreading to American poultry fanciers. Everything about the breed’s appearance reads as deliberately elaborate rather than practical.
Distinguishing features set the Sultan apart from nearly every other white chicken breed:
- A full crest, beard, and muffs
- Heavily feathered legs and feet
- Vulture hocks, an extended feather growth at the hock joint
- A V-shaped comb
Sultans lay few eggs and were never intended for meat production, fitting squarely among exotic chicken breeds kept for appearance and historical interest. The breed remains rare, with small, dedicated breeding populations maintaining the standard today.
16. Bresse
The white Bresse, known in France as the Bresse de Bény, is widely regarded among chefs as the finest-tasting chicken in the world. The story of the poulet de Bresse, with its steel blue feet and bright white plumage, begins in 1591 when the bird was first mentioned in the town registers of Bourg-en-Bresse.
Poulet de Bresse may be produced only from white chickens of the Bresse Gauloise breed raised within a legally-defined area of eastern France, and the AOP geographical indication was applied to the white variety from 1957. That legal protection makes genuine Bresse chicken one of the only poultry products in the world tied to a specific place of origin, similar to Champagne or Roquefort cheese.
In terms of production, Bresse weigh roughly 5 to 7 pounds depending on sex, with annual egg production in the 200 to 250 range for well-managed birds. A properly managed Bresse hen in her prime can lay up to 250 large white eggs per year, making the breed a genuine dual-purpose bird rather than a meat specialist alone.
Important Note: Outside the legally protected French region, birds of this breed raised in the United States or elsewhere are typically marketed as American Bresse rather than true Poulet de Bresse, since the name itself is legally restricted.
17. Delaware
The Delaware chicken emerged in the 1940s almost by accident, discovered as a naturally occurring white sport from crosses between Barred Plymouth Rock roosters and New Hampshire hens. Breeders quickly recognized its potential and stabilized the white plumage with black barring limited to the hackle and tail.
For roughly a decade, the Delaware was the dominant broiler breed in the United States, prized for fast growth and a clean-plucking white carcass before the Cornish Cross took over commercial production almost entirely. That history makes the Delaware a genuine piece of American poultry development, part of the broader story behind today’s hybrid chicken breeds used in modern meat production.
Delawares remain a solid dual-purpose choice for small farms, laying brown eggs reliably while growing a reasonably fast, meaty frame.
18. Ixworth
The Ixworth was developed in the English village of the same name during the 1930s, built specifically as an efficient, fast-maturing white table bird. Breeders combined genetics from White Sussex, White Indian Game (Cornish), and White Minorca to create the final standard.
That blended ancestry places the Ixworth at an interesting crossroads among white heritage breeds. The table below compares it against the other dual-purpose heritage breeds covered above.
| Breed | Country of Origin | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| White Sussex | England | Eggs and meat |
| White Dorking | England | Meat, historic table bird |
| White Faverolles | France | Winter table bird, eggs |
| Delaware | United States | Broiler meat, eggs |
| Ixworth | England | Fast-growing table bird |
Ixworth hens lay a fair number of white eggs, and the breed remains rare even in its home country, kept mostly by dedicated heritage breed conservators.
19. White Japanese Bantam
The White Japanese Bantam is a true bantam, meaning there is no standard-size counterpart to scale it from. Originating in Japan and prized in ornamental poultry collections for centuries, the breed is instantly recognizable by its extremely short legs and oversized, upright tail carried almost vertically above the body.
This exaggerated proportion makes the White Japanese Bantam almost entirely an exhibition and pet breed rather than a production bird, joining other true miniature chicken breeds kept for show rather than eggs or meat. Hens lay very few small eggs and rarely go broody successfully given their proportions.
Gentle and easy to handle due to their small size, White Japanese Bantams are a common choice for keepers with limited space who still want an eye-catching bird in the flock.
White chicken breeds range from commercial egg machines like the Leghorn to legally protected gourmet birds like the Bresse, with plenty of ornamental oddities and heritage farm breeds filling the space between. Picking the right one comes down to matching purpose, climate, and temperament to what a flock actually needs, rather than choosing on looks alone.