Brown chickens are not that well known, and it’s possible that you don’t even know what they are.
What most people do know about brown chicken breeds, however, is that they lay brown eggs.
This fact seems to make these brown chicken breeds almost invisible in the eyes of many poultry breeders.
It would be best to give them more attention, as there are several brown chicken breeds.
They will surely get your attention with their unique looks and exciting personalities.
Here’s an overview of the best brown chicken breeds to help you decide which one(s) you want to include in your flock!
New Hampshire Chicken
New Hampshire is among the brown chicken breeds developed in the United States in the 1930s.
It is a dual-purpose breed that can be used for meat and egg production.
New Hampshire chickens are hardy, docile birds that are good foragers. They typically weigh between 5 and 7 pounds and lay medium to large brown eggs.
Golden Comet
The Golden Comet is a hybrid chicken developed in the United States in the 1970s. It crosses a Rhode Island Red hen and a New Hampshire rooster.
The Golden Comet is known for its high egg production, with some hens laying more than 300 eggs yearly.
The breed is also known for being friendly and docile. This makes it a good choice for backyard chicken keepers.
Buckeye
The Buckeye is one of the brown chicken breeds developed in Ohio in the late 1800s.
This chicken is known for being cold, hardy, and docile.
The Buckeye is an excellent layer of large brown eggs. This chicken breed can also be used for meat production.
Brahmas
Brahmas are brown chicken breeds that originated in India. These chickens are known for being heat tolerant and very calm.
Brahmas make great layers of large brown eggs. This chicken breed can also be used for meat production.
Rhode Island Red Chicken
The Rhode Island Red is a great option if you’re looking for brown chicken breeds.
This breed is known for being hardy and adaptable, and they are good layers of brown eggs.
Rhode Island Reds can be friendly and make good backyard chickens. However, they can also be aggressive, so research before getting any.
ISA Brown
One of the most popular brown chicken breeds is the ISA Brown. These chickens are known for being great egg layers.
They’re also relatively docile and easy to handle. ISA Browns are a good choice for first-time chicken owners or those who want a low-maintenance flock.
Barnevelder
Barnevelders are a dual-purpose chicken breed used for egg and meat production.
They’re a relatively new breed, developed in the Netherlands in the late 19th century.
Barnevelders are known for their beautiful multi-colored feathers ranging from dark brown to light buff.
The hens are good layers of large brown eggs, and the roosters make excellent table birds.
Lohmann Brown
Lohmann Brown chickens are German brown chicken breeds developed in the 1950s.
Thanks to their egg-laying abilities, they’re among the most popular brown chicken breeds. Lohmann Browns can lay up to 300 eggs per year!
They’re also known for being good layers of brown eggs, which are typically larger and have a higher yolk-to-white ratio than white eggs.
Lohmann Browns are a great choice if you’re looking for a reliable layer that will produce many eggs.
Bovan Brown
Bovan Browns are an English breed that was developed in the 1970s. They get their name from their distinctive plumage, brown and black feathers.
Buff Brahma
The Buff Brahma is a brown chicken breed known for being calm and docile. They are also good layers of brown eggs.
This chicken breed originated from Asia and was brought to the United States in 1849. Buff Brahmas are excellent chickens for first-time chicken owners.
Naked Neck
As its name suggests, the Naked Neck chicken breed has no feathers. This results from a genetic mutation that occurs naturally in the wild.
The transformation is thought to have originated in Asia. The Naked Neck chicken is now found all over the world.
While they don’t have the protective feathers of other chicken breeds, they are more heat-tolerant and less susceptible to frostbite.
Naked Necks are good foragers and do well in free-range systems. They are also known for being calm and docile, making them good pets.
Welsummer
The Welsummer is among the Dutch brown chicken breeds developed in the 1920s. This chicken is known for its rich, dark brown eggs.
The hens lay around 200 eggs per year and are good mothers. The Welsummer is a dual-purpose breed that can be used for meat and egg production.
Easter Egger
One of the most popular brown chicken breeds is the Easter Egger. This breed is a hybrid of two chicken breeds- a Rhode Island Red and a White Leghorn.
Easter Eggers are known for being great egg layers, and they can lay up to 200 eggs per year!
They’re also friendly and docile, making them extraordinary backyard chickens.
If you’re looking for a brown chicken breed that’s good for both eggs and meat, the Easter Egger is an excellent choice.
Cinnamon Queen
The Cinnamon Queen is a brown chicken breed known for its egg-laying abilities.
This chicken breed can lay up to 280 eggs per year and is known for being a good mother.
The Cinnamon Queen is a hardy chicken breed that can withstand cold weather and does well in hot weather.
This chicken breed is also known for being docile and friendly. This makes it a good choice for those new to chicken keeping.
Barbu D’uccle
The Barbu D’uccle is a Belgian breed of bantam chicken. The most notable feature of this breed is its feathers, which are soft silky brown.
The Barbu D’uccle is a good choice for those who want a pet chicken. They are known to be friendly and docile.
These birds are also good layers, producing around 150 eggs per year. If you’re looking for unique brown chicken breeds, the Barbu D’uccle is worth considering!
Belgian Antwerp D’anvers
The Belgian Antwerp Danvers is a brown chicken breed that originates from the city of Antwerp in Belgium.
It is a dual-purpose breed that can be used for meat and egg production.
The breed is known for its docile temperament and good egg-laying ability.
Belgian Antwerp D’anvers chickens are also relatively cold and hardy. This makes them a good choice for those who live in cooler climates.
Rosecomb Bantam
The Rosecomb is a bantam breed of chicken originating in Belgium. They are known for their V-shaped comb and wattles.
The Rosecomb was first introduced into England in 1835 and into America in 1874. The Rosecomb is a famous exhibition bird used for egg production.
There are wide varieties of Rosecomb, including Belgian, English, French, German, and Spanish.
The most common type found in America is the Rhode Island Red.
The Rhode Island Red is a chicken developed in Rhode Island in the early 1900s. It was created by crossing several breeds of chickens, including the rose comb varieties.
Serama
The Serama is a breed of chicken originating from Malaysia. The breed was created through the selective breeding of native Malaysian birds.
Seramas are miniature chickens, with cocks weighing only 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) and hens around 0.9 kg (2.0 lb).
They are considered one of the bantam brown chicken breeds in most countries.
In Malaysia, they are regarded as full-size chickens. The Serama is the national bird of Malaysia and is kept by poultry enthusiasts in many other countries.
Cornish
The Cornish chicken is a large, hearty bird weighing up to 9 pounds. They have dark brown feathers and yellow skin.
These chickens are suitable for meat production and are often used in cross-breeding.
Cornish chickens are also known for being friendly and docile. This makes them a good choice for backyard chicken keepers.
Derbyshire Redcap
The Derbyshire Redcap is a brown chicken breed from England’s Derbyshire region. They are a dual-purpose breed, meaning they can be used for eggs and meat.
Redcaps are known for being good layers of brown eggs and have a docile personality. This breed is relatively rare and can be challenging to find.
If you’re looking for brown chicken breeds that are good for eggs and meat, the Derbyshire Redcap is a great option!
Red Shaver
The Red Shaver is a brown chicken breed known for its reddish-brown plumage.
This chicken breed is also known for being friendly and docile. This makes it an excellent choice for backyard chicken keepers.
Red Shavers are good egg layers and can lay up to 280 eggs per year.
The Red Shaver is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a brown chicken breed that is friendly and productive!
Orloff Chicken
The Orloff is a brown chicken breed that originates from Russia. It is a medium-sized bird with brown feathers and a single comb. The Orloff is known for being a good egg layer.
It is also known for being calm and docile. The Orloff is a good choice if you are looking for brown chicken breeds that are good for eggs and meat.
Marsh Daisy
The Marsh Daisy is a brown chicken breed known for being friendly and docile.
They are also one of the smaller breeds, making them a good choice for those with limited space.
Marsh Daisies are known for being good layers, and they will lay eggs even during winter.
The Marsh Daisy is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a brown chicken breed that is friendly and easy to care for.
Speckled Sussex
The Speckled Sussex is a British breed of chicken developed in the county of Sussex in southern England.
The Sussex is a dual-purpose chicken that can be used for eggs and meat.
The hens lay brown eggs and are good egg layers, while the roosters are good for meat.
The Speckled Sussex is a friendly bird that gets along well with other chickens.
They are also known for being calm and docile, making them a good choice for backyard chickens.
Altsteirer Chicken
The Altsteirer is a brown chicken breed that is native to Austria. They are a rare breed known for their docile and friendly nature.
These brown chicken breeds are also good layers, producing up to 200 eggs annually.
If you’re looking for a unique chicken breed for your backyard flock, the Altsteirer is a great choice!
Old English Game
The Old English Game is among the brown chicken breeds developed in England in the 1600s.
These birds were bred for their fighting abilities and continue to be used in cockfighting today.
The Old English Game is a small chicken, with males weighing only four pounds. The hens are slightly smaller, and they lay brown eggs.
These chickens are not good egg layers but make up for it with their friendly dispositions.
The Old English Game is an excellent choice for those looking for a pet chicken.
Polish Chicken
When most people think of brown chickens, they think of the Polish breed. These birds are characterized by their unique V-shaped crest on their head.
They come in various colors: white, brown, buff, and black. Polish chickens are good layers and can lay up to 200 eggs annually.
They are also known for being friendly and docile. This makes them an excellent choice for first-time chicken owners.
Brabanter
The Brabanter is a breed of chicken that hails from Belgium.
These birds are known for their brown plumage. This is why they’re sometimes called Belgian Brown chickens.
Brabanters are good egg-layers, and they’re also known for being calm and docile birds.
The Brabanter may be a good choice if you’re looking for brown chicken breeds that are easy to care for.
Cochin Chicken
The Cochin is a large and stately bird that originates from China. They are excellent layers of brown eggs and are also known for being very broody.
Cochins come in various colors, but the buff Cochin is the most common and well-known.
These chickens are friendly, docile birds that make great pets.
Pavlovskaya
The Pavlovskaya is a brown chicken breed that originates from Russia.
These chickens are known for their docile nature and egg-laying abilities. Pavlovskays lay large, brown eggs and are good foragers.
This breed is winter-hardy and does well in cold climates. The Pavlovskaya is a good choice for backyard chicken keepers who want a calm, productive bird.
Brown Leghorn
The Brown Leghorn is among the brown chicken breeds that originated in Italy.
They are known for being good egg layers and are often used in commercial egg production.
They are a light brown color with white markings on their feathers.
The Brown Leghorn lays around 200 eggs annually and weighs approximately 6 pounds. It also has an average life span of five years.
The Browns can be aggressive at times. Humans and other chickens in the flock need to be handled with care, especially if you want them to produce eggs for you.
Swedish Flower
The Swedish Flower is a brown chicken breed that is relatively new to the United States.
This chicken was developed in Sweden in the late 1800s and was brought to America in the early 1900s.
The Swedish Flower is a dual-purpose chicken that can be used for eggs and meat.
This chicken is known for being calm, docile, and good at foraging. The Swedish Flower typically lays brown eggs and has a 6-8-year lifespan.
Cubalaya
The Cubalaya is a brown chicken breed that is native to Cuba. They are known for their unique coloration, ranging from reddish-brown to almost black.
These brown chicken breeds are good egg layers, with some hens laying up to 200 eggs yearly.
If you’re looking for a chicken breed that is both beautiful and productive, the Cubalaya is a great choice!
Rhodebar
The Rhodebar is a brown chicken breed developed in England in the 1940s. This chicken is known for its docile personality and egg-laying abilities.
Rhodebars make excellent backyard chickens and are friendly towards children and other animals.
If you’re looking for brown chicken breeds that are good for both eggs and meat, the Rhodebar is an excellent option.
Plymouth Rock
The Plymouth Rock is a brown chicken breed popular among backyard chicken enthusiasts. This bird is known for being friendly and docile.
This makes it an excellent choice for first-time chicken owners. Plymouth Rocks are also good layers, producing up to 200 eggs annually.
The Plymouth Rock is a perfect option if you’re looking for a brown chicken breed that’s good for meat and eggs.
