Ever looked at your feathered friends scratching around your yard and wondered, “what type of chicken do I have anyway?” You’re not alone! Whether you inherited chickens with your property bought unmarked chicks from a farm store, or just can’t remember what breeds you ordered identifying your chickens is both fun and practical.
I’ve been raising chickens for years, and let me tell you – figuring out what breeds are strutting around your coop gives you valuable insights into their egg-laying potential, temperament, and care needs. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll crack the code on chicken identification using 6 key indicators that poultry experts swear by
The 6 Key Indicators for Identifying Your Chicken Breed
When trying to figure out what type of chicken you have focus on these 6 critical features
- Feather color, type, and pattern
- Size
- Egg color
- Comb type
- Body shape
- Spurs
Let’s explore each one in detail!
1. Feather Color, Type, and Pattern
Probably the strongest indicator of your chicken’s breed is its feathering. Here’s what to look for:
- Color: Is your chicken brown like a Buff Orpington? Black and white like a Brahma? Pure white like a Leghorn?
- Type: Some breeds have distinctive feather types. Silkies have incredibly soft, hair-like feathers. Some decorative breeds have long feathers around their legs.
- Pattern: Many breeds have signature patterns like:
- Barred (alternating light and dark stripes) – seen in Plymouth Rocks
- Double-laced – distinctive to Barnevelders
- Spangled – found in Hamburgs
- Mottled – characteristic of Java chickens
For example, Australorps are known for their lustrous black feathers with a beetle-green sheen when caught in sunlight, while Wyandottes often display a distinctive laced feather pattern in various colors.
2. Size
Size is a major clue when identifying chicken breeds:
- Large breeds: Jersey Giants can reach well over 10 pounds
- Medium breeds: Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rocks average around 5.5 pounds
- Small breeds: Bantams and Sebrights can be as small as one pound
Size can also indicate age and gender – roosters are typically larger than hens of the same breed, and both are obviously larger than younger chickens!
3. Egg Color
If your mystery chicken is laying eggs, you’ve got a valuable clue! Egg color is genetically determined and specific to certain breeds:
- Brown eggs: Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, Sussex
- White eggs: Leghorns, Anconas, Minorcas
- Blue eggs: Araucanas, Cream Legbars
- Green eggs: Favaucanas, Easter Eggers, Olive Eggers
- Dark chocolate brown: Marans, Welsummers, Barnevelders
- Pinkish: Some Easter Eggers
The Marans breed is especially known for laying eggs so dark brown they almost look like chocolate!
4. Comb Type
The fleshy bit on top of a chicken’s head (comb) varies dramatically between breeds and is an excellent identification marker:
- Single comb: Most common, with a series of points standing upright (Rhode Island Reds, Leghorns)
- Rose comb: Low, flat comb covered with small bumps (Wyandottes)
- Pea comb: Three low ridges set sideways (Brahmas, Ameraucanas)
- Buttercup comb: Cup-shaped with points around the edge (Sicilian Buttercups)
- V-shaped comb: As the name suggests! (Polish, Sultan chickens)
- Strawberry comb: Low and bumpy like a strawberry (Malays)
- Walnut comb: Bumpy and resembling a walnut (Silkies)
The comb isn’t just decorative – it helps chickens regulate body temperature, so different comb types evolved for different climates!
5. Body Shape
Body shape can tell you if your chicken was bred for meat, eggs, or both:
- Meat birds: Heavier bodies, broad breasts, and thicker legs (Cornish Cross, Jersey Giants)
- Egg layers: Lighter bodies with smaller bones, as their energy goes to egg production rather than putting on weight (Leghorns, Andalusians)
- Dual-purpose: A balance between the two (Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds)
The Buckeye, for instance, has a distinctive shape with a lustrous red color and pea comb that distinguishes it from the similar-looking Rhode Island Red.
6. Spurs
Spurs are bony growths on the back of a chicken’s leg and can help determine:
- Gender: Roosters typically grow larger, more prominent spurs than hens
- Age: The longer the spur, the older the chicken likely is
- Breed tendencies: Mediterranean breeds like Sicilian Buttercups and Minorcas often have hens that grow spurs similar to roosters
Popular Chicken Breeds and Their Distinctive Features
Now let’s look at some popular breeds and their unique identifying features:
Rhode Island Reds
- Appearance: Rich mahogany red feathers
- Comb: Single comb
- Size: Medium, 6-8 pounds
- Eggs: Brown, 250-300 annually
- Temperament: Active, friendly but not overly docile
Buff Orpingtons
- Appearance: Golden buff colored feathers, fluffy appearance
- Comb: Single comb
- Size: Large, 7-10 pounds
- Eggs: Light brown, about 200 annually
- Temperament: Extremely gentle, docile, good with children
Plymouth Rocks (Barred)
- Appearance: Distinctive black and white barred pattern
- Comb: Single comb
- Size: Medium-large, 6-9 pounds
- Eggs: Brown, 200-280 annually
- Temperament: Calm, friendly, adaptable
Silkies
- Appearance: Fluffy, hair-like feathers, often white or black
- Comb: Walnut comb
- Size: Small, 2-3 pounds
- Eggs: Cream colored, about 100 annually
- Temperament: Extremely docile, broody, make excellent mothers
Australorps
- Appearance: Black feathers with beetle-green sheen
- Comb: Single comb
- Size: Medium-large, 5-8 pounds
- Eggs: Light brown, 250+ annually (record holder laid 364 eggs in 365 days!)
- Temperament: Friendly, calm, adaptable
Leghorns
- Appearance: Most commonly white with long tails
- Comb: Large single comb
- Size: Medium, 4-6 pounds
- Eggs: White, 250-300 annually
- Temperament: Active, flighty, independent
Brahmas
- Appearance: Massive birds with feathered legs and feet
- Comb: Pea comb
- Size: Very large, 10-12+ pounds (roosters can reach 18 pounds!)
- Eggs: Medium brown, 150-200 annually
- Temperament: Gentle giants, docile, good winter layers
Easter Eggers
- Appearance: Vary widely, often have muffs/beards
- Comb: Pea comb
- Size: Medium, 5-7 pounds
- Eggs: Blue, green, pink, or olive, 200-280 annually
- Temperament: Friendly, curious, good foragers
Hybrid Chickens – A Special Case
Some chickens you might encounter are hybrids bred for specific qualities:
Black Stars / Red Stars
- Appearance: Black Stars are black with occasional gold feathers; Red Stars are reddish-brown
- Purpose: Prolific egg layers (300+ eggs annually)
- Special feature: Sex-linked, meaning males and females can be identified at hatching
Cinnamon Queens
- Appearance: Golden-red plumage
- Purpose: Excellent brown egg layers (250-300 eggs annually)
- Special feature: Also sex-linked for easy identification
Resources for Identifying Your Chicken
Still scratching your head? Try these resources:
- Visual breed charts – Many websites offer visual guides to common breeds
- Local agricultural extensions – Expert help is often available through these services
- Poultry clubs and associations – Members love helping identify mystery birds
- Online poultry forums – Post photos and get community input
- Chicken breed identifier apps – Yes, there’s an app for that! The CBI (Chicken Breed Identifier) can accurately identify breeds in seconds from a photo
Benefits of Knowing Your Chicken Breed
Why bother figuring out what type of chicken you have? Here’s why it matters:
- Egg expectations – Different breeds lay different numbers, sizes, and colors of eggs
- Health considerations – Some breeds are prone to specific health issues
- Climate suitability – Certain breeds thrive in heat while others excel in cold
- Behavior prediction – Knowing if your hens are likely to go broody or if your roosters might be aggressive
- Lifespan planning – Breeds vary in typical longevity
- Feed requirements – Heavy layers need different nutrition than meat birds
Identifying what type of chicken you have is both fun detective work and practical knowledge for any backyard chicken keeper. By examining your birds’ feather patterns, combs, body shapes, sizes, spurs, and egg colors, you’ll be well on your way to solving the mystery!
Remember, mixed breed chickens are also common and wonderful to raise – they often combine the best traits of multiple breeds. So even if your chicken doesn’t perfectly match any standard breed description, they’re still a valuable addition to your flock.
Have you recently identified an unusual breed in your backyard? I’d love to hear about it in the comments! And if you’re still wondering “what type of chicken do I have?” feel free to post a pic – our community loves helping with chicken identification.
Happy chicken keeping!
BACKYARD CHICKENS FOR BEGINNERS! | Caring For Egg Laying Hens The EASY Way!
FAQ
What are the most popular chicken breeds?
You most likely have any of the most popular chicken breeds like the Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Leghorns, and Orpingtons. Many people own these chickens and keep them in their backyards. Read on for more fun facts about chicken breeds! How Many Chicken Breeds Are There?
What are the different types of chicken breeds?
Chicken breeds fall into 2 main categories: bantam and standard. Bantam chickens are smaller versions of standard breeds. Standard chickens are much larger and can be harder to raise. They require much larger spaces and more food than other breeds.
How do I know what kind of Chicken I have?
The best method to determine the kind of chicken you have is assess 6 key indicators. So if you already have your chickens settling into their new home, and you want to know what kind of breed you’ve got, or even just facts about age and gender, the above key indicators are the best ones to check. Let’s go through them individually.
Which chicken breed is best for beginners?
Jersey Giants are the most friendly chicken breed. Plymouth Rocks, Silkies, and Wyandottes are all very friendly, too. Other rarer breeds are also lovely and good in flocks. Ameraucana and Andalusian chickens are excellent for beginners because of their temperament.
How do you know if a chicken is a good breed?
It looks at features like feather pattern, body shape, comb type, wattle size, earlobe color, leg color, stance and body structure. These characteristics are then compared against a vast database of known chicken breeds to determine the closest match. Why can’t the tool identify my chicken breed?
Why can’t I identify the correct breed of my chicken?
There are many reasons why the tool might not be able to identify the correct breed of your chicken. First, make sure you have a high-quality picture where the chicken is clearly visible, cropped, sharp, and taken from the side. Second, although the tool recognizes many chicken breeds, there are countless hatchery mixes and color variations.
How do you tell what breed of chicken you have?
To identify a chicken’s breed, observe distinctive features like feather color and pattern, comb type and size, leg and skin color, number of toes (some have five), and if they are feather-footed or have a crest/beard. You can also determine if it’s a bantam (small) or large fowl, its body shape, and even use the hatcheries the chicks came from as a clue. For a quick identification, a photo-based app like RoostScan can be used to help match your chicken’s traits to specific breed profiles.
What to use to identify chickens?
Bandettes are also a great way to mark your birds for identification. They are very similar to spiral bands in that they are affordable and made out of colored plastic. However, there is one huge difference; they are marked with large easy to read numbers. This numbering is critical to identify individual birds.
Why can’t male chickens be used for meat?
We primarily eat female chickens (hens) and castrated males (capons) because the male chicks from egg-laying breeds are economically inefficient for meat production, as they are slower-growing and yield less meat than dedicated broiler breeds. While roosters can be eaten, their meat is often tough and stringy, particularly if they are older, though they can be good for slow-cooked dishes like soup.