Mighty Serama bantam chicken lounging and foraging in the backyard.
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10+ Best Chicken Breeds For Tiny Yards, Farms, And Homesteads!

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Raising chickens can be a rewarding experience, even if you’re working with limited space. Whether you have a small backyard, a budding farm, or a modest homestead, a backyard chicken coop brings many benefits. So, let’s explore ten versatile and small-yard chicken breeds that thrive in humble spaces while providing yummy eggs, meat, or both.

These feathered friends will help you maximize your limited acreage without sacrificing productivity or charm.

Sound good?

Then let’s continue!

A tiny Buff Orpington chicken relaxing in the backyard.

Ten Best Chicken Breeds For Tiny Yards, Farms, And Homesteads

These are our top ten chicken breed sources for small farms, homesteads, ranches, and backyards!

1. Easter Egger

A nifty-looking Easter Egger chicken in the backyard.

Easter Eggers are the Easter bunnies of the chicken world, known for their colorful egg-laying abilities. These superb chickens can lay yummy eggs in shades of olive, green, brown, and even blue, adding an element of surprise to your egg basket. Easter Eggers are not an actual breed but a hybrid, and they’re universally famous for being easy to raise. They are friendly, hardy, and excellent for small yards and backyards.

Easter Eggers are also great for families with children, as their diverse egg colors create a sense of excitement. They’re our top pick for small backyards, homesteads, mini granges, and farmsteads.

  • Size: 4 to 6 pounds.
  • Temperament: Friendly and curious.
  • Egg Production: 150 to 280 eggs yearly, in shades of blue, green, olive, or brown.
  • Unique Traits: Unique egg colors. Suitable for small homesteads.

A tip for raising these birds is to provide them with a balanced diet rich in calcium, which helps maintain their spectacular egg production and shell quality.

2. Serama

Two Serama chickens foraging in the backyard in tall grass.

The Serama is the tiniest chicken breed in the world, making it perfect for small backyards and urban homesteads. These little birds, originating from Malaysia, are known for their charming personalities and striking appearance, often compared to miniature gamebirds. Despite their small size, Seramas are hardy and can thrive in various climates. They are also excellent layers of small eggs, perfect for snacks or baking.

Seramas love human interaction and can often be seen following their owners around like little feathered shadows.

  • Size: 0.9 to 1.2 pounds.
  • Temperament: Friendly and curious.
  • Egg Production: 150 to 195 small-sized eggs per year, white or light cream.
  • Unique Traits: Smallest chicken breed, fabulous for small spaces.

A trick to raising Seramas is to ensure they have a secure coop, as their small size makes them more vulnerable to predators.

Read More – Want Bigger, More Significant Chickens? Here Are The 15 Biggest Chicken Breeds!

3. Wyandotte

An adult Wyandotte chicken foraging in the backyard.

These beautiful but hardy and resilient birds have a reputation for thriving in humble homesteads and farms across the US. Wyandottes are famous for their calm and gregarious demeanor, which makes them superb pets for families with children. They are excellent layers, producing a steady supply of large brown eggs.

One interesting fact about Wyandottes is that they came from the USA and got their name from the Indigenous Wyandot people.

  • Size: 6.5 to 8.5 pounds.
  • Temperament: Friendly and docile.
  • Egg Production: 200 to 250 eggs per year, brown.
  • Unique Traits: Cold-hardy, good foragers.

A tip for raising Wyandottes is to provide at least some space to forage, as they enjoy scratching around for insects and seeds.

4. Silkie

A fancy silkie chicken exploring the backyard grass.

Silkies are the teddy bears of the chicken world, with their soft, fluffy plumage and sweet personalities. Due to their quirky yet peaceful personalities, these small chickens make excellent pets, especially for children. Silkies are not prolific layers, but they lay small, tasty, cream-colored eggs and are known for their broodiness, making them excellent mothers.

Originating from Asia, the Silkies have a rich history among fancy chicken enthusiasts, and Marco Polo even (seemingly) mentioned them during his travels.

  • Size: 2 to 3 pounds.
  • Temperament: Gentle and friendly.
  • Egg Production: 100 to 120 small-sized eggs yearly, cream or tinted.
  • Unique Traits: Silkies have fluffy, hair-like feathers, five toes instead of four, and turquoise earlobes. They are excellent for brooding and have black skin and bones!

Our best tip for raising Silkies is to keep them in a dry, clean environment, as their fluffy feathers can get easily matted and dirty.

Read More – Want More Smaller Chicken Breeds Like Silkies? Here Are 20 Adorably-Tiny Chicken Breeds!

5. Buff Orpington

A Buff Orpington chicken eagerly exploring the backyard.

Buff Orpingtons are the golden retrievers of the chicken world—friendly, laid back, and affectionate. These large, fluffy birds are ideal for families and small farms due to their docile, calm nature and prolific egg-laying capabilities. Buff Orpingtons lay large brown eggs consistently and are excellent mothers if you decide to hatch your chicks.

Originating from England in the late 19th century, Buff Orpingtons were bred for meat and eggs, making them a superb dual-purpose breed for hungry homesteaders and small-scale farmers.

  • Size: 6 to 8 pounds.
  • Temperament: Gentle and friendly.
  • Egg Production: 175 to 240 eggs per year, brown.
  • Unique Traits: Good mothers, cold-hardy.

Buff Orpingtons enjoy foraging and will happily peck at insects in your backyard. These gentle birds can help with natural pest control while maintaining their friendly, diplomatic demeanor.

6. Plymouth Rock

A Plymouth barred rock chicken roosting above the snowy ground.

Plymouth Rock chickens possess striking black and white barred feathers. They are a classic American breed known for their hardiness and productivity. Developed in the 19th century in the United States, they quickly became a farmer’s favorite. They are excellent layers of large brown eggs and also have desirable meat.

Plymouth Rocks are friendly, easy to handle, and adapt well to various environments, making them perfect for small farms and backyards.

  • Size: 7.5 to 9.5 pounds.
  • Temperament: Friendly and calm.
  • Egg Production: 200 to 240 eggs per year, brown.
  • Unique Traits: Cold-hardy, good dual-purpose breed.

One nuance about Plymouth Rocks is that they might be one of the most giant breeds on our list. However, they are surprisingly adaptable and thrive in free-range and confined environments. If you let them free-range, they’ll help control insects and ticks in your backyard!

Read More – 39 Dirt-Cheap Ways To Feed Your Hungry Backyard Flock!

7. Sebright Bantam

Sebright bantam with epic white feathers edge with black trim.

Sebright Bantams are the supermodels of the chicken world, with their intricate, laced feathers and compact size. These birds are true bantams, meaning they have no larger counterparts, and are known for their striking appearance and lively personalities. Sebrights are not the best layers, but they make up for it with their ornamental value and entertaining behavior.

Sir John Sebright developed these birds in England during the early 19th century, focusing on breeding them for their ornamental qualities. While their primary purpose is decorative, Sebright Bantams still produce fresh eggs, albeit in smaller quantities than many other breeds.

  • Size: 1.5 to 2 pounds.
  • Temperament: Active and friendly.
  • Egg Production: 80 to 150 small-sized eggs per year, white.
  • Unique Traits: Ornamental breed, beautifully laced feathers.

A tip for raising Sebright Bantams is to handle them gently and frequently. Although they can be flighty, they will become more docile with regular human interaction.

8. Sussex

Sussex chickens foraging under a tree in autumn.

Sussex chickens are a versatile and friendly breed known for their excellent egg-laying abilities and dual-purpose qualities. They come in various colors, with the speckled Sussex being particularly popular for its eye-catching plumage. They are calm and curious, often following their owners around the yard.

A fun fact about Sussex chickens is that they have a long history, dating back to the early Roman period in Sussex, England. While these birds are large, they’re laid back and are happy as long as you give them a backyard to free-range.

If you’re concerned that they might be too large for your yard, you can also consider Bantam Sussex chickens, which are less than half the size!

  • Size: 7 to 9 pounds.
  • Temperament: Friendly and calm.
  • Egg Production: 200 to 220 eggs per year, brown.
  • Unique Traits: Good foragers, adaptable to various climates.

A tip for raising Sussex chickens is to provide them plenty of space to forage and explore, as they are hungry and curious birds.

Read More – Here Are The 21 Best Egg-Laying Chicken Breeds For Your Backyard!

9. Salmon Faverolles

An adorable and hilarious Salmon Faverolle chicken.

Salmon Faverolles are the comedians of the chicken world, with their fluffy beards, feathered legs, and endearing personalities. Originating from France, these chickens are known for their laid-back and friendly nature, making them great for small farms and backyards.

Salmon Faverolles are excellent layers of medium-sized, light-brown eggs. They also produce ample, delicious meat. Their unique appearance, salmon-colored feathers, and extra toes add to their charm.

  • Size: 6.5 to 8 pounds.
  • Temperament: Gentle and friendly.
  • Egg Production: 140 to 200 eggs yearly, light brown.
  • Unique Traits: Feathered legs, suitable for cold climates.

A tip for raising Salmon Faverolles is to monitor their feathered feet, ensuring they stay clean and dry to prevent issues like bumblefoot.

10. Bantam Cochin

Barred Cochin bantam hen relaxing in the homestead kitchen.

Bantam Cochins are the puffballs of the chicken world, with fancily fluffy feathers and tiny, round bodies. These chickens are true bantams, perfect for small yards and urban settings. Bantam Cochins are known for their peaceful and friendly nature, making them great pets for families with children.

Bantam Cochins are the smaller versions of full-sized Cochin chickens from China. While they are not prolific layers, they produce small, delicious, cream-colored eggs and are excellent mothers.

  • Size: 1 to 3 pounds.
  • Temperament: Gentle, docile, and friendly.
  • Egg Production: 100 to 150 small-sized eggs per year, cream-colored.
  • Unique Traits: Extremely fluffy feathers and feathered feet. They are fabulous for cozy homesteads.

A tip for raising Bantam Cochins is to provide them a dry and clean environment, as their dense feathers can become matted if not properly cared for.

Read More – 31 DIY PVC Chicken Feeder Ideas! Perfect For Hungry Hens, Ducks, Geese, And Turkeys!

Conclusion

There you have it. Our favorite chicken breeds for humble homesteads! Whether you’re after egg production, meat, or simply charming backyard companions, these ten breeds offer excellent options for tiny backyards, ranches, or farms. With the right breed, even the smallest space can become a thriving mini-farm!

What about you?

  1. Have you raised any of the chicken breeds mentioned in our list? What was your experience like?
  2. Are there other chicken breeds you’ve found particularly well-suited for small spaces that didn’t make our top ten?
  3. What challenges have you faced when raising chickens in a limited area, and how did you overcome them?
  4. If you’re new to chicken-keeping, which breed from our list appeals most to you and why?
  5. For those with experience, what advice would you give someone just starting with backyard chickens in a small space?

We hope to hear from fellow chicken fanciers.

Thanks again for reading.

Have a great day!

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