Deciding what type of chickens you want for your backyard coop should be taken seriously so that you are aware of what to expect from your birds. You can start with an easy quality, like choosing what color of chickens you want, to help you narrow down the options.
There are a variety of chicken breeds that include white chickens among their ranks. These breeds of chicken with white plumage have varying characteristics, sizes, temperaments, and even egg-laying capabilities. Read on to discover 12 common white chicken breeds.
Araucana
The Araucana chicken breed is renowned for laying colorful eggs, but there’s much more to this unique chicken.
- Characteristics
Araucanas may either be normally tailed or rumpless. This breed also has a distinct pea comb, which manifests as three connected caruncles.
In North America, Araucanas are rumpless and have long ear-tufts. It’s worth noting that both of these characteristics are caused by autosomal dominant lethal alleles, so not all of the fowl can display these traits.
- Size
Araucanas are generally considered to be a smaller-sized standard chicken. A full-sized cock weighs 2.7-3.2 kg on average, whereas a hen’s average weighs 2.25-2.7 kg. A bantam Araucana cock’s average weight is 740-850g, while that of a hen is 680-790g.
- Cost
The cost of an Araucana chicken ranges anywhere from $6 to $10.
- Temperament
Araucanas are known to be very friendly and inquisitive. They can be easily tamed and enjoy being handled.
- Egg laying
A full-sized Araucana chicken lays approximately 200 medium to large eggs per year.
Bresse
This chicken breed is raised primarily in France. The Bresse made its first appearance in the United States in 2011, but it remains rare. All Bresse chickens that are imported to the United States have to be referred to as the American Bresse.
- Characteristics
The Bresse is typically white with blue-tinted clean legs and a single comb. However, it’s not unheard of to find Bresses in blue, grey, splash, and even black. The Bresse chicken is also distinguished for its light bones and thin skin, which is one of the reasons why some consider it to be one of the tastiest chickens in the world.
- Size
The white Bresse chicken typically weighs about 6 pounds or slightly more.
- Cost
Due to how rare the Bresse chicken is, you can expect to pay around $50 for one in Paris, and probably more if you happen to find one in other parts of the world.
- Temperament
This chicken breed can have a nervous personality, so they don’t do well in closed areas. They are not particularly fond of human interaction, but they are not aggressive.
- Egg laying
A healthy and well-nourished Bresse hen can lay up to 250 eggs per year.
Chantecler
The Chantecler is a breed of chicken that originates in Canada.
- Characteristics
This breed of chicken is noted for having a small cushion comb and nearly no wattles. They also have plumage that lies tight against their bodies and a good deal of fluff. These characteristics make the Chantecler chicken very winter hardy birds. Other notable features include yellow skin and beaks, and very small earlobes.
- Size
Roosters weigh around 4.1 kg (9 pounds) and hens are 2.9-3.4 kg (6.5-7.5 pounds)
- Cost
The cost of a standard white Chantecler chick starts at $6.95 to about $10 on average.
- Temperament
This breed is noted for being calm, gentle, and friendly.
- Egg laying
The Chantecler is a decent layer of large, brown eggs, with an average rate of about 150-200 eggs a year.
Delaware
As the name suggests, this breed of chicken originates in the U.S state of Delaware.
- Characteristics
The Delaware breed is a medium-sized bird that is characterized by a white body and breast, with light black barring on the ends of the hackle, tails, and wings. They have rather distinctive bright red-colored single wattles and combs, as well as reddish bay eyes and deep red beaks. Their skin and legs are yellow.
- Size
Delaware cocks attain an average size of 8 pounds, whereas the hens clock in at 6 pounds on average.
- Cost
The cost of a Delaware chicken typically starts at $3.50
- Temperament
Delawares are known to be calm, friendly, curious, and intelligent.
- Egg laying
Delaware hens produce up to four large brown eggs per week.
Frizzle
Frizzles are classified as a breed in Australia, UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Italy. In the United States, however, frizzle is a type of plumage.
- Characteristics
The feathers of Frizzle chickens can either look wild and windswept or curly and tidy. This breed of chicken has a short, strong beak that is yellow, bright red eyes, and medium-sized earlobes and wattles that are also red in hue.
- Size
Standard Frizzles weigh around 8 pounds for cocks and 6 pounds for hens.
- Cost
The average cost of a Frizzle chicken is about $8 on average.
- Temperament
Frizzles have a sweet, friendly, and gentle disposition. They’re docile and tolerate handling pretty well.
- Egg laying
Frizzles will give you about 120-150 tinted or cream eggs per year (about 2 or 3 small to medium eggs per week).
Gallina di Saluzzo
This breed of chicken originates from the Piedmont region in Italy.
- Characteristics
The Gallina di Saluzzo is a medium-sized bird that has all-white feathers with yellow skin, legs, and earlobes. The red-hued comb is single and large, with 4-6 points.
- Size
The average weight for cocks is 5.5-6.0 pounds for cocks and 4.4-4.6 pounds for hens.
- Cost
A Gallina di Saluzzo chicken can set you back at least $20 on average.
- Temperament
These chickens have an even temperament, with a generally calm and gentle nature.
- Egg laying
Hens may lay approximately 180 eggs per year.
Leghorn
This is a breed of chicken originating in the Tuscany region of Italy.
- Characteristics
The Leghorn can either a single or rose comb. White earlobes for this breed indicate that they lay white eggs. They have orange/red eyes, yellow skin and legs, and a yellow-colored beak. Their feet have 4 toes.
- Size
A standard Leghorn weighs in at 7.5 pounds for cocks and 5-6 pounds for hens.
- Cost
Prices for the Leghorn start from $7 on average.
- Temperament
This is an intelligent and active bird that enjoys foraging.
- Egg laying
Leghorn hens are prolific egg layers, laying anywhere from 280-320 eggs per year.
Lavender Orpington
The Lavender Orpington is a UK breed of chicken.
- Characteristics
This is a large, fluffy chicken – they have an abundance of feathers that makes them appear much larger than they actually are. They have a single comb with five points. Their feet and shanks are clean and slate/blue. The eyes are a reddish bay color, the beak is dark/horn colored, and the comb, earlobes, and wattles are red.
- Size
A mature rooster typically weighs around 10 pounds, with a mature hen weighing about 8 pounds.
- Cost
The average price of a chick in the US is around $21.
- Temperament
This breed of chicken is curious, docile, cuddly, and quite intelligent.
- Egg laying
These are steady layers that produce around 170-200 light brown, medium-sized eggs per year.
Ixworth
This is an English breed of chicken that takes its name from Ixworth in Suffolk.
- Characteristics
The Ixworth has a pure white plumage. The comb, which is of pea type, along with the wattles and earlobes is brilliant red. Other notable features include orange-red eyes and pink-white legs and beak.
- Size
A mature rooster weighs around 9 pounds and a mature hen weighs about 7 pounds.
- Cost
The average price of an Ixworth chick is around $25.
- Temperament
This is an alert and active bird that doesn’t mind human handling.
- Egg laying
Ixworth chickens lay 160-200 tinted eggs per year.
Sultan
This is a breed of chicken originating in Turkey.
- Characteristics
The Sultan chicken has a distinctive puffy crest as well as a host of other unique features including five toes on each foot, extensive leg feathering, beard, a long tail, and a small V-shaped comb that is almost entirely hidden under feathering.
- Size
Mature cocks weigh approximately 6 pounds and hens weigh 4 pounds.
- Cost
A Sultan chick can set you back $8 on average.
- Temperament
The Sultan is docile and friendly. They can be handled quite easily and make excellent pets.
- Egg laying
The Sultan is not a good layer and has always been bred and selected as a show bird. On average, this breed of chicken lays one egg a week.
Silkie
This is an ancient breed that is probably of Chinese origin.
- Characteristics
The Silkie chicken has a crested head that somewhat resembles a pom-pom. They have broad and stout bodies, short backs, and a full breast. They have five toes instead of the typical four found in most chickens. Their feathers don’t have barbicels, hence their fluffy appearance.
- Size
Silkie roosters weigh around 4 pounds compared to the 3 pounds for hens.
- Cost
Silkies cost from around $20 to $120 per bird.
- Temperament
These birds are calm, friendly, and docile.
- Egg laying
Silkies are poor egg layers, producing up to 120 eggs in a year on average.
White Rock
This breed of chicken originates in Massachusetts and was named after Plymouth Rock.
- Characteristics
The White Rock begins life with yellow combs that turn into a bright red at maturity. Their beaks and legs remain yellow and their eyes are an orange-red color. White Rocks are usually one of the fluffier chickens in the flock, especially in cold weather
- Size
At maturity, a White Rock rooster weighs about 8 pounds, while hens can go up to 7.5 pounds.
- Cost
A White Rock chick can set you back $8 on average.
- Temperament
The White Rock is a laid-back and friendly bird that is not afraid to keep you company as you go about your daily chores.
- Egg laying
The White Rock is a reliable layer known to lay well over 280 eggs per year.
