24 breeds
Best dual-purpose chicken breeds
The homestead classic: a bird that fills the egg basket and, eventually, the freezer. Dual-purpose breeds trade a little peak production for real size and a calm disposition — the self-sufficient keeper's default.
1Rhode Island Red🌱200–300 eggs/yr · 6–7 lbsUnited States2Australorp🌱200–280 eggs/yr · 6.5–8 lbsAustralia3Barred Plymouth Rock🌱200–280 eggs/yr · 6.5–7.5 lbsUnited States4Buff Orpington🌱180–280 eggs/yr · 7–8 lbsEngland5Delaware🌱200–280 eggs/yr · 6–7 lbsUnited States6Dominique🌱180–260 eggs/yr · 4.5–5.5 lbsUnited States7Rhode Island White🌱200–250 eggs/yr · 6–7 lbsUnited States8Sussex🌱200–250 eggs/yr · 6–7 lbsEngland9Holland🌱200–240 eggs/yr · 6–7 lbsUnited States10New Hampshire🌱200–240 eggs/yr · 6–7 lbsUnited States11Wyandotte🌱180–240 eggs/yr · 6–7 lbsUnited States12Chantecler🌱180–220 eggs/yr · 6.5–7.5 lbsCanada13Welsummer🌱160–220 eggs/yr · 5–6 lbsNetherlands14Barnevelder🌱150–200 eggs/yr · 5–6.5 lbsNetherlands15Black Copper Marans🌱150–200 eggs/yr · 6–7 lbsFrance16Brahma🌱130–200 eggs/yr · 9–10 lbsUnited States17Buckeye🌱150–200 eggs/yr · 6–7 lbsUnited States18Jersey Giant🌱150–200 eggs/yr · 9–11 lbsUnited States19Langshan🌱150–200 eggs/yr · 7–8 lbsChina20Naked Neck (Turken)🌱150–200 eggs/yr · 6–7 lbsTransylvania (Romania)21Salmon Faverolles🌱150–200 eggs/yr · 6–7.5 lbsFrance22Vorwerk150–190 eggs/yr · 4.5–5.5 lbsGermany23Java🌱150–180 eggs/yr · 6.5–7.5 lbsUnited States24Russian Orloff100–150 eggs/yr · 6–7.5 lbsRussia
How this list is built: Breeds classed as dual-purpose in our profiles, ranked by annual egg production. It updates automatically as we add breeds — no hand-picking.
Keep exploring
New to this? Raising Backyard Chickens for Beginners: The Complete Starter Guide walks you through it. Or browse all 50 breed profiles.
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