33 breeds
Friendliest chicken breeds
Some chickens tolerate you; these ones follow you around the yard. If you want birds your kids can hold and hens that come running when you open the back door, start here.
1Golden Comet🌱Sweet and people-oriented · 250–320 eggs/yrUnited States2ISA Brown🌱Docile and affectionate · 280–320 eggs/yrFrance3Black Sex Link🌱Friendly and hardy · 250–300 eggs/yrUnited States4Australorp🌱Gentle and calm · 200–280 eggs/yrAustralia5Barred Plymouth Rock🌱Friendly and easygoing · 200–280 eggs/yrUnited States6Buff Orpington🌱Affectionate and docile · 180–280 eggs/yrEngland7Delaware🌱Calm and friendly · 200–280 eggs/yrUnited States8Easter Egger🌱Friendly and curious · 200–280 eggs/yrUnited States9Dominique🌱Calm and steady · 180–260 eggs/yrUnited States10Ameraucana🌱Friendly and curious · 180–250 eggs/yrUnited States11Rhode Island White🌱Calm and docile · 200–250 eggs/yrUnited States12Sussex🌱Curious and gentle · 200–250 eggs/yrEngland13Holland🌱Calm and adaptable · 200–240 eggs/yrUnited States14New Hampshire🌱Friendly and food-motivated · 200–240 eggs/yrUnited States15Wyandotte🌱Calm and confident · 180–240 eggs/yrUnited States16Chantecler🌱Calm and gentle · 180–220 eggs/yrCanada17Welsummer🌱Friendly and intelligent · 160–220 eggs/yrNetherlands18Barnevelder🌱Calm and friendly · 150–200 eggs/yrNetherlands19Black Copper Marans🌱Gentle and quiet · 150–200 eggs/yrFrance20Brahma🌱Gentle and docile · 130–200 eggs/yrUnited States21Buckeye🌱Friendly and active · 150–200 eggs/yrUnited States22Jersey Giant🌱Mellow gentle giant · 150–200 eggs/yrUnited States23Langshan🌱Calm and dignified · 150–200 eggs/yrChina24Naked Neck (Turken)🌱Calm and friendly · 150–200 eggs/yrTransylvania (Romania)25Polish🌱Sweet but easily startled · 150–200 eggs/yrNetherlands26Salmon Faverolles🌱Comically sweet and chatty · 150–200 eggs/yrFrance27Cochin🌱Exceptionally docile · 150–180 eggs/yrChina28Java🌱Calm and self-reliant · 150–180 eggs/yrUnited States29Russian OrloffCalm and quiet · 100–150 eggs/yrRussia30Silkie🌱Exceptionally sweet and cuddly · 100–120 eggs/yrChina31SultanGentle and content · 50–100 eggs/yrTurkey32YokohamaDocile and graceful · 60–100 eggs/yrGermany33SebrightSpirited and friendly · 60–80 eggs/yrEngland
How this list is built: Selected for calm, gentle, people-oriented temperaments in our breed profiles, ranked by egg production so they earn their keep too. It updates automatically as we add breeds — no hand-picking.
Keep exploring
Best chickens for families with kidsBest chickens for beginnersMost beautiful ornamental chicken breeds
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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