And You Thought All Chickens Were Brown

As chickens have diversified into a number of different breeds, so too have they been bred into various colour varieties. The shades and patterns available depend on the breed: like the Rhode Island Red, some breeds only come in one colour, whereas others, such as the Silkie, have a lot of different colour variations.

Chickens have been bred into multiple forms and colours

To help you choose the perfect chicken, we’ve created a breed guide, complete with photos, sizes and comments on their general behaviour. Whilst the decision is up to you, there are some considerations you will probably want to bear in mind before you pick your hens. Principally, these will be 'how much space do I have?', and 'what temperatures will my birds be exposed to?'. To help you pick the right breed, we've created a page specifically to advise chook keepers in Australia.