Chickens come in a variety of colors but among them, red is one of the most popular. Whether you are looking for a pet, a small backyard flock, or are planning on starting a commercial enterprise, there will be a red chicken breed that is perfect for you.
Here we’re going to explore the world of red chicken breeds. We’ll look at their history, what they are used for, and other fascinating bits of information. By the end, you’ll know all there is to know about red chicken breeds! Let’s get started by looking at the first of our 15 red chickens.
All 15 Red Chicken Breeds
1. Buckeye
We start off our list with the beautiful Buckeye chicken. These have some of the deepest and darkest coloring of any chicken on this list, as their feathers can be close to black at times but are usually a deep ruby color.
These chickens need a lot of space, so they aren’t ideal for small coops. They have plenty of energy and are good foragers if given space. They can also be quite aggressive which means that people often look at other chicken breeds for their needs.
This has led the birds to be endangered. However, they are quite tolerant to both heat and cold, and have good egg production, with roughly 200 medium eggs per year.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs and meat
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Medium
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Weight: 6.5-9lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 200
2. Derbyshire Redcap
The name for this beautiful chicken comes from the English county of Derbyshire and is perhaps the most striking of birds on this list. They have black and red feathers along with a distinctive and large comb, which is usually around three inches long.
Mainly known for its egg-making abilities, it is also bred for its meat. They work well as free-range foragers and as they are from England, they obviously don’t mind the cold! Overall, they produce around 200 eggs per year.
As with Buckeye, they need plenty of space but aren’t as aggressive. If you have the room and want an exciting breed, then the Derbyshire Redcap is a great choice.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs and meat
- Egg Color: White
- Egg Size: Large
- Lifespan: 7-10 years
- Weight: 4-5lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 200
3. ISA Brown
The ISA Brown is one of the most popular chickens in the world. That is mainly for its versatility. This is a great chicken if you want to produce meat or eggs on a farm, but it’s also perfect for family environments too.
It has an easy nature which makes it easy to take care of, and you don’t have to worry about them when around children. They are medium in size but can make very large eggs, and at a very high volume, around 300 per year.
They can cope with almost any environment and don’t require any special treatment. They are a truly brilliant breed for many reasons.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs and meat
- Egg Color: Light brown
- Egg Size: Very large
- Lifespan: 7-8 years
- Weight: 5-6lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 300
4. Nankin Bantam
So far we’ve looked at three chickens that are great options for meat or egg production, but this is different. The Nankin Bantam is a small breed that produces small eggs, meaning that it is only bred as a pet or for shows.
It’s an incredibly old breed, as its origins can be traced back to Asia in the 1500s. It has beautiful coloring with chestnut-red brown feathers, and it also has a brilliant personality. They can be energetic at times but are usually calm and friendly.
If you wanted a friendly chicken that can produce a few eggs, you’re probably better looking elsewhere. As we mentioned, they produce small eggs and usually less than 100 per year. They are also quite broody.
Fact File
- Use: Pets
- Egg Color: White
- Egg Size: Small
- Lifespan: 4-7 years
- Weight: 1.5-2lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 80 to 100
5. New Hampshire Red
Named after the state in which they were created, New Hampshire Reds are in stark contrast to the Nankin Bantam we mentioned above. These are very large chickens, as roosters can get up to 7 lbs in size.
Their size makes them excellent for meat production, but they are also ideal if you just want good egg layers as they will create 200 per year, which are large in size. They are also hardy birds that are quite easy to keep, making them ideal for those starting out.
The only word of warning is that they are not great with other chicken breeds, especially smaller ones. They tend to bully other chickens but are friendly to humans.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs and meat
- Egg Color: Light brown
- Egg Size: Large
- Lifespan: 6-8 years
- Weight: 6-7lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 200
6. Production Red
Production Reds often don’t make it onto the list of red chicken breeds as they are a mixed breed made from other chickens such as the Rhode Island Red, Red Leghorn, and New Hampshire Red.
Due to this, they can come in many different shades of red. Also known as Red Hybrids, these birds have been specifically bred for the production of eggs and meat. That can be seen by them having large eggs at up to 300 per year.
As well as being productive (hence the name), these chickens are easy to look after as they are calm and can cope with most conditions. For those looking for a dual-purpose chicken, they are a great idea.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs and meat
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Large
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Weight: 7-9lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 300
7. Red Cochin Bantam
Here we take a look at another small chicken that is ideal as a pet. They are not bad egg producers at up to 200 per year, but those eggs are small and Red Cochin Bantam hens are quite maternal. If you’re looking for meat and/or eggs, then look elsewhere.
If you want a beautiful and friendly chicken, then these can be a great choice. That being said, they can be quite difficult to look after as they need to be kept in a moderate climate. They also can get sick quite easily and need to be kept in fairly dry conditions.
Originating from China in the 1800s, many love them due to their beauty and stunning red feathers, which can make them look bigger than they actually are. Red Cochin Bantams are sweet in nature, but not for beginners.
Fact File
- Use: Pets
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Small
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Weight: 1.5-2lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 150 – 200
8. Red Frizzle Cochin Bantam
As you can probably tell from their names, these are very similar to the Red Cochin Bantam. The main difference is in their feathers, as they curl away from their body. Many people love their ornamental look, making them ideal for shows and being pets.
They have been around for about 500 years as an ornamental breed and are loved due to how friendly they are. That includes being very gentle around children. For families who don’t care about egg production, these are another great choice.
However, make sure not to keep them with any larger breeds, as they can get bullied.
Fact File
- Use: Pets
- Egg Color: Cream/Brown
- Egg Size: Small
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Weight: 1.6-1.8lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 150
9. Red Leghorn
Red Leghorns are an interesting breed as they look quite different from other chickens. They aren’t fluffy at all, with a more slender and majestic appearance. This makes them ideal for shows, but they are also brilliant egg producers.
They only make medium eggs but lay around 300 per year. While great for eggs, they aren’t useful for meat. Despite being quite large chickens, they are quite skinny and therefore don’t carry much meat. Red Leghorns can also be quite skittish and need a lot of space to roam around.
An interesting fact about these birds is they are of Italian descent and were first transported to the rest of the world from the city of Livorno. And this is where they get their name from, as Livorno translated to English is Leghorn.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs
- Egg Color: White
- Egg Size: Medium
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
- Weight: 4.5-6lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 300
10. Red Shaver
The Red Shaver is another one of our hybrid breeds that were created for egg and meat production. In terms of those eggs, they often produce an impressive 300+ a year in a medium size.
Their nature can be a little unpredictable. There seem to be some Red Shavers that are relatively docile, while others can be a little aggressive. Due to this, they probably aren’t ideal for families or a small coop.
A crossbreed of a Delaware hen and a Rhode Island Red rooster, usually have quite a light red coat. They are hardy birds and don’t need any special requirements.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs and meat
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Medium
- Lifespan: 5-7 years
- Weight: 5-7lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 310
11. Red Silkies
Red Silkies are the polar opposite of the Red Leghorns we mentioned above. These aren’t made for production and are incredibly fluffy. As you can expect, this makes them perfect for ornamental or exhibition purposes.
Are they also great pets? Well, they are quite expensive and rare, so if you’re on a budget, probably not. However, they are also small and are good-natured. An interesting fact about these birds is that many of them have an extra fifth toe.
As you may expect, egg production here is a non-starter. They only produce 100 small eggs per year.
Fact File
- Use: Pets
- Egg Color: Cream
- Egg Size: Small
- Lifespan: 7-9 years
- Weight: 1.5-3lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 100 – 120
12. Red Star
Red Star is a wonderful breed for a wide number of different reasons. They were made as a mix of White Plymouth Rock and Rhode Island Red chickens back in the 1950s, and have been hugely popular ever since.
That’s because they are perfect for egg and meat production. They’ll lay their first eggs at 22 weeks and will then produce 300 large eggs per year. Their popularity also comes from them being hardy chickens that don’t get sick easily.
They are ideal for both small and larger coops and are good for families as they are very docile to humans. The only warning is they fly quite high, so need a sizeable fence.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs and meat
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Large
- Lifespan: 10-12 years
- Weight: 8-11lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 300
13. Rhode Island Red
Another chicken that is great for beginners is the Rhode Island Red. These were created in the state around 1800 and are known for being great egg layers. They not only produce very large eggs but do so in numbers of 200 per year.
Are you just starting out and want a great chicken to lay eggs on? If so, you can’t go wrong with the Rhode Island Red. They are quite self-sufficient, good-natured, and friendly to kids. While also good for meat, this breed is mostly popular for its eggs.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs and meat
- Egg Color: Brown
- Egg Size: Very Large
- Lifespan: 8 years
- Weight: 5-7lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 180-200
14. Welsummer
A lot of chickens are named after where they were created, and the Welsummer is no different. From the town of Welsum in Holland, these chicken are relatively new as the breed have only been around for about 100 years.
Their colors are particularly special as they can be a rich red but also have parts that are beautiful gold. They are simple to keep and are friendly with other breeds. You won’t ever need to worry about them being aggressive or skittish.
As they are not broody, they are excellent egg layers. They’ll produce up to 250 large eggs per year which often have a lovely red color.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs and meat
- Egg Color: Red/dark brown
- Egg Size: Large
- Lifespan: 7-10 years
- Weight: 4-6lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 160-250
15. Whiting True Green
Why does a red chicken have white and red in its name? Firstly, the white comes from the man who created them, Dr. Tom Whiting. Secondly, the green comes from the beautiful color of their eggs, a rarity in the avian world.
They were originally developed due to their feathers for fly-fishing, but they gained popularity due to their egg production. They’ll produce 300 medium-to-large areas per year. It makes them another perfect choice for anyone who wants to buy chickens for their eggs.
Fact File
- Use: Eggs
- Egg Color: Green
- Egg Size: Medium/Large
- Lifespan: 5-8 years
- Weight: 4.5-5.5lbs
- Yearly Egg Production: 300
The Best Red Chicken Breeds for You
What is the best red chicken? Well, that depends on what your needs are. For egg production, the Whiting True Green, ISA Brown, and Red Star are perfect. For a pet, it’s hard to look past a Nankin Bantam or Red Silkies. For meat, the Derbyshire Redcap and New Hampshire Red are great options.
It’s important to match your needs to the personality and productivity of the chicken. Make sure to do your research to ensure that your chicken has a happy home and that you’re happy with your new beautiful red chickens.
