Chicken Breed Guide
Chicken Breed Guide: Backyard Chicken Breeds for Arizona
Choosing the right chickens for your backyard flock is about more than finding a pretty bird! Different chicken breeds vary in temperament, egg color, egg production, size, heat tolerance and overall care needs.
Our Chicken Breed Guide was created to help new and experienced chicken keepers learn more about the breeds we raise and offer at Izaak's Happy Hens in Tempe, Arizona.
Explore the breeds below to learn about their personalities, egg colors, approximate annual egg production, unique characteristics and what to consider when raising them in Arizona's desert climate.
Whether you're looking for colorful eggs, friendly family chickens, unique heritage breeds or dependable backyard layers, we hope this guide helps you build a flock you'll love.
Chicken Breed Comparison
Compare popular backyard chicken breeds by egg color, approximate egg production, Arizona heat tolerance and beginner friendliness.
| Chicken Breed | 🎨 Egg Color | 🥚 Eggs / Year | ☀️ Arizona Heat Tolerance | 🌱 Beginner Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salmon Faverolles | Cream to Light Brown | 180–200 | Moderate | Yes |
| Buff Orpington | Light Brown | 180–250 | Moderate | Yes |
| Light Brahma | Light Brown | 150–200 | Low | Yes |
| Rhode Island Red | Brown | 200–300 | Good | Yes |
| Barred Rock | Light Brown | 200–250 | Good | Yes |
|
Wyandottes Silver & Golden Laced |
Light Brown | 180–220 | Moderate | Yes |
| Black Australorp | Light Brown | 250–300 | Good | Yes |
| White Leghorn | White | 250–320 | Excellent | Some Experience Helpful |
| Sicilian Buttercup | White | 150–200 | Excellent | Some Experience Helpful |
| Crèvecœur | White to Tinted | 120–150 | Moderate | Some Experience Helpful |
| Welsummer | Dark Brown, Often Speckled | 150–200 | Moderate | Yes |
| Barnevelder | Dark Brown | 150–200 | Moderate | Yes |
| French Black-Tailed Red Marans | Dark Chocolate Brown | 150–200 | Moderate | Yes |
| French Black Copper Marans | Dark Chocolate Brown | 150–200 | Moderate | Yes |
| French Black Marans | Dark Reddish-Brown | 150–200 | Moderate | Yes |
| Starlight Green Egger | Green | Approx. 280 | Good | Yes |
| F2 Olive Egger | Olive to Brown-Green* | 180–250* | Varies* | Yes |
| F1 Olive Egger | Olive Green* | 180–250* | Varies* | Yes |
| Easter Egger | Blue, Green or Tinted | 180–250 | Good | Yes |
| Cream Legbar | Blue to Green | 150–200 | Good | Yes |
| Ameraucana | Blue | 150–200 | Good | Yes |
| Olive Egger × Marans Backcross | Olive, Mossy Green or Brown-Green* | 150–220* | Moderate–Good* | Yes |
| Silkie | Cream to Tinted | 100–120 | Moderate | Yes, With Considerations |
| Polish | White to Cream | 150–200 | Good | Some Experience Helpful |
| Mottled Houdan | White to Cream | 150–230 | Good | Yes, With Considerations |
| Speckled Sussex | Light Brown to Tinted | 200–250 | Moderate–Low | Yes |
Arizona Heat Tolerance: Excellent = naturally well suited to warmer climates; Good = generally handles heat well with proper care; Moderate = requires additional attention during extreme heat; Low = requires especially careful summer management.
*Hybrid Notice: Olive Eggers and other hybrid crosses can vary in egg color, production, temperament and heat tolerance depending on their parent genetics.
Egg production is approximate and can vary by genetics, age, season, daylight, nutrition and overall health.
All chickens living in Arizona require abundant deep shade, fresh cool water, ventilation and careful monitoring during extreme summer heat.
Blue & Green Egg Layers
Ameraucana
A beautiful American breed known for its fluffy beard and muffs, pea comb and naturally blue eggs.
Cream Legbar
A distinctive British breed known for its charming feather crest, beautiful blue to green eggs and convenient auto-sexing genetics.
Easter Egger
A colorful, beginner-friendly backyard favorite known for varied feather patterns, friendly personalities and beautiful blue, green or tinted eggs.
F1 Olive Egger
A first-generation hybrid created from blue-egg and dark-brown-egg genetics, prized for beautiful olive green eggs and unique, varied appearances.
F2 Olive Egger
A unique second-generation hybrid prized for its beautiful olive-toned eggs, varied appearance and colorful contribution to the backyard egg basket.
Starlight Green Egger
A colorful, active hybrid known for laying plentiful green eggs, varied feather patterns and an easy-going personality.
Olive Egger × Marans Backcross
A specialty hybrid created by breeding an Olive Egger back to Marans, often producing richer olive, mossy or brown-green egg shades.
Dark Brown Egg Layers
French Black Marans
A striking French heritage variety known for its glossy black plumage, sturdy build and beautiful dark reddish-brown eggs.
French Black Copper Marans
A sought-after French heritage breed known for its beautiful black-and-copper plumage, calm temperament and exceptionally dark chocolate-brown eggs.
French Black-Tailed Red Marans
A striking French heritage variety known for rich red plumage, black tail feathers and beautiful dark chocolate-brown eggs.
Barnevelder
A beautiful Dutch breed known for its distinctive double-laced plumage, calm temperament and rich brown eggs.
Welsummer
A beautiful Dutch breed known for its rich partridge coloring, calm personality and distinctive dark brown, often speckled eggs.
Brown & Cream Egg Layers
Salmon Faverolles
A gentle, fluffy French breed known for its sweet personality, feathered feet and distinctive five toes.
Buff Orpington
A calm, fluffy English breed loved for its gentle personality, beautiful golden coloring and dependable egg production.
Light Brahma
A large, gentle breed known for its calm temperament, striking black-and-white plumage and heavily feathered feet.
Rhode Island Red
A hardy, dependable breed known for excellent egg production, rich mahogany-red feathers and an active, confident personality.
Barred Rock
A classic American breed known for its friendly nature, striking black-and-white barring and reliable egg production.
Wyandottes
Beautiful, hardy backyard chickens known for their rounded shape, dependable egg production and striking laced feather patterns. Popular varieties include Silver Laced and Golden Laced Wyandottes.
Black Australorp
A gentle, dependable breed known for its glossy black plumage, calm personality and excellent egg production.
White Egg Layers
White Leghorn
A lightweight, active breed known for excellent egg production, bright white plumage and strong heat tolerance.
Sicilian Buttercup
A rare Mediterranean breed known for its distinctive crown-shaped comb, beautiful golden plumage and excellent ability to handle warm climates.
Crèvecœur
A rare French heritage breed known for its dramatic black crest, distinctive V-shaped comb and gentle, unique personality.