A Quick Guide to Chicken Breeds for Times Of Crisis

When the going gets tough, Americans get chickens.

In times of global economic volatility and social unrest, resulting strains on the supply chains of automobiles, computer chips, chlorine, and fighter jet cockpit displays create challenging conundra not easily remedied in a unilateral fashion by the average American homeowner. The availability of eggs, on the other hand, is a different matter.

Amidst our tumultuous times, the rugged American spirit has lived on in the thousands of intrepid new backyard chicken owners. During the Covid-era lockdown, sales of chicks and chicken-related products went up over 500% for home users.  And in early 2023, following price hikes and an Avian Flu disruption, home-poultry retailers reported two- to three-fold sales increases year-over-year.

Indeed, the purchasing of chickens and planting of gardens has served as an excellent historical indicator of people’s faith in the economy. This trend in the United States dates at least back to the Great Depression, when staples such as eggs and milk were in short supply.  Since some lived experience of the origins of eggs and milk was still present in the collective memory of the community, owning a small flock of chickens and a small cow was not a stretch of the imagination. 

Nowadays, people are more removed from their sources of food, and, sadly, most don’t remember growing up on (or even visiting) a family farm. Despite this, thousands of people have lately purchased and raised chickens for eggs and meat in their urban, suburban, or rural backyards.

For anyone new to raising backyard chickens and those just now considering owning a flock of these feathered food producers, below are the breeds that we have found to be the best for starting a home flock quickly. These varieties are typically easy to find, docile, hardy, and consistent producers. By providing for their simple needs (food, water, and shelter), you can expect eggs in eighteen to twenty weeks from your hens, and relatively good grow-out weights for meat within eight weeks (Cornish) to twenty-one weeks (Orpingtons).