15 Best Brown Chickens For Beginners (and Choosing the Right One)

You can find chickens in lots of different colors from black white, and to a lesser known extent lavenders and blues.

However, brown chickens are a classic staple on any homestead!

Their beautiful feathers range from light browns, reddish browns, and dark browns. Many of these chickens have other iconic features such as barring or laced feathers.

Because brown is a common color, there are lots of breeds to pick from.

Are you interested in learning more about brown chicken breeds?

Keep reading to discover the 15 most stunning brown breeds…

Related: All 9 Gray Chicken Breeds (and Choosing the Right One)

15. Easter Egger

Easter Eggers are best known for their wide variety of egg colors including white, brown, blue, green, pink, and more. The birds come in almost as many colors themselves!

Brown Easter Eggers can come in a variety of colors, or even just a solid brown.

The amount of brown on their feathers will vary from chicken to chicken, because no two Easter Eggers are the same.

They are incredibly popular for their ease of care and great temperament.

Easter Eggers are known for their love of people and make great hens to keep around children.

• Weight: Hens (4lbs) Roosters (5lbs)
• Color: Brown
• Egg Laying: 4 week
• Egg Color: Brown, white, green, or blue

14. Speckled Sussex

The Speckled Sussex has risen in popularity in the past few years. With such beautiful feathers, it is easy to tell why.

This breed has gorgeous mahogany brown feathers that are speckled with white.

They have a single comb and should have reddish eyes with pink skin.

These chickens are expert foragers and cold hardy. This, combined with their docile personalities and love for people, has allowed them to thrive in homesteads all around the world.

Another huge benefit of this breed is their consistent egg laying. The average Speckled Sussex hen will lay 4-5 light brown eggs every week. These striking chickens are great with children and thrive when they can free range often.

• Weight: Hens (6lbs) Roosters (8lbs)
• Color: Mahogany with white speckling
• Egg Laying: 4-5 week
• Egg Color: Light brown

13. Cochin Chicken

Cochins are well known for being cuddly lap chickens.

A brown Cochin hen will have all brown feathers.

Her body will be a lighter brown, much like chocolate milk, while her tail feathers are slightly darker. She should have a red single comb and feathered legs and feet. Brown Cochins have darker feathers which makes their beaks darker in turn. It is not uncommon to see a brown Cochin with a black beak!

Cochins are a large breed and can reach 8.5-11 lbs.

They are also incredibly fluffy.

When it comes to egg laying, Cochins are not the best. They tend to lay only 2 brown eggs per week.

Most people keep Cochins as family pets or mother hens that will incubate and raise eggs for you. Keep this in mind when considering a Cochin, as they may not meet your egg laying quota!

• Weight: Hens (8.5lbs) Roosters (11lbs)
• Color: Reddish brown
• Egg Laying: 2 week
• Egg Color: Brown

12. Leghorn

Leghorns are known for being a difficult bird for beginners to keep because of their high energy and incredible 10 foot leap. They can become restless and need lots of time to free range and explore.

They are best known for being white, but you can also find brown Leghorns.

A brown Leghorn will have brown feathers and a yellow beak, legs, and feet. These chickens will also have a red single comb and white earlobes.

Leghorns are hardy and independent.

They are good egg layers and content to be around people as long as they are not being handled or having their space invaded.

Although Leghorns can be hard for beginners to handle, they will thrive on the right homestead.

• Weight: Hens (5lbs) Roosters (8lbs)
• Color: Brown
• Egg Laying: 4-6 week
• Egg Color: White

11. Plymouth Rock

Many people see the name Plymouth Rock and think of the classic barred variety.

However, there is a less popular coloring known as partridge.

Partridge Plymouth Rock chickens have dark brown or mahogany feathers with their signature black double lacing pattern. They have red combs, wattles, and earlobes as well as yellow beaks, legs, and feet.

Plymouth Rocks make great chickens for beginners as they can handle both warm and cold weather fairly well and usually manage to stay out of trouble. They make a lovely addition to any flock and will get along well with other chickens too.

They tend to fall on the lower side of the pecking order and are keen to mind their own business as they forage and explore.

• Weight: Hens (7lbs) Roosters (9.5lbs)
• Color: Reddish-brown
• Egg Laying: 4-5 week
• Egg Color: Light brown

10. ISA Brown

Are you looking for a brown hen that lays lots of eggs?

Look no further than the ISA Brown.

ISA chickens have honey brown or reddish brown feathers. They have yellow skin, beaks, legs, and feet. They are on the smaller side too at only 5-6 lbs.

Those with a love for eggs will truly love the ISA Brown!

These brown chickens are prolific layers and can lay up to 6 eggs every week. However, their huge egg production will slow down after two years.

ISAs are confident chickens that love to be around people.

They are happiest when allowed to free range, so keep this in mind when considering this breed.

• Weight: Hens (5lbs) Roosters (6lbs)
• Color: Brown
• Egg Laying: 6 week
• Egg Color: Brown

9. Buckeye

The Buckeye is a breed that has often been overlooked, but make no mistake, these chickens are friendly and make great scavengers.

They are one solid mahogany color with a small red pea comb, nearly nonexistent wattles, and red earlobes.

Buckeyes were first bred by Mrs. Nettie Metcalf in Ohio.

They are very talkative and social with both humans and other chickens. Their bold personality makes them easy to get along with and so much fun to watch.

Buckeyes are average layers and will lay light brown eggs roughly 3-4 times a week.

If you are able to open your home to some lovely Buckeyes, consider giving these gentle hens a chance.

• Weight: Hens (6.5lbs) Roosters (9lbs)
• Color: Mahogany
• Egg Laying: 3-4 week
• Egg Color: Brown

8. Serama

The Serama is a natural bantam chicken.

They will only grow to 6-10 inches tall and will weigh in somewhere from 8-13 oz. This makes them the smallest brown chicken breed.

When it comes to feather color, some will be fully brown, while others may only have brown head, back, and tail feathers.

They have short yellow beaks, legs, and feet.

Seramas are small and sweet chickens with big personalities guaranteed to make people smile. They love to be active and forage. These little chickens make fantastic pets due to their size and friendly temperament. If you are interested in egg laying, keep in mind that Serama eggs are extra small.

• Weight: Hens (8oz) Roosters (13oz)
• Color: Brown
• Egg Laying: 4-5 week
• Egg Color: White or Chocolate

7. Orpington

The Orpington is well known for being one of the best beginner breeds around.

You can find Orpingtons in a wide variety of colors, but one of the most popular is their beautiful chocolate shade.

A chocolate Orpington will have dark brown feathers all over their body. This chocolate color is very new to the breed, so you might have some trouble finding a hatchery or breeder with them in stock, but the wait is well worth it!

They are extraordinarily friendly, lay consistently, and have no breed-specific health conditions.

To put the cherry on top, Orpington chickens are so quiet they can live in suburban backyards without disturbing any neighbors.

• Weight: Hens (8lbs) Roosters (10lbs)
• Color: Chocolate
• Egg Laying: 3-5 week
• Egg Color: Light brown

6. Silkie

The Silkie is one of the most popular breeds around.

Silkies are usually one solid color and have grey legs and feet. Their earlobes stand out because they are light blue.

Brown (partridge) is a popular color, but so are black, white, and blue.

They are popular because of their unique appearance and sweet personality. Their hair-like feathers are extremely soft to the touch, but they are not very helpful in keeping them warm.

Silkies are dual purpose chickens and have a very rare trait that makes their skin completely black.

These brown chickens are not the best egg layers and only lay 2-3 cream eggs per week.

Silkies are very docile and normally fall to the bottom of the pecking order. This makes them a target for bullies, so make sure to keep an extra close eye on them in a mixed flock.

• Weight: Hens (1.5lbs) Roosters (3lbs)
• Color: Brown
• Egg Laying: 2-3 week
• Egg Color: Cream

5. Polish Chicken

The Polish Chicken is best known for their signature pom-pom crest.

You can find the Polish Chicken is a variety of colors, but one of the most popular is the tolbunt brown.

The tolbunt color is a mix of two colors, almost like a Speckled Sussex. You can find them in brown and black, as well as brown and white.

Polish chickens are beautiful and very docile. These birds are great with children and make a stunning addition to any backyard flock.

Just remember that they need to be watched carefully when roaming as their crest can attract predators.

• Weight: Hens (4lbs) Roosters (6lbs)
• Color: Brown
• Egg Laying: 2-4 week
• Egg Color: White

4. Ameraucana

Ameraucanas come in a variety of patterns and colors, but the brown variety have a stunning auburn tinge to their feathers.

They are best known for laying gorgeous blue eggs.

Ameraucana hens are curious, but not much of a troublemaker. They are friendly, but do not enjoy being handled often.

They are good layers and will give you 3-4 gorgeous light blue eggs per week.

• Weight: Hens (5lbs) Roosters (7lbs)
• Color: Reddish brown
• Egg Laying: 3-4 week
• Egg Color: Light blue

3. Swedish Flower Hen

The Swedish Flower Hen might not be the most well known, but they are one of the most beautiful brown chickens.

They are known for having white patches similar to the Speckled Sussex, but these patches often take the shape of flowers, hence their name.

No two Swedish Flower Hens will look the same, so you are guaranteed variety.

These chickens have a brown base with black, white, orange, and dark brown flecks all over their feathers.

These chickens make a great beginner breed due to their independence and hardiness. They are docile and get along well with other chickens and children.

• Weight: Hens (5lbs) Roosters (8lbs)
• Color: Brown with black flecks
• Egg Laying: 3-4 week
• Egg Color: Brown

2. Australorp

The Australorp chicken is very popular.

Although black is the most common variety, brown Australorps look spectacular.

Brown Australorps are much rarer than the black variety. These birds have fully dark brown feathers all over their body with a greenish sheen to them under sunlight.

Of course, just like black Australorps, they are best known for their egg laying and will give you 4-5 light brown eggs per week. Some birds may even give you more than 5 eggs per week.

They are one of the best beginner breeds due to their friendly demeanor and ability to thrive in all climates.

It is very easy to see why these chickens have gained dramatically in popularity over the past few years as they stay true to their Orpington roots as one of the friendliest breeds around. These chickens will make a great fit for almost any backyard.

• Weight: Hens (8lbs) Roosters (10lbs)
• Color: Brown
• Egg Laying: 4-5 week
• Egg Color: Light brown

1. Salmon Faverolle

The Salmon Faverolle is a fan favorite!

Besides their incredible apperance, Faverolles are known for their fantastic temperament and delightful personality.

This breed is light brown and white. This brown color is known as salmon for this breed. Their back, tail feathers, wings, and the top of their head are a light brown, while their face, undercarriage, and leg feathers are white.

Faverolle hens and roosters are very easy to tell apart. Roosters will have black feathering on their stomach, beard, and tail feathers.

These brown chickens can make themselves at home anywhere. Whether they are free ranging or cuddled in your lap, you will find yourself constantly entertained!

They do great on both small and large homesteads.

Salmon Faverolles are very curious and will explore any areas they have access to. They are easy to care for and love to forage.

• Weight: Hens (6.5lbs) Roosters (8lbs)
• Color: Salmon (honey brown)
• Egg Laying: 3-4 week
• Egg Color: Tinted brown

Which Brown Chicken Is Right For You?

Many brown breeds of chicken are overlooked and underestimated.

But make no mistake, brown chickens can be just as lively, colorful, and loving as any other color.

Brown chickens can bring a pop of color into any flock. Whether you choose a solid brown Leghorn or a vibrant Flower Hen, each and every one one will bring their own unique personality and character into your homestead.

There is a brown chicken breed for everyone out there, and hopefully you are on your way to finding your perfect fit.

Let us know which breed you picked in the comments section below…