Stunning White Chicken Breeds For Beginners
Are you a chicken keeper with a love for poultry that shines like a pearl in the sun? We have compiled a list of the best white chicken breeds that are beginner-friendly, low in maintenance, readily available, and guaranteed to lay plenty of eggs.
White Chicken Breeds To Create a Fashionable Flock
While the color white is found in many chicken breeds, we have carefully selected several breeds that tick all the boxes for the aspiring chicken keeper.
From the classic White Leghorn to the fluffy White Cochin and the new kid on the block Smokey Pearl, each type has unique characteristics that make them a delightful addition to your flock.
But we won’t stop there. Alongside our snowy white chicken selection, we will introduce you to almost-white varieties.
These light-colored chickens, with colors like lavender, splash, and porcelain, offer a fascinating alternative to those seeking a touch of lightness in their coop.
Best White Chicken Breeds
- White Leghorn
- Smokey Pearl
- Rhode Island White
- Delaware
- White Cochin
- White Silkie
- California White
- Austra White
- American Bresse
- White Serama
Other Light-Colored Breeds:
- Sapphire Splash
- Porcelain d’Uccle Bantam
- Lavender Orpington
1. White Leghorn
This breed may not need any introduction. White Leghorns are among the most popular chicken breeds in the world. They’re low in maintenance, hardy, and real egg machines.
Almost all white eggs you’ll find in your supermarket are Leghorn eggs or from hybrids developed by them.
| Eggs | 300 eggs per year |
| Egg Color | White |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Weight | 4.5 – 6 lbs |
| Hardiness | Cold and heat |
| Temperament | Friendly and active |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
| Color | White |
White Leghorns are medium-sized birds with beautiful snow-white plumage, bright red comb, red wattles, and white earlobes, which signals they lay white eggs.
Various colors of the Leghorn are recognized, but White is by far the most popular one, next to Brown.
As mentioned before, Leghorns are one of the top egg layers in the world. They lay around 290 – 310 white eggs yearly, up to six eggs per week! Their eggs are medium-sized and weigh around 1.9 oz (55gr).
Because of their hardiness, they’ll keep laying during winter and provide you with a year-round egg supply.
2. Smokey Pearl
If you have never heard of a Smokey Pearl chicken, don’t worry! They’re a fairly new breed and not known to the large public. The breed is an excellent egg layer and a great addition to any backyard flock.
| Eggs | 280 eggs per year |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Weight | 4 – 6 lbs |
| Hardiness | Cold and warm |
| Temperament | Calm, docile |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
| Color | Barred grey with white |
Smokey Pearls thank their name to their lovely greyish color, with some having what the hatchery calls ‘ghost barring’.
We believe that ghost barring is adding an Autosomal Red color, increasing the chance of the bird carrying the ‘barring gene’.
The Smokey Pearl chicken is not a true chicken breed but a hybrid, a mix of multiple chicken breeds.
The ancestors of the Smokey Pearl are kept secret, but it’s believed this chicken was created by crossbreeding a California Grey and California Tan or a black sex-link male with White Leghorns. However, this is only a guess and has not been confirmed by the hatchery.
3. Rhode Island White
The Rhode Island White breed offers a wonderful combination of beauty and utility. Renowned for their superior egg-laying capabilities, these chickens are also highly adaptable and can thrive in various climates.
Their snowy white plumage will add a touch of elegance to your backyard.
| Eggs | Up to 250 eggs per year |
| Egg Color | Light brown to dark brown |
| Egg Size | Large to jumbo |
| Weight | 6.5 – 8.5 lbs |
| Hardiness | Cold and heat |
| Temperament | Active |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
| Color | White |
Rhode Island White chickens are a completely different breed than the more popular Rhode Island Reds. They are not just a color variety of the Rhode Island chicken, but a breed of their own.
Rhode Island White chickens are declining in numbers and never came close to the overwhelming popularity of the Rhode Island Red.
A Rhode Island white lays approximately four to five eggs per week, more than 200 eggs yearly! Their eggs are large to jumbo in size and brown in color.
4. Delaware
The Delaware chicken is a great mix of beauty and utility. This relatively new breed looks amazing with its striking white plumage adorned with black feathers. These calm and friendly birds offer both prolific egg production and meat value.
| Eggs | 200 eggs yearly |
| Egg Color | Brown |
| Egg Size | Large to jumbo |
| Weight | 5.5 – 7.5 lbs |
| Hardiness | Cold & heat hardy |
| Temperament | Active |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
| Color | White with black feathering |
One of the defining features of the Delaware is its lovely white plumage, which serves as the base color. They also have black feathers around the neck and the tip of the tail, adding an elegant touch.
While they are considered a dual-purpose breed, excelling in meat and egg production, their egg-laying capabilities are highly regarded. On average, Delaware hens lay approximately around 200 eggs per year. This translates to an average of about 4 eggs per week.
One of the primary goals in developing the Delaware breed was to combine Barred Plymouth Rocks’ meat value with New Hampshire Reds‘ egg-laying abilities. This crossbreeding created a chicken that excelled in both aspects, making Delawares a valuable dual-purpose breed.
While they may not grow as rapidly as some broiler breeds, Delaware chickens still grow relatively fast and can be raised for meat.
5. White Cochin
The Cochin chicken is among the heaviest and largest chicken breeds in the world, and because of its fluffy and unique appearance, it is quite popular on social media.
| Eggs | 150 eggs per year |
| Egg Color | Light brown |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Weight | 10 – 12 lbs |
| Hardiness | Cold |
| Temperament | Docile and friendly |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
| Color | White |
Their largeness makes them look impressive and even scary, but there is nothing to be alarmed about. Cochins are extremely friendly that greatly add to any backyard flock. Families with small children like to keep them as pet chickens; they can be petted and picked up.
The dense feathering makes them very cold-hardy, and they stand extreme weather quite well. But it also makes them not fond of wet environments and muddy pens.
Cochin chickens are not the best layers, although not the worst eighter. They lay up to 150 eggs per year, 2 to 3 weekly. One thing to remember is that Cochins are considered, together with Silkies, to be the broodiest chickens in the world. They’re often used to hatch another hen’s chicken eggs.
6. White Silkie
Silkies are adored for their unique appearance; the White Silkie is no exception. These birds have soft, fluffy plumage that feels like silk, and their black skin and bones add an intriguing contrast. Silkies are known for their gentle nature and make wonderful pets.
| Eggs | Three eggs per week, but are often broody |
| Egg Color | Cream to tinted |
| Egg Size | Small |
| Weight | 2 – 3 lbs |
| Hardiness | Cold |
| Temperament | Docile and friendly |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
| Color | White |
White is the most popular color in Silkies, and it’s no mystery why. A crisp white Silkie has the looks of natural white silk. They look stunning with their snowy feathers, almost like they escaped a fairy tale.
Silkies are ornamental birds, which makes them not specially bred for meat or eggs but mainly for their looks. However, Silkies are decent egg layers, laying around three eggs per week, which should result in 160 eggs per year.
But Silkies are extremely broody chickens, and egg production will always temporarily stop during broodiness.
Because Silkies are miniature and kind, they can get bullied when you place them with more assertive breeds, such as Rhode Island Reds.
7. California White
California Whites look much like their White Leghorn ancestors, but they’re a bit bigger and often have black spots on their white feathers.
| Eggs | Up to 300 eggs/year |
| Egg Color | White |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Weight | 4 – 4.5 lbs |
| Hardiness | Cold |
| Temperament | Friendly |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
| Color | White with black spots |
The California White chicken is a relatively new hybrid, developed in the US in the mid-20th century. It was created by crossing a White Leghorn female with a California Gray male to create a hybrid breed that would produce large numbers of white eggs.
They are known to be great layers, with hens laying approximately 300 large white eggs per year. That’s up to six eggs weekly. They also keep on laying during winter.
California Whites are considered to be cold-hardy chickens. They can tolerate various temperatures and weather conditions, from hot summers to cold winters, but they stand cold temperatures better than hot ones.
8. Austra White
The Austra White is a cross between the White Leghorn and Black Australorp. These chickens inherit the best characteristics from both parents, including high egg production and a calm temperament. Their snowy white plumage adds a touch of elegance to their overall charm.
| Eggs | Up to 3 eggs weekly |
| Egg Color | Cream to tinted |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Weight | 4 – 4.5 lbs |
| Hardiness | Cold |
| Temperament | Friendly |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
| Color | White with flecks of black |
Austra White chickens are decent egg layers, bringing up to 3 eggs weekly. All eggs are cream to tinted in color. As they are winter-hardy, most Austra White hens will keep on laying during winter, although egg production may slow down.
Austra Whites have a docile and calm temperament and are fine kept in confinement.
9. American Bresse
Originating from France, the American Bresse is a highly sought-after breed known for its exceptional meat quality and ample egg production. Their snowy white feathers make them visually striking.
| Eggs | 250-280 eggs yearly |
| Egg Color | Tinted |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Weight | 5 – 7 lbs |
| Hardiness | Cold |
| Temperament | Friendly |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
| Color | White |
Due to legal reasons, this breed is called ‘American Bresse’ when bred in the US, but the breed is virtually identical to the French Bresse chicken.
The American Bresse is also a perfect egg layer, bringing up to 250-280 tinted eggs per year to the table. The breed is hardy and easy to care for and raise. It’s a family-friendly breed with excellent foraging skills and an easy temperament.
10. White Serama
Last one on the list is the White Serama, a bird small in size, but big in personality. Serama Bantams are true bantams, meaning it has no larger ancestor.
In fact, it holds the title of the world’s smallest chicken breed. Originating from Malaysia, this breed can come in various colors, with white being among the most popular.
| Eggs | Around 150 eggs/year |
| Egg Color | Tinted |
| Egg Size | Small |
| Weight | 14 oz – 18 oz |
| Hardiness | Not cold hardy |
| Temperament | Active & energetic |
| Beginner-friendly | No |
| Color | White |
One of their most distinctive features is their V-shaped posture, created by their tail being held at a 90-degree angle.
Although the Serama chicken is famous for its small size, it is also well-known for its great egg-laying abilities. You can generally expect three to four eggs per week from a Serama bantam.
Seramas are curious birds who love to explore their surroundings. In the garden, they frequently follow their owners and explore anything new that captures their attention. Despite their size, Seramas are self-assured and not easily intimidated.
Other Light-Colored Breeds
While the breeds above all boast a natural white color, other light-colored varieties can bring a touch of allure to your flock. These almost-white chickens come in shades like lavender, splash, and porcelain, adding a hint of enchantment to your coop.
Sapphire Splash
If you’ve never heard of the Sapphire Splash chicken, don’t worry! They are relatively new in the chicken scenery and are related to the Sapphire Gem.
Sapphire Splash chickens are known for their unique appearance. Their plumage is a mix of light to medium dark gray with specks of darker feathering, giving them a “splashed” or mottled appearance.
One of the main advantages of keeping Sapphire Splash chickens is their egg production. These chickens are known for being prolific layers, producing large, brown eggs at a high rate.
On average, a Sapphire Splash hen will lay 290 eggs yearly.
Porcelain d’Uccle Bantam
Porcelain d’Uccle Bantams are a true delight to behold with their delicate porcelain-like coloring and feathered feet. Although the millefleur color is the most popular with d’Uccle Bantams, Porcelain is the best choice if you’re looking for a fashionable option.
The Belgian Bearded d’Uccle bantam is a breed that originated in Belgium, specifically in the town of Uccle in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle is considered a rare breed, but it continues to be popular among those who appreciate its unique looks and friendly personality. It remains one of the most popular true bantam breeds in Belgium.
Belgian d’Uccle bantams are not the best egg layers. But they still bring a decent amount of eggs to the table. They will lay around 3 eggs per week, all white to cream-colored.
Lavender Orpington
The Lavender Orpington is gaining popularity on the (for now) most popular Orpington color: Buff. The Lavender color is gorgeous and popular amongst poultry enthusiasts.
It differs from blue coloring, as blue tends to show some lacing. However, the Blue Orpington is an official variety of the American Poultry Association, while Lavender is not.
Orpingtons really are gentle giants. They’re huge but have a friendly and docile personality. This makes the Orpington a great company for hobbyists or chicken keepers with small children.
Because of their dense feathering, Orpingtons are extremely cold-hardy birds. Their feathers keep them toasty warm during frigid winters.
Orpingtons are a dual-purpose breed, meaning they are suitable as both meat and egg bird. They are great egg layers and lay up to 270 large tinted eggs annually.
Remember, these light-colored varieties can complement your flock and create a visually stunning ensemble alongside the white breeds.
Summary
When it comes to selecting white chicken breeds for your backyard, you have many options catering to choose from. From the White Leghorn to the Austra White, each breed offers its unique qualities, including high egg production, low maintenance requirements, and friendly natures.
Furthermore, let’s not forget the almost-white varieties, such as the Sapphire Splash and the Lavender Orpington, which bring an additional layer of beauty to your flock.
There are hundreds of chicken breeds in the world! If you want to get to know them all, rare or common, heritage or hybrid, go to our ‘All Chicken Breeds & Types Worldwide: List of 500+ Breeds‘.
If you want to learn more about breeds per color, check out the following articles: ‘Top Brown Chicken Breeds‘ and ‘Beautiful Black Chicken Breeds‘.
