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Few things are more satisfying than raising chickens in your backyard and enjoying fresh eggs every day. However, keeping chickens can sometimes result in a lot of noise. While no breed is completely silent, some chickens are much quieter than others.
Hens tend to be less noisy, but roosters will crow regardless of the breed. If you’re looking for a more peaceful backyard, here’s a list of some of the quietest chicken breeds.
Rhode Island Red
With their placid and easy-going temperament, Rhode Island Red hens are a good choice for a small backyard flock. They are very hardy and robust, enabling them to cope with all living conditions. Rhode Island Red chickens produce a plentiful supply of eggs, around 200-250 per year, and are known as one of the quietest chicken breeds to have.
Buff Orpington
With their beautiful golden plumage and calm temperament, the Buff Orpington is a great choice for beginners. They are easy to tame and cope well with confinement. They enjoy exploring and foraging for food but will remain pleasantly quiet in the backyard. Buff Orpington hens will lay up to 280 large brown eggs per year.
Black Australorps
These glossy black chickens are world record holders for egg laying; most will produce at least 250 eggs annually. They are also known for their ability to remain pleasantly quiet. Black Australorps cope well with confinement, but daily foraging keeps them healthy and in peak condition. In warmer climates, provide plenty of shade to prevent overheating.
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Olive Eggers
Olive Eggers are a hybrid chicken, created by crossing a hen that lays blue eggs – commonly an Ameraucana – with a breed that lays brown eggs. The result is a chicken that produces beautiful olive-green eggs, hence the name. Olive Eggers are friendly and low-maintenance, making them ideal for beginners.
Silkie
Silkies are a small breed of chicken that cope well with confinement, making them ideal for keeping in a backyard. They are incredibly tame, quiet, and easy to handle.
Wyandotte
Wyandottes are one of the most exquisitely-feathered chicken breeds, boasting a glamorous plumage in a range of different colors. They cope better in colder climates than most breeds and are calm, quiet, and easy to handle.
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Sussex
The Sussex chicken is an ancient breed that is easy to keep and rarely suffers from health problems. It is curious and inquisitive and enjoys the opportunity to roam and forage for food. This breed copes well with colder climates and will lay at least 200 large eggs per year.
Brahmas
Brahmas are the gentle giants of the chicken world, and their friendly nature makes them easy to handle. These beautiful big birds require plenty of space and food but will reward you with a plentiful supply of extra-large eggs. Brahmas are also among the few chicken breeds that lay well through winter and are very quiet in a backyard.
Faverolles
Faverolles chickens are docile, friendly, and rarely suffer from health problems. Faverolles hens produce around 200 medium-sized eggs per year.
Cochin
The cochin is a beautiful bird known for its docile, calm, and relaxed nature. It is typically very quiet and adapts well to confined spaces, making it an excellent choice for backyard flocks.
Java
Java is one of the oldest chicken breeds in the United States. It is available in striking Black and Mottled varieties. These birds are known for their docile yet active nature and remarkably quiet. Javas are excellent foragers and slow growers.
Ameraucana
Ameraucanas are known for being friendly and quiet. Typically calm and docile, they are most notably known for their attractive appearance and the blue eggs they lay.
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