Easiest Chickens to Show

Chickens enjoy a special place on the farm, and it's not hard to see why: They provide two kinds of food and look good strutting across a field. The attractiveness of barnyard fowl isn't a lost notion, with poultry shows -- events where breeders gather together to judge chickens on a number of factors -- enjoying widespread popularity. Among more than a hundred chicken breeds, a few are considered best for livestock shows.

  1. Brahma

    • The Brahma chicken is a big bird -- historically, the breed reached peak size in the early 1900s, reportedly at almost 20 pounds. It is for this reason that the ̶0;The King of All Poultry̶1; as it came to be called was the standard meat bird for almost 70 years. The Brahma is a striking bird, with smooth plumage of either buff, dark or light color; feathers on shanks and toes and a distinctive broad head. The Brahma is a docile bird that can be contained easily for showing.

    Cochin

    • Cochins are popular show chickens.

      Cochin chickens are delightfully odd-looking birds, with large bodies, thick feathers and a bunch of plumage on their legs. Originally bred in China, the Cochin, along with the Brahma, inspired a mid-19th-century poultry craze in America. Never a successful commercial breed, the Cochin has found favor as a show chicken, both for unique plumage and gentle disposition. The docile Cochin is easily tamed and isn't prone to wander away or escape from home.

    Cubalaya

    • The Cubalya has a distinctive tail.

      As the name alludes, the Cubalaya's roots are in Cuba. The Cubalaya arrived on American shores in 1939. Medium-size birds with average weight of 4 to 6 pounds, the Cubalaya sports a peacomb and very distinctive tail feathers -- often called lobster tails, these plumes of abundant, downward-angled tail feathers set this breed apart from all other chickens. The Cubalaya is known for a gentle, trusting personality. A Cubalaya rooster doesn't have spurs, making it an easy bird to raise.

    Orpington

    • The Orpington is a large heritage breed.

      Developed in late 1800s England as a dual-purpose meat and egg-laying bird, the Orpington has become a favorite at poultry shows. Classically ̶0;chicken̶1; in appearance, the fast-growing Orpington exhibits an upright comb and compact feathers in one of four colors: blue, black, white and buff. Another bird noted to have a gentle disposition, this heritage breed is described as friendly, and stories abound of Orpingtons who run to their keepers and even eat food from human hands.