Top 10 Chicken Breeds Owners Regret

We asked 1000 chicken keepers what breed they would never get again, and the answers might shock you. While some birds are famous for their looks, their personalities and health issues tell a different story.

Based on feedback from veteran keepers, here are the top 10 breeds owners are crossing off their lists and why.

1. Polish Chicken

The Polish chicken is overwhelmingly the top choice for never again.

Owners describe them as “braindead,” “skittish,” and “dumb as rocks”. Their unique crests often make them fragile, and many owners struggle just to keep them alive.

2. Silkies

Silkies are favorites for their fluff, but they are frequently called “predator bait”.

Owners find them too “dumb” to survive basic outdoor life. They are notorious for “yearning for the urn” and dying unexpectedly.

3. Wyandotte

Wyandottes apparently have a reputation as the mean girls of the coop.

Keepers report they are aggressive bullies to other chickens and even kill their own chicks. Silver Laced varieties were specifically noted for having aggressive roosters.

4. Rhode Island Red

These are high-production birds, but they are often “rooster mean”.

Many keepers say Rhode Island Reds are bullies that gang up on other hens until they kill them. They are also prone to egg-laying problems after age three, according to our chicken keepers.

5. Leghorn

Leghorns are valued for their eggs, but owners hate their “batshit brains”.

In our results, they are described as “flighty,” “skidish,” and “all psychos”. Some owners also complained they always look “dirty and gross” from laying so frequently.

6. Barred Rock

While common, many owners find Barred Rock, or Barred Plymouth Rock, roosters to be exceptionally mean.

Some keepers have completely sworn off the breed because they do not want to risk having another aggressive rooster.

7. Easter Egger

Despite their colorful eggs, Easter Eggers, apparently, aren’t always friendly flock mates. Several owners labeled them as “nasty” to other chickens or simply not worth the trouble.

8. Cream Legbar

Another breed of colorful egg layer. Some owners of Cream Legbars report high mortality rates.

Multiple keepers noted that their Cream Legbars died young or acted like “little road runner psychos”.

9. Salmon Faverolles

Though pretty, Faverolles are reportedly “skittish”. Many keepers find them “irritating” because they struggle to keep them alive compared to other breeds.

10. Ayam Cemani

These all-black chickens are striking, but owners find them “mean as snakes” and “batshit crazy”. Ayam Cemanis are also poor producers, sometimes laying as few as 40 eggs a year.

Conclusion

While every chicken has its own personality, these experiences show that some breeds are particularly challenging.

Whether dealing with the aggression of a Wyandotte, the “batshit” energy of a Leghorn, or the fragility of a Polish, your choice affects flock safety. Research before you buy; beauty in the coop isn’t everything.