If you’re looking for the best chicken breeds indoors, you’ve come to the right place.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the best chicken breeds for small-space living, as well as some tips on how to keep them happy and healthy.
So whether you’re just starting out with backyard chickens or are looking for a new breed to add to your flock, read on for some helpful advice!
Best Chicken Breeds for Indoors: Is it OK to Keep Chicken Indoors?
Chickens are wonderful creatures that can provide fresh eggs and companionship, but many people are unsure about whether or not it is OK to keep them indoors.
While chickens do need some space to roam, they can actually be quite adaptable and can thrive in a variety of environments.
The key is to make sure that their housing is comfortable and safe, and that they have access to plenty of food and water. Chickens are also known for being messy, so you’ll need to be prepared to do some extra cleaning.
If you take these precautions, there is no reason why you cannot enjoy the benefits of having a chicken as a pet without having to worry about the mess or the noise.
16 Best Chicken Breeds for Indoors
Chickens are a great addition to any homestead, providing delicious eggs and entertaining company.
But if you live in an urban area or simply don’t have the space for a full-fledged coop and run, don’t despair! These chicken breeds are well-suited for life indoors.
1. Silkie
The Silkie is a chicken breed that is distinguished by its furry feathers. These feathers have a silky texture, hence the name “Silkie.”
Silkies are also known for their calm and friendly demeanor. They are excellent layers of eggs and make great candidates for raising indoors.
One of the reasons why the Silkie is one of the best chicken breeds to raise indoors is because they are very tolerant of close quarters.
Unlike some other chicken breeds, Silkies do not mind being confined to small spaces. This makes them ideal for those who do not have a lot of room to raise chickens.
Another reason why the Silkie is a good choice for indoor raising is because they do not need a lot of exercise.
This means that they will not be constantly running around and making a mess of your home. Instead, they will be content to perch on their roost or scratch in their coop.
2. Sultan
The Sultan chicken is a unique breed that is known for its impressive appearance and docile personality.
One of the reasons why the Sultan chicken is such a good choice for indoor living is that it is relatively small in size. This makes it easy to keep in a smaller space, like an apartment or condo.
The Sultan chicken is known for being very friendly and adaptable, making it a great choice for families with children.
Another plus is that Sultan chickens are known for being low-maintenance, so you won’t have to spend a lot of time caring for them.
3. Easter Egger
The Easter Egger chicken is a hybrid breed that is known for its ability to lay blue or green eggs.
However, this breed also has a number of other very desirable qualities that make it an excellent choice for raising indoors.
For example, Easter Eggers are relatively small birds, which means they don’t need as much space as some other chicken breeds.
They are also docile and quiet, making them well-suited to living in close quarters with humans.
Easter Eggers are good foragers and can be trained to free-range indoors, which helps to keep your home clean and pest-free.
Overall, the Easter Egger is an ideal choice for those who want to enjoy the benefits of raising chickens without having to deal with the typical problems associated with larger bird breeds.
4. Brahma
If you’re looking for a chicken breed that adapts well to living indoors, Brahma chickens are a great option.
These chickens are calm and docile, making them ideal pets. They’re also very clean birds and don’t make much of a mess.
And although they’re not the best egg layers, they more than makeup for it in meat production.
Brahma chickens are hardy birds that can withstand cold weather, so they’re a good choice if you live in an area with colder winters.
All in all, Brahma chickens make great indoor pets and are sure to provide you with plenty of delicious eggs and meat.
5. Barbu D’Uccles
The Barbu D’Uccles chicken is a great choice for those looking for a pet chicken that can be kept indoors.
These birds are small, with a gentle disposition, and they are known for being good layers of large, brown eggs. In addition, Barbu D’Uccles chickens are relatively quiet, making them ideal for city living.
They also have a beautiful feathering pattern, with black, white, and blue plumage.
6. Buff Orpington
One of the best chicken breeds to keep indoors is the Buff Orpington. This breed is known for being calm and docile, making them ideal for living in close quarters.
They are also low maintenance, and their plumage is resistant to dirt and dust.
As a result, they are much less likely to track mud and debris into the house. In addition, Buff Orpingtons are good egg layers, producing up to 280 eggs per year.
7. Polish
While there are many different chicken breeds to choose from, the Polish chicken is an excellent choice for those who want to keep chickens indoors.
Polish chickens are known for being quiet and gentle, making them ideal pets. They are also relatively small, which means they don’t need a lot of space.
And, despite their docile nature, Polish chickens are good laying hens and can produce up to 200 eggs per year.
8. Cochin
The Cochin chicken is a breed of chicken that is known for being particularly docile and good-natured.
This makes them one of the best chicken breeds to keep indoors, as they are less likely to cause any damage or make a mess.
They are also very quiet, so they will not disturb your peace and quiet.
Another advantage of Cochin chickens is that they are very cold hardy, so they can survive in colder climates without any problems.
Finally, Cochin chickens are known for being good egg layers, so if you are looking for a chicken that will provide you with a steady supply of eggs, then this is the breed for you.
9. Faverolle
If you’re looking for a chicken breed that’s good for indoor living, the Faverolle is an excellent choice.
One of the things that makes the Faverolle ideal for indoor living is its docile nature.
This chicken is gentle and even-tempered, making it unlikely to startle or become aggressive around people.
The Faverolle is a relatively quiet chicken, so you won’t have to worry about loud squawking disrupting your life indoors.
And since the Faverolle is a reasonably small chicken breed, it doesn’t require a lot of space to live comfortably.
However, the Faverolle isn’t just a good choice for indoor living—it’s also an excellent egg-laying chicken.
This chicken can lay up to 250 eggs per year, making it a great addition to any backyard flock.
10. Australorp
The Australorp chicken is a popular choice for many chicken enthusiasts, and it’s not difficult to see why. This breed is known for being calm and docile, making them well-suited for life indoors.
They are also prolific egg layers, and their eggs are large and incredibly nutritious.
In addition, Australorps are relatively low-maintenance chickens, and they are resistant to both cold weather and disease.
11. Sebright
The Sebright is a small breed of chicken that was originally developed in England in the early 19th century.
Despite its name, the Sebright is not actually a member of the Sebright family of chickens but is instead a cross between the Silver-Laced Wyandotte and the Golden-Laced Polish.
The Sebright is known for its striking coloration, which includes a silver-laced pattern on a black or blue background.
The breed is also notable for its calm and docile temperament, making it an excellent choice for those looking to raise chickens indoors.
In addition, Sebrights are relatively low-maintenance birds, and they are known for being good egg layers.
12. Speckled Sussex
The Speckled Sussex is a great chicken breed to raise indoors for a few reasons.
For one, they are relatively quiet compared to other breeds, so they won’t make too much of a racket. They are also good egg layers, producing around 200 eggs per year.
And since they are not as big as some other chicken breeds, they don’t need as much space to move around. They are also relatively calm and docile, making them easy to handle.
13. Plymouth Rock
The Plymouth Rock is a chicken breed that is known for being docile and easy to handle, making it an excellent choice for first-time chicken owners.
Plymouth Rocks are also relatively quiet compared to other chicken breeds, which makes them a good choice for those who want to raise chickens indoors.
In terms of egg production, Plymouth Rocks are reliable layers, and they are known for producing large brown eggs.
Plymouth Rocks are also a hardy breed, and they can tolerate cold weather conditions better than some other chicken breeds.
14. Golden Campine
The Golden Campine is a popular breed of chicken that is well-suited for indoor raising. One of the reasons for this is that they are relatively small birds, so they don’t need a lot of space.
They are also very quiet, so they won’t disturb your family or neighbors. Golden Campines are known for being good layers, so you can expect to get a steady supply of fresh eggs.
Another benefit of raising Golden Campines is that they are generally very healthy chickens and don’t require a lot of special care.
Overall, the Golden Campine is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a chicken breed that does well indoors.
15. Rhode Island Red
Rhode Island Reds are a hardy breed of chicken that was developed in the United States. They are well-suited to both hot and cold weather and are relatively disease-resistant.
Rhode Island Reds also have a high egg-laying capacity, making them a good choice for backyard chicken keepers who want to maximize their egg production.
But what makes Rhode Island Reds particularly well-suited to indoor raising is their docile nature.
Rhode Island Reds are not known for being overly active, and they tend to be content to stay close to home.
This makes them less likely to damage furniture or equipment and helps to keep them safe from predators.
16. Wyandotte
The Wyandotte chicken is a great choice for those looking to raise chickens indoors. One of the reasons for this is that they are relatively quiet compared to other breeds.
They also have a docile temperament, which makes them less likely to cause disruption in the home.
Wyandottes are good egg layers, producing around 200 eggs per year. They are also excellent foragers, meaning that they can help to control pests in the home.
Overall, the Wyandotte chicken is a versatile and low-maintenance breed that is well-suited for indoor living.
Tips for Raising a Chicken Indoors
Here are some tips on how to raise chickens indoors without losing your mind in the process.
Mind the Dust and Dander
One of the things you need to take into account when raising chickens indoors is the dust and dander they will inevitably produce.
If you or anyone in your household has allergies, chickens may not be the best pet for you. Be sure to do your research and consult with a doctor before making a decision.
What Will You Do About Chicken Poo?
Another thing to consider when raising chickens indoors is what you’ll do about their waste. Chickens produce a lot of poop, and it can be stinky if not properly taken care of.
Be sure to have a plan for how you’ll clean up after your chickens before bringing them home.
Are Pets Allowed (if You Rent?)
If you live in an apartment or rental property, make sure that pets are allowed before bringing chickens home.
Many landlords have strict rules against having animals, so it’s important to check first.
Do You Have Other Pets?
If you have other pets, such as dogs or cats, you’ll need to take their personality into account when deciding whether or not to get chickens.
Some animals are natural predators of chickens, so it’s important to do your research and make sure that all of your pets will be able to coexist peacefully.
Get an Indoor Chicken Coop or Cage
Once you’ve decided that chickens are the right pet for you, it’s time to get an indoor chicken coop or cage.
Chickens need a place to sleep and lay their eggs, so make sure that their enclosure is big enough for them to move around comfortably.
Clean Often
Because chickens produce a lot of waste, it’s important to clean their enclosure often.
A good rule of thumb is to clean it out once a week, but depending on the size of your coop or cage, you may need to do it more often than that.
Train Your Chicken
Just like any other pet, chickens need to be trained on how to behave properly indoors.
Be patient and consistent with your training, and soon enough your chicken will know how to behave like a well-mannered house pet!
Take Time to Bond
In order for your chicken-raising experience to be truly successful, it’s important that you take the time to bond with your chicken (or chickens).
Spend time every day talking to them, feeding them treats, and giving them scratches behind the ears—they’ll love it!
Best Chicken Breeds for Indoors: Final Thoughts
Raising chickens indoors can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s not for everyone.
Be sure to do your research beforehand and take the necessary precautions (and find the right chicken breed!) in order to ensure that both you and your chickens are happy and healthy!