10 Black and White Chicken Breeds with Images

Black and white chickens are highly sought-after, so if you love black and white plumage, you’re in good company.

Despite being of similar color, these breeds can have very different color patterns and sizes.

Before you start looking for black or white chickens, you should first be familiar with the different stocks. This will help you make an informed decision.

This list will show you 10 of the most popular black and white chicken breeds.

These are the Top 10 Most Popular Black And White Chicken Breeds

Are you ready for some chicken? Here are some black-and-white varieties of chicken you might like to try.

1. The Barred Plymouth Rock Chicken

This bird has a barred pattern on their plumage. The Barred Rock, a black-and-white variation of the Plymouth Rock family, was bred in the Americas. Although its barred plumage looks like a Dominique chicken’s, the Barred Rock stripes are straight. Dominique’s stripes have a distinct “V” shape.

Barred rocks can weigh between 7.5 to 9.5 pounds for adults and are small in size. They are also very adaptable and hardy, so they can live in almost any environment.

Typically, barred Plymouth Rocks can be kept for egg production. An average hen can lay up to 280 large brown eggs per year. They can also be kept as meat because of their larger size. They are, however, quite broody.

2. The Black Laced Silver Wyandotte Chicken

The Black Laced Silver Wyandotte, with its laced pattern of black feathers on white feathers and the cute black tail, is a striking bird.

This bird is very hardy, despite its beautiful appearance and friendly disposition. It can grow to a respectable weight of 8.5 pounds. Black Laced Silver Wyandottes are also excellent egg producers. They lay between 180-260 eggs each year.

3. The Black Sex Link Chicken

The Black Sex Link, a cross between the Barred Rock hen and Rhode Island Red Rooster roosters, is a rare breed. Both the cocks & hens have different plumages. Black Link roosters have a black and wavy barred pattern while hens have black bodies with brown necks.

This breed is prolific in egg production. Black link hens can lay up to 300 large, dark brown eggs per year if they are taken care of properly. They are not broody. On average, they weigh between 6 and 9 pounds. They aren’t great for making table chicken so they aren’t kept for meat production.

4. Columbian Wyandotte Chicken

The Columbian Wyandotte, another American classic, is a stunning breed. It has black and white plumage at its neck, wings end, and tail, while the rest is white.

Columbian Wyandottes are not related to the North American Wyandot tribe despite being named for them. It is more of a mix between a Barred Rock or a white Wyandotte.

Columbian Wyandottes can weigh anywhere from 6.5 to 8.5 pounds when fully grown. They are large birds, but they look larger because of their loose feathers.

The Columbian Wyandotte can be used as a double-purpose breed. It can lay between 200 to 250 eggs per year as an egg layer. They lay eggs even in winter because of their toughness. They are delicious and some people keep them for meat production.

5. The Cuckoo Marans Chicken

Cuckoo Marans is named after the French town of Marans where it was born. The barred pattern of the Cuckoo Marans is strikingly similar to the Barred Rock’s. This is why they are often mistaken for one another. Cuckoo Marans can grow to be quite large birds, weighing in at 7 to 9 pounds once fully grown.

This breed is suitable for egg layers, meat producers, and show animals. Hens can lay 150 to 200 eggs per year as an egg layer. Their eggs are large.

6. The Dark Brahma Chicken

Dark Brahmas are the oldest chicken breed in the world. Brahmas can trace their roots back to Asia. They result from crossing a Grey Chittagong and a Shanghai chicken. The breed was named “Brahmaputra” in 1852 after the Asian river. It was later renamed the Brahma.

The largest of all chickens, Dark Brahmas can reach 12 pounds when fully grown. They also have heavy feathering which makes them seem larger. Dark Brahmas can withstand cold thanks to their dense plumage. They are the “King of Chickens” because of this.

The Dark Brahma is a popular table bird due to its large size. It can lay up to 150 eggs per year and does well as an egg layer. This bird, despite its intimidating appearance, is a sweetheart. It rarely broods.

7. Dominique Chicken

The Dominique, a breed of chicken with a barred pattern is considered to be North America’s oldest. This breed averages between 5 and 7 pounds.

Dominique chickens are used primarily as egg layers. They can lay as many as 260 eggs per year. They are also a great source of meat, especially if they are yellow meat lovers. They are also great to show birds because of their beautiful plumage.

Dominique chicken feathers make excellent stuffing for pillows, mattresses, and other bedding. The Dominique is a great way to make money.

8. The Light Sussex Chicken

The Light Sussex is a European breed. It has a predominantly white body and black edgings around its necks, tails, and necks.

This bird is a prolific egg layer and a well-known producer of high-quality meat. It can produce up to 280 eggs per year as an egg layer. It is also very broody. It is a meat producer and makes a great table bird.

The Light Sussex’s beautiful plumage makes them a great show bird. It is extremely hardy and friendly.

9. The Mottled Ancona Chicken

This breed is a result of its origins in Ancona, Italy. It has a distinctive mottled plumage. It has a black feather with white spots at its ends, making it one of the few spotted chicken breeds. The Mottled Ancona’s tightly packed feathers make it extremely resistant to cold.

The average weight of this breed is between 4.5 to 6 pounds. It is considered a medium-sized bird. The Mottled Ancona breed is kept to produce eggs and can lay up to 280 eggs each year.

10. The Silver Laced Polish Chicken

Do you want to show a bird? The Silver Laced Polish is the breed you should be looking for. This breed is a Polish import and has a funny appearance. Its feathers are arranged on its head to form a cap crest with a beak. Their eyes are barely visible. They are stunning, making them popular show birds.

They are also excellent egg layer birds, producing up to 200 eggs each year. They are not great as table birds.

Pattern types

Black and white chicken breeds have different feather patterns. These patterns, or color schemes, are what distinguish black and white chicken breeds. Sometimes, patterns can help you determine a bird’s sexuality. These patterns include:

The Barred Pattern

Barred patterns include those with stripes. They are less noticeable if you examine each feather separately. The bird’s plumage may not have obvious stripes. You will need to pay close attention to the finer details.

The Columbian Pattern

This pattern is characterized by seemingly random black spots on a white chicken in the Columbian scheme. These black patches are often found on the neck, wings, tail, and tail. This is known as the black constrained. It prevents black from being expressed elsewhere on the bird.

The Laced Pattern

The chicken’s feathers look laced here because they are darker toward the edges. It almost looks like they have a dark trim.

The Mottled Pattern

This pattern is characterized by feathers that have no pigmentation at their edges or ends. They are essentially black birds with white tips at the ends of their feathers.

The Penciled Design

This pattern is stunning in black and white. This scheme features feathers with trim on either side.

The Spangled Pattern

The feathers are not pigmented at the center. This causes numerous spots that are round all over the body.

Conclusion

You will have many options if you love chickens, especially when it comes to black-and-white varieties. Although your specific needs will determine the best breed for you, all of these breeds are great options to add to your flock.