Cinnamon Queen Chicken Review + Why You Need One on Your Homestead

Inside: Why you need a Cinnamon Queen on your homestead. One of the best blends of productivity and easy care.

Fluffy and beautiful breeds get all the attention, but if you want chickens for the eggs, you can’t do much better than this breed. Like Rhode Island Reds with better personalities, this is a winning hybrid breed for almost every chicken keeper.

If I could pick one single chicken breed, it would be this one! Not because I have any special love for them, but because they get the job done so very well. They’re the basic, trouble-free red tomato of the chicken world.

While they are a chicken “mutt” and can’t win any contests (who cares?), they excel in just about every other thing that matters.

An Overview of the Breed

The Cinnamon Queen chicken is a breed that was created in the early 1990s. It crosses the Rhode Island Red and the Silver-Laced Wyandotte chicken breeds. The result is a bird that is known for its excellent egg production.

Rhode Island Reds are wonderful layers of brown eggs but have a (well-deserved!) reputation for being unfriendly. They will chase children, peck other chickens in the flock, and steal food from people.

These chickens are hardy and adaptable, and they do well in both cold and warm climates. They are typically docile birds, but they are also known for being good layers of eggs. The eggs from a Cinnamon Queen chicken are a beautiful light brown with dark spots. Cinnamon Queens have none of these character flaws but are almost as productive, making them perfect for backyards.

If you are looking for a good egg-laying chicken, it’s basically between this one and White Leghorns. (I think you should have some of each!)

The Females Are Friendly with People and Other Chickens

If you’ve been around Rhode Island Reds you know they have a nasty streak. This is, for the most part, bred out of this breed. They are not as skittish as some other breeds of chicken, and they tend to be very tame. (If you’re familiar with Buff Orpingtons, they are certainly not as sweet as them, but they are still nice.)

Cinnamon Queen Hens Egg Size and Productivity

Here’s where they shine. Most people get chickens for the eggs, and this breed lays at least 300 lovely brown eggs per year. One of the most high egg production breeds around.

They are very productive egg layers, and one of my favorite things is their fast body development which means they are one of the earliest layers in the flock. They usually start laying for me around 16 weeks of age.

They also aren’t too picky about cold temps or snow, which will make make some of my other birds stop laying although.

Free Ranging

This chicken does fine when given the opportunity to free-range. In fact, they love it! They spend their days exploring and foraging for food, and they’re always on the lookout for predators. They’re also very social birds and love to hang out with their buddies. I’ve never seen a Cinnamon Queen chase another bird; they seem to get along perfectly well.

A Hardy Bird That Can Tolerate Heat

We live in Virginia and have weather from over 100 degrees to below 10, and have never had a problem with any of our birds. Most chickens can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, and this variety is no exception. It is a great choice for cold climates

Quiet and Beautiful

They are very quiet, so they won’t disturb your neighbors as much as some of the other chicken breeds out there. Finally, they are a beautiful breed with their rich chestnut feathers and bright red combs and wattles.

Again, there are more beautiful birds out there. But I still think they’re pretty

Cinnamon Queen Roosters

I’ve never had any luck with roosters being kind (perhaps becauseI have small children), and this breed has been no exception for me. The males seem as aggressive as any other.

Drawbacks

Be aware that (like any chicken!) it does require regular attention, especially when it comes to providing food and water on a daily basis. That said, there are some drawbacks to this breed as well.

• If you are interested in showing your flock at poultry shows, you would not want a Cinnamon Queen since they are not purebred. This has absolutely no effect on their health or productivity, but it’s something to keep in mind if you think you’ll be interested in showing in the future.
• Also, they are not quite as productive as a breed like the White Leghorn or Rhode Island Red, either of which will lay 300+ eggs per year.
• Additionally, they are not as hardy as some other chicken breeds, like the Buff Orpington, which can handle extremely cold temperatures.

Overall, though, still an all-around winner.

More on Backyard Chickens

• The Pros and Cons of Free-Range Chickens: Are They Right For Your Backyard?
• Can My Chicken Eat It? The A-Z Guide of What Your Flock Can and Can’t Eat (With Printable!)
• How to Keep Chickens Warm in Winter: 15 Tips to Keep Them Cozy

Availability of Cinnamon Queen Chickens and Place to Buy

There are various online and offline sources where you can purchase your own Cinnamon Queen chickens. Some of the most popular online sources include websites like MyPetChicken and Cackle Hatchery, while offline retailers that carry this breed include pet supply stores and local farm or homesteading suppliers, such as Tractor Supply.

These chickens are a practical choice for almost any flock. They’re low-maintenance, excellent layers, and have a calm temperament that makes them easy to manage. Whether you find them at a local farm, through an online hatchery, or at a poultry auction, Cinnamon Queens will provide you with a steady supply of eggs while being simple to care for.