The cook time will vary depending on the type of chicken breast used. Boil boneless chicken breasts for 15 minutes and bone-in for 20 minutes.
When boiling a whole chicken, the best way to do this is to cut them into pieces before cooking them. Boil the chicken pieces for at least 15 minutes, then use a fork to check for doneness. Some parts will take longer to cook than others. For instance, chicken thighs or chicken wings will take longer to cook than chicken breasts.