Best combo of egg laying/docility?

Date sort Score sort
Snipes

Snipes

Songster
9 Years
May 15, 2010
152
14
139
A friend of mine wants to start having chickens, and she was thinking Rhode Island Reds and White/Red leghorns (I'm not sure why), but I was told the former is not very kindly to flockmates, and the latter is a very nervous breed. My friend wants to raise the chickens as both pets for her kids and egg layers. I have no experience with chickens, so I wonder if anyone can tell me what breed(s) in their opinion, would work well to be pets and egg layers?
 
I second Barred Rocks. Mine is a great layer and a relaxed gal to boot. She is the Boss Hen but is not mean to us or the other chickens. Our Buff Orpington is also a reliable layer and just loves my 4 year old DD. Both are great with the kiddos!
big_smile.png

Edit: She is the one holding the Buff Orpington in my avatar pic!
 
Last edited:
I actually haven't met a Barred Rock that I DID like... I've had 2 and both have been so rotten to the other chickens and so excessively loud that I had to rehome them. I think the best combo bird would be Orpingtons.
 
Personally - my grandfather's barred rock roosters were really mean to me when I was little. I hear people all the time say how nice their barred rocks are but personally I will never own one. That said - in any breed there are differences in personality.
I chose chickens for docility and all the other requisites came after that. I was happy to find the orps that fit beautifully my egg laying/meaty breed/docile pet requirements
 
I guess I go against the grain, but my RIR's are the sweetest ever, both to people and the other hens and they also put up with 5 ducks no problem. Lay every day pretty well. My Delaware is a little pecky, but still sweet. My GLW is very shy, but once she is picked up, she doesn't want to be put down. She can be a brute to the other hens sometimes though, not often, as she is top of the pecking order. They all are excellent layers....about 6 a week for each.
 

Similar threads

JulieCB
    • Like
No egg for a week -- is this normal?
Replies
2
Views
102
muddy75
muddy75
ForFlocksSake
GIANT egg from a new layer
Replies
7
Views
1K
coach723
coach723
B
Breed Selection Advice/Information
Replies
7
Views
810
The chicken nurd
The chicken nurd
Happycamper07
    • Like
Best personality and laying chicken for begginner chicken owners
2 3 4
Replies
30
Views
2K
Franklinridgefarms
Franklinridgefarms
Fwoof
Adding to the Flock!
2 3 4
Replies
31
Views
939
Fwoof
Fwoof

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom