So we're looking for decent egg layers and birds that are likely to be calm and tolerant of handling.
Anything else? Is there a preference for egg color? What kind of climate (are we looking for cold hardy, heat hardy, cold winters and hot summers)? Do they plan to get chicks or started pullets? Hatchery, farm store, or breeder?
Salmon faverolles could be a good choice. They're usually very personable, and can be prone to bullying by more assertive breeds.
Easter eggers are a solid choice. Sometimes they can be flighty, but they can also be very personable. I have a picture of my oldest son holding an EE hen when he was about 3. She totally could have gotten away from him if she didn't want held.
Orpingtons are often very mellow birds. Mine was very sweet. Not a big fan of being held, but not flighty. If they really have an eye on production, orps do have an earned reputation for broody tendencies.
Someone earlier mentioned Meyer's cookies and cream hybrid and I would second that if they're ordering chicks from Meyer. Mine is sweet as pie, always wants to be involved in whatever we're doing, does not care about being picked up, and a pretty decent layer of med white eggs. And they're so fun to look at! Being a cross there is a lot of variability in how they look, but crests, feathered legs, beards, muffs, and extra toes are all pretty common.
Wyandottes can be hit or miss. I've only had 2, my silver laced was not a lap chicken and she could sometimes be a bit of a bully with the other chickens. My current blue laced is super sweet and almost bottom of the pecking order. She doesn't like to be touched, but she does like to come hang out near me when I'm hanging out with the chickens.
My current favorite chicken is an olive egger. She is always coming to tell me the latest gossip! Obviously there are many ways to create olive egger so there's absolutely no guarantee on anything with them, but no matter the mix they are usually good layers.
Finally, buckeyes have been, in my experience, great friendly birds. My uncles even commented on how they came to the fence whenever they saw people.
Anything else? Is there a preference for egg color? What kind of climate (are we looking for cold hardy, heat hardy, cold winters and hot summers)? Do they plan to get chicks or started pullets? Hatchery, farm store, or breeder?
Salmon faverolles could be a good choice. They're usually very personable, and can be prone to bullying by more assertive breeds.
Easter eggers are a solid choice. Sometimes they can be flighty, but they can also be very personable. I have a picture of my oldest son holding an EE hen when he was about 3. She totally could have gotten away from him if she didn't want held.
Orpingtons are often very mellow birds. Mine was very sweet. Not a big fan of being held, but not flighty. If they really have an eye on production, orps do have an earned reputation for broody tendencies.
Someone earlier mentioned Meyer's cookies and cream hybrid and I would second that if they're ordering chicks from Meyer. Mine is sweet as pie, always wants to be involved in whatever we're doing, does not care about being picked up, and a pretty decent layer of med white eggs. And they're so fun to look at! Being a cross there is a lot of variability in how they look, but crests, feathered legs, beards, muffs, and extra toes are all pretty common.
Wyandottes can be hit or miss. I've only had 2, my silver laced was not a lap chicken and she could sometimes be a bit of a bully with the other chickens. My current blue laced is super sweet and almost bottom of the pecking order. She doesn't like to be touched, but she does like to come hang out near me when I'm hanging out with the chickens.
My current favorite chicken is an olive egger. She is always coming to tell me the latest gossip! Obviously there are many ways to create olive egger so there's absolutely no guarantee on anything with them, but no matter the mix they are usually good layers.
Finally, buckeyes have been, in my experience, great friendly birds. My uncles even commented on how they came to the fence whenever they saw people.
RIP Sofia and Natalya
