Any advice on deciding between these breeds?

[Rabes87]

Hello everyone. We are looking to order some chicks to add to our flock next year. We currently have 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 Silkies and 1 Salmon Faverolle. Everyone gets along well and we never see anyone getting picked on. They are extremely affectionate with us and our young children. We know that these breeds tend to be low on the pecking order, so we do not want to purchase any breeds that may pick on them.

We are looking to order a variety of 6 female chicks from the list below. I've done research about family friendly, affectionate breeds that are not aggressive to others or are low on the pecking order. We live in upstate New York so we need breeds that tolerate cold weather. We do not care about looks and egg production. Our main concern is how friendly they are with one another and with people. We have introduced chicken breeds before and with a slow integration the above breeds had no issues with one another. We are leaning towards another Salmon Faverolle (ours has the sweetest temperament), Cochin, Buff Orpingtons and Bielefelder.

If anyone has personal experience with any of these breeds, we'd greatly appreciate any input! Unfortunately we can't purchase sexed Silkies, and after our only experience with an extremely aggressive cockerel, we're hesitant to buy unsexed.

1. Ameracauna
2. Bielefelder
3. Black Australorp
4. Brahmas
5. Buff Orpington
6. Cochin
7. Salmon Faverolles
8. Wyandottes (Love the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, but heard they can be aggressive with other breeds?)

Thank you all in advance for any input you can provide!

 

[LavenderDaFlerf]

I recommend Australorps and brahmas, both are cold hardy and friendly. Orpingtons bully my others in the flock.

 

[RoosterWhisperer]

Hello everyone. We are looking to order some chicks to add to our flock next year. We currently have 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 Silkies and 1 Salmon Faverolle. Everyone gets along well and we never see anyone getting picked on. They are extremely affectionate with us and our young children. We know that these breeds tend to be low on the pecking order, so we do not want to purchase any breeds that may pick on them.

We are looking to order a variety of 6 female chicks from the list below. I've done research about family friendly, affectionate breeds that are not aggressive to others or are low on the pecking order. We live in upstate New York so we need breeds that tolerate cold weather. We do not care about looks and egg production. Our main concern is how friendly they are with one another and with people. We have introduced chicken breeds before and with a slow integration the above breeds had no issues with one another. We are leaning towards another Salmon Faverolle (ours has the sweetest temperament), Cochin, Buff Orpingtons and Bielefelder.

If anyone has personal experience with any of these breeds, we'd greatly appreciate any input! Unfortunately we can't purchase sexed Silkies, and after our only experience with an extremely aggressive cockerel, we're hesitant to buy unsexed.

1. Ameracauna
2. Bielefelder
3. Black Australorp
4. Brahmas
5. Buff Orpington
6. Cochin
7. Salmon Faverolles
8. Wyandottes (Love the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, but heard they can be aggressive with other breeds?)

Thank you all in advance for any input you can provide!

It sounds like a wonderful flock! Sounds like you've raised them well!

I do not recommend Cochins, or at least, not bantam. They are nothing but broody sitters.

Brahmas, Orpingtons, Black Australorps, and wyandottes are outstanding breeds!
We have never had any nasty hens of the breeds I named above, wyandottes live super long.
My sister has a blue laced red and a gold-laced, the gold-laced is the only pissy one.

Brahmas and buff orpingtons are like dogs, very sweet and gentle. All of our brahmas love to be lap sitters and be petted on.
But beware, they get heavy and can suffer from overweight related issues. I just lost my beautiful Buff girl named Boo to similar causes.

Hope this helps, feel free to ask me anything else!

 

[Wrangler4]

I have had Buff Orpington and Americana and both are friendly. I have never had an aggressive chicken only roosters. I handle them daily from day one and I think that helps. They all eat out of my hand and are not afraid of me at all. I presently have 7 different breeds of chickens and 4 different breeds of ducks. All play together nicely.

 

[Rabes87]

We have a mixed flock of 24, and have had no bullies emerge. Off of your list, we have Australorp (which have emerged as the most tolerant of all the breeds, they mix with everyone), and Wyandotte (who have been super friendly with people).
Our barred rocks are the most people friendly of my flock and wait for us to sit with them so they can jump up for a cuddle. I am in upstate NY also!
Wondering how your feathered feet have done in the snow/mud as I am interested in a Faverolle next year. Also curious of your thoughts on temperament of your SF & Speckled Sussex! (If you don’t mind!)

I'm glad to hear some positives about the Wynadottes! We ended up ordering 2 Bielefelders, 1 Buff Orpington, 2 Blue Cochins and 1 Salmon Faverolle for this year to add to our flock. We want to order them in small quantities in order to have more time to socialize each chick. I think in the future we'll try to add Wyandottes, Australorps and Brahmas to our flock. I'm also going to look into barred rocks as well - how are they with other breeds if you don't mind me asking?

I cannot recommend a Salmon Faverolle enough. Our Salmon Faverolle, Sparky, is the most docile chicken I've ever met. She loves to be with people and will follow us around, always curious as to what we are doing. She is almost comical. I have never seen her peck another chicken, which may be a problem if a SF is ever put with a more dominant breed (luckily it sounds like you have a very nice flock that has no bullies). She has also never pecked us either. She's been doing great in the snow, although none of our girls will probably come out the next few days with the snowstorm headed our way. Stay safe and warm!

We purchased our Speckled Sussex when they were about 4.5 months old. They aren't as socialized as our other girls, but over time they have become extremely sweet and friendly. They are ones that I have never seen bully, but will peck back if someone pecks them enough times. They never instigate though. We had a Speckled Sussex pullet that we lost a few months ago, and she was a sweetheart. We carried her everywhere and she was a lap chicken. I find this breed to be stunning with their contrast in coloring. Again, a wonderful breed that I would easily purchase again. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions

 

[Rabes87]

I haven't had Brahmas, but I've had all the rest of those breeds. Wyandottes will bully,

Thank you! I really like the look of the Blue-Laced Red Wyandottes, but if they will bully our other chickens we'll choose a different breed. I appreciate your input!

 

[LabMomma]

Hello everyone. We are looking to order some chicks to add to our flock next year. We currently have 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 Silkies and 1 Salmon Faverolle. Everyone gets along well and we never see anyone getting picked on. They are extremely affectionate with us and our young children. We know that these breeds tend to be low on the pecking order, so we do not want to purchase any breeds that may pick on them.

We are looking to order a variety of 6 female chicks from the list below. I've done research about family friendly, affectionate breeds that are not aggressive to others or are low on the pecking order. We live in upstate New York so we need breeds that tolerate cold weather. We do not care about looks and egg production. Our main concern is how friendly they are with one another and with people. We have introduced chicken breeds before and with a slow integration the above breeds had no issues with one another. We are leaning towards another Salmon Faverolle (ours has the sweetest temperament), Cochin, Buff Orpingtons and Bielefelder.

If anyone has personal experience with any of these breeds, we'd greatly appreciate any input! Unfortunately we can't purchase sexed Silkies, and after our only experience with an extremely aggressive cockerel, we're hesitant to buy unsexed.

1. Ameracauna
2. Bielefelder
3. Black Australorp
4. Brahmas
5. Buff Orpington
6. Cochin
7. Salmon Faverolles
8. Wyandottes (Love the Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, but heard they can be aggressive with other breeds?)

Thank you all in advance for any input you can provide!

I would most definitely say get an Australorp! They are so sweet! I have two hens and rooster that are Australorps and they very quiet and calm. They get along amazingly with the other chickens too!

 

[LavenderDaFlerf]

Americanas have always been skittish for me, like can't get within 6 feet skittish.

 

[JedJackson]

There are really no guarantees with any breed because temperament has as much to do with the individual as the breed. I've heard of mean, bullying individuals of all of those you listed, except maybe Faverolles. But since your birds are older and part of an established flock, I think you should be pretty safe with any of those breeds.

Another to consider is Brahma bantams. They are the largest bantam breed and are good layers, but don't eat you out of house and home like the large ones do.

 

[Tervuren]

I have a Bielefelder (Nettie) and she is big, but at the very bottom of the pecking order. She is very laid back and good with other chickens. My Legbar had crop surgery a few months ago, and Nettie was her 'eating coach.' She was great at getting her flockmate to eat up, cuddled up to her at night in the hospital pen in the garage, and never tried to take advantage to move up in the hierarchy. She's a lap chicken, but isn't super fond of being handled. That said she still doesn't put up a huge fuss considering her size. I would highly reccomend a Bielefelder! Also, they're autosexing, so you can't get an accidental boy. I also have an Australorp (Amelia), she's not quite as sweet as Nettie, but she causes no drama in the flock, and likes to follow me around. She is also easy to handle.
Both Amelia and Nettie are handling the current frigid weather here well. It's getting down to the coldest so far tonight (2F). I'm worried, but Nettie, especially, seems quite comfy.