Are all Orpingtons friendly?

[SandyRiverChick]

For my personal statistics out of 90 chickens raised from 3 hatcheries = the only breeds I've had health issues with were not Orpingtons.

 

[ChasingChooks]

My Buff Orpington is super friendly - probably the friendliest in the flock. But that's just my experience with one Orpington.

 

[Esrun]

For my personal statistics out of 90 chickens raised from 3 hatcheries = the only breeds I've had health issues with were not Orpingtons.

This is nice to hear. We are still new(we) chicken owners. Which hatchery do you use?

 

[Esrun]

what specific breed might be a better option

Temperament is up to the individual bird.
Most Orpingtons are over bred to meet demand and lack many Orpington quality.
They're overhyped, imo. And most hatcheries have difficulty offering sexed chicks since they're so fluffy

for a family with children, small flock that can’t free range, and is docile in order to mix with my bantams?

 

[Esrun]

Literally anything else outside the 'wanna get chickens' Trio:
'Barred Rocks'
Silkies
Buff/Lavender Orps

All are overbred and have issues because of it.

I’m laughing bc I have two silIkies I was looking at Favorelles, too though! Aren’t they popular with newbs bc they’re so good temperament wise?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Plenty of docile breeds to pick from but as others have noted, every bird is an individual. Nothing wrong with Orps IMO, I'd get another if the feed store happened to get some at the right time this year, but doesn't look like that's in the cards for me.

I'm kind of favoring Marans now, they're fluffy and fairly calm but not pushovers, and you have a shot of getting darker eggs (if that's something you'd like).

I do have a Salmon Faverolles, she's very cute and docile however if noise ordinances would be an issue, it does seem that one out of every few Faverolles owners you ask will have a story about an extremely talkative Faverolles...

 

[nuthatched]

This is nice to hear. We are still new(we) chicken owners. Which hatchery do you use?

Any except hoovers

 

[Esrun]

Any except hoovers

I’m looking at McMurray, Ideal, or Cackle

 

[Insnesnakos]

I have three
Two are mostly friendly and nice but the third one jumps on top of the pullets and is very loud for no reason sometimes
So it really depends on the bird

 

[Leatherworker]

Are all varieties of Orpingtons friendly and docile? I realize all individuals are different but as a whole? I think the Lavender Orpingtons are so beautiful and we are looking at getting 3 with 3 Buffs.

Mine are extremely friendly. 3 out of 4 of my lavenders are always in my lap.