Well, I have to disagree about the Barred Rocks. We researched breeds before diving into chickens and selected Barred Rocks especially for their more gentle disposition.
I know that some may have other experiences but our first two flocks we're entirely made up of Barred Rocks. I found them to be gentle with me, which was important because I had never been exposed to raising chickens and was quite tenative about reaching into an occupied box to check for an egg. (The first time I did, I talked to the hen & asked her if I could please check to see if she had an egg. When she stood up, she just watched me slowly reach toward her and practically turned herself upside down looking to see what I was doing.) It is also true that the only hen that ever bit me (repeatedly & hard) was a Barred Rock. She was one of my last Barred Rock girls & just didn't like to be touched. It took me 3 years of working with her to get her to politely exit a box with eggs & I just learned not to fuss with her. I'd have her back in a nano second, as I would with any of my past hens (and roos, for that matter!)
Just like people, you will find different personalities with your chickens. Some will be saucier than others, some will be docile, some standoffish, some smart, some oblivious, some flighty, some moody and everything in between.
It's sometimes about how you raise them that helps to bring out their best temperment traits, too. No matter the flock, you're going to enjoy discovering the different aspects of your flock. And yourself.
One of the things I've come to understand about myself is that without a little chicken time each day, I am a cranky person. There's not much that can't be made better by a little chicken tv!
