BEST BREEDS FOR SMALL BACKYARD FLOCK AS PETS

[nomoneycanrepla]

We are looking for a girl that has bantam version, very docile/gentle, and can deal with extreme Southern California heat. They will have shade, but I don't want them too hot. NOT for meat, and egg-laying isn't important.

 

[Blackberry18]

My top picks as for personality are Plymouth Rocks, Leghorns, and Sex-Links (Black or Red). All are docile, sweet, and friendly. They are also heat-hardy, basically just hardy in general. I've also heard Hamburgs and Transylvania Naked Neck (Turken) are also heat-hardy, birds in the Mediterranean class, too. Those would be well, but my other top three are easiest to obtain.

 

[XxMingirlxX]

There are many bantams to choose from so I have listed some that sound suitable and their breed review pages. Hope this helps

The Appenzeller Spitzhauben is a very pretty birds with a crest, the aren't very thickly feathered so would be suitable to your heat. They lay bantam sized white eggs but they can be quite flightly and timid but it varies from hen to hen. Review page link : https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/appenzeller-spitzhauben

Bantam Cochins are again very popular bantams but I have never had them myself so I can't attest to them myself but they are known for being very docile. The only problem I could foresee is that they are very fluffy so it might be too hot for them but I think if you had shade they should be fine. Review page link : https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/bantam-cochin

Polish are also very popular. They have a large crest/hairdo and lay small to medium sized cream eggs. They aren't thickly feathered so should be able to deal with the heat, again though they can be quite timid by it varies. Both the ones I had were quite mad and always wanted to be held and had tons of personality. Review page link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/polish

Seabrights are very pretty birds but I have never had them myself so I can't really comment. Review page link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/sebright

Silkies are very fluffy chickens and are known for being very docile and huggable but I'm not sure how they would do with heat. They frequently go broodie. I have never had them though. Review page link :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/silkie

 

[XxMingirlxX]

My top picks as for personality are Plymouth Rocks, Leghorns, and Sex-Links (Black or Red). All are docile, sweet, and friendly. They are also heat-hardy, basically just hardy in general. I've also heard Hamburgs and Transylvania Naked Neck (Turken) are also heat-hardy, birds in the Mediterranean class, too. Those would be well, but my other top three are easiest to obtain.  

I agree, leghorns and sexlinks are great layers and quite docile (but leghorns can be quite flighty). However they don't have bantam forms that I am aware of however leghorns are light fowl.

 

[Varglet]

I don't know what the temps get to in So Cal, but here in Central/Eastern Oregon our summers stay in the 90-100+ range most of the time. If I feel my birds might be getting to hot, I have ice bottles in the freezer that I put in the pen and coop, but I've never really seen them using the bottles.

Of the breeds I've had personally, bantam Cochins, Silkies, Sebrights, d'Uccles, and bantam Sumatras are very friendly, and mine are not flighty at all. Extremely docile, you can handle them however you like and they don't fuss at all. Love trying to hop up in your lap, or even on your shoulder.

They also do well in winter here, which stays under 30 for the most part.

 

[Blackberry18]

I agree, leghorns and sexlinks are great layers and quite docile (but leghorns can be quite flighty). However they don't have bantam forms that I am aware of however leghorns are light fowl.

Leghorns and Plymouth Rocks do have bantam versions. I'm not sure about Sex-Links, they are a formal mixed breed, and are not in the Standard of Perfection.

 

[JaceAgain]

Silkies are awesome, my daughter carries ours around