Now just to clarifiy, I've had chickens my whole life but I've never really been into them. While my dad had chickens I've had ducks and goats. I'm sort of terrified of Roosters but that's probably just because we had two horrible ones that would attack me. We always have Barred Rock's and earlier this year we had some and some Rhode Island red's too but a weasel attacked and killed all but one so we ended up giving it to a nearby farm in hopes of keeping it alive. I'm interested in chickens now that I've built up my self esteem with poultry and I've been especially interested in Orpingtons for their laying and I love how they look kind of chunky. I also really like the look of Cochin Bantams but more just for the pet aspect since they're so pretty looking and I love the furry feet. Any suggestions? Thanks!
My black sex links and Golden Comets are very friendly and pretty. They are too young to start laying yet but they are supposed to be great layers. I have a freind who has a Cochin and she said the feathered feet get dirty and attract mites. She suggested I stay away from them. Just my two cents.
My wyandotte is suppose to be a good layer and is extremely friendly. My one EE is also extremely friendly and she, too, is suppose to be a good layer. I have a standard Cochin that I adore, but I heard their eggs are on the smaller side? I like her so much, I'm breeding her when the roo across the street grows up and keeping her babies! She is a frizzle and so beautiful!
Only 2 of my 11 EE are very friendly;1 is especially a pet like a pirates parrot! She flies up me to land on my arm, then so I put her on my shoulder; or if I'm leaning over doing shores ahd leaves her flock to find me and lands on my back. A very weet bird. I let her perch on the back of a chair in the kitchen while I cook. 4 out of 4 buff orpingtons are somewhat friendly. The speckled sussex were friendly as chicks, sitting on the lap of my children; they are the first to come visit and tolerate being picked up. SLW, RIR, Blk sexlinks crowd around for food but NOT to be touched; hamburg--can't get with in10-15 feet. It depends on breed, breeding and handling. GL
I am a bigger fan of other breeds but Buff Orpingtons all the way. They are the kindest, and most gentle with children so they are very tolerant. I have two and I do adore them. I like variety so I wouldn't have a whole flock of them but there are folks on here who do and they shout their praises from the rooftops.
Oh yeah, my speckled Sussex is so sweet to us and the other chicks. Even though she is a baby herself, she let's the others smaller then her under her wing. My next round, I'm getting more then just one speckled sussex in my flock. I love the SS's to pieces!
Buff Are The Best To Me. I Have Buff's And Also Black Austrolpes, The Lady I Bought Them From Said They Are The Best Layers And The Most Kid Friendly...........
Gotta add to the pile...of my four breeds, my Buffs are the friendliest. Can't speak to laying yet, though. I'm so taken with them, that, in some mythical future when I want more chickens (I have parallel universe chicken math right now: I wish I had fewer), I am going to try to get some black and lav Orps.
Buff Orphingtons, Buff Orphintons, BUFF ORPHINGTONS! I also would recommend Polish. Though they're not reliable with laying, they are very sweet and I've had a Black crested lay almost every day.
I like Rhode Island Reds. I had (predators got them) four of them and got at least 3 eggs a day. They aren't as friendly as the Buff Orpingtons, which I have now, but they are not old enough to lay yet so I don't know how well they lay. I have also read here that they can become broody too. Good luck and above all enjoy your chicks and have FUN!!
