Best pet breed for backyard - 2-3 hens? Faverolles, Australorps?

[flipflops]

My husband and I would like 2-3 hens for a backyard coop. We don't have kids, but want something that is sweet, gentle, likes to be handled. We have researched the Faverolles and Australorps, what are opinions on these and any other better recommendations?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Are you looking for good egg production?

 

[flipflops]

Eggs are great with us but disposition is most important to us.

 

[andreanar]

I have 2 Faverolles and they are sweet as pie! Cochin, Easter Eggers, Brahma also have been calm and sweet.

 

[flipflops]

Andreanar do you have yours mixed with others? I'm thinking about a Faverolle, buff brahma and still deciding on a 3rd

 

[MageofMist]

Silkies are a good type of chicken, very docile, sweet and also quite interesting to look at. I have a small growing flock of silkies that are very friendly and easy to handle, 2 of which I brought, and 10 of which I am raising. Got 5 3 month olds that I raised from pretty much day 1 and 5 1 week olds, the 1 week olds also being reared by their broody mum.

They are very prone to broodiness which impacts egg production, but when she isn't brooding, she usually lays an egg every day which is pretty good for her breed.

 

[Ketty Ash]

My husband and I would like 2-3 hens for a backyard coop. We don't have kids, but want something that is sweet, gentle, likes to be handled. We have researched the Faverolles and Australorps, what are opinions on these and any other better recommendations?

. We have a few Australorps that are very friendly, and beautiful. They are good layers, as well.

 

[flipflops]

Ok another question....are the brahmas huge? In pictures it looks like some are a lot bigger than most standard sizes!?

 

[andreanar]

I have a mixed flock. I have 2 salmon faverolles, 1 buff brahma, 3 Easter eggers, 1 cream legbar, 1 black australorp, and 1 black Cochin and 1 silver wyandotte. Brahma do get big, but they seem quiet and docile

 

[flipflops]

I worry the brahma might not be happy in a small backyard coop? We plan to eventually fence our entire backyard but for awhile they will need to be in a coop/run only.