Best "Pet" Breeds

[BlossomSilkies]

Silkies are very sweet, and I think tend to be so tame because we are so drawn to holding them all their lives. I also have an Ameraucana pullet that I got at about 13 weeks old, that during her quarantine time, I had her inside and had her sit with me a lot. It's a few weeks later now since she has been in with the flock and she still runs to me and will sit with me out there. She came from a home with 100's of chickens and was in no way treated as a pet, there were just too many. She is very sweet and very tame.

I guess what I'm saying is maybe a lot of "tameness" and "Pet-ness" is conditioning them to be that way.

 

[brandoncakes]

Quote:
x2. Cochins are another sweet breed. Our cochin rooster slept with us in our bed!!! It was pretty messy, but as a chick he slept with us.

 

[nurse_turtle]

Consider a Dominique hen.

 

[the left wing]

Even though you arent considering this one, Seramas are very affiliative-- they really seem to seek us out to play, easily caught out in the yard, and stay close to the barn yard instead of wandering

 

[MrViskers]

i'd say Plymouth Rocks they are very friendly..

 

[ChobeeChickenMommy]

I have 4 EE's & 3 Silkies... My EE's are flighty & won't let me hold them & refuse to come to me for treats, while me Silkies (which I just got yesterday) already love me & my older two sons and let them both pet them!

 

[rottiesrme51]

I like rhode island reds and comets. I raised mine from babies> held them, let them walk on me and to this day if I sit outside where they are they will still climb on me, sit on my legs, arms, shoulders and even head. I have two particular that love to be held.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I have Brahmas, there not aggressive at all. Calm breed, but there not a breed that's going to stand there and let you pick it up, like my Silkies will.

 

[cottagechick]

Quote:
It is really funny because I only have EE, and silkies that are two weeks old, and I know their behavior changes drastically as they age, but several times I have had the ee asleep on her back on my lap or in my hands. I can't get the silkies to do that.

As far as the Seramas. I haven't had one...YET, but I am told that they are breed specifically for personality.

 

[Blue]

I had a silkie rooster who was very flighty and...well, paranoid is the best descriptor I can come up with at the moment. He freaked out very easily and didn't like to be messed with at all. On the other hand, I have a black Ameraucana/EE hen that is an absolute doll; she's just a big begger. Every time I go to the feed barrel and she's out free ranging, she'll fly up and sit on the side waiting for a handout. She's also tame enough that she'll tolerate being carried around for ages and ages. lol! My buff Orp. hens will come up for treats, but they don't really like being touched. I've never had Brahmas.

Have you considered cochins or old English game bantams (OEGB)? I have a bantam cochin hen who is very tame, and OEGB hens can be real sweethearts as well.