Best "Pet" Breeds

[I-Have-Happy-Hens]

I have all of the breeds you listed. A total

based on my experience. I think Silkie are #1 then BA#2 EE#3 brahama #4

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

My Black Australorps are wonderful pets, good moms, and great layers. Of the breeds you mentioned, that would be my first pick. In the flock, they tend to be a little bossy, but they the first ones to run to me when the door opens, and they stick by my side when I'm gardening. They let my kids paint their toenails with sidewalk chalk. Need I say more?

 

[Hedera]

Silkies or Mille Fleurs are my faves. Also turkens but not everyone likes their looks

 

[GoChick]

Quote:
X2 My EE is a SPAZ. Doesn't like to be picked up. I have to chase her around and get over the top of her to get her to squat and then quickly nab her. And even then, she's fisty and flighty.

My Buff Orpington is my FAVORITE. She's docile, sweet as pie, comes running when I call her name, and when I hold out my hands like I'm going to pick her up, she just walks between my hands. Loves to lay in my lap and nibble at my hair and will wrap her neck around mine and give me hugs.

As far as a pet breed, you really should consider an Orpington.

Agree. I have Brahmas, Australorps, EEs, BOs, Plymouths, Faverolles, Hamburg (that's a flighty one...), New Hamphires, Wyandottes. Most are sweet, but the BO and the Australorp are pets, even though I DIDN'T WANT pet chickens!!! check out my story with the BO here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=569940

copied/pasted:

I've never brought a chicken inside the house, and I don't really keep chickens as pets, but one of my BOs and one of my Australorps don't accept that. They want to be picked up and fight over who's gonna get on my lap first.

Well...
Today I was working from home, in my office, on the second floor, when my BO showed up for a visit!!!

The basement door was open, so she walked right in, must have jumped over one of my dogs who was lying by the stairs, then climbed up one floor to the living room, and one more floor to get to me!!! And she was pretty upset when I took her back outside ... (chickens are not allowed in the house).

I guess I do have a pet chicken after all...

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

Quote:
X2 My EE is a SPAZ. Doesn't like to be picked up. I have to chase her around and get over the top of her to get her to squat and then quickly nab her. And even then, she's fisty and flighty.

My Buff Orpington is my FAVORITE. She's docile, sweet as pie, comes running when I call her name, and when I hold out my hands like I'm going to pick her up, she just walks between my hands. Loves to lay in my lap and nibble at my hair and will wrap her neck around mine and give me hugs.

As far as a pet breed, you really should consider an Orpington.

Agree. I have Brahmas, Australorps, EEs, BOs, Plymouths, Faverolles, Hamburg (that's a flighty one...), New Hamphires, Wyandottes. Most are sweet, but the BO and the Australorp are pets, even though I DIDN'T WANT pet chickens!!! check out my story with the BO here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=569940

copied/pasted:

I've never brought a chicken inside the house, and I don't really keep chickens as pets, but one of my BOs and one of my Australorps don't accept that. They want to be picked up and fight over who's gonna get on my lap first.

Well...
Today I was working from home, in my office, on the second floor, when my BO showed up for a visit!!!

The basement door was open, so she walked right in, must have jumped over one of my dogs who was lying by the stairs, then climbed up one floor to the living room, and one more floor to get to me!!! And she was pretty upset when I took her back outside ... (chickens are not allowed in the house).

I guess I do have a pet chicken after all...

HaHaHa!!! I have Buff Orps too, and they do the same thing!

 

[Summer98]

The Australorp sounds like a good one. Neat picture. The fact that kids can hold it and paint the toenails--that has me sold! I will definitely get some Silkies too, since everyone agrees they are a good one. I'm a little bit undecided about how many Easter Eggers I want now. I suspect that the way they are handled will affect their tameness (the whole nature vs nurture thing). I am going to be getting them as day old chicks and raising them up, so I hope that helps. I like the fact that they can lay colored eggs. I think I'm going to try one Orpington now too. My next question is, of these five breeds, which is the best egg layer? (EE, silkies, brahma, australorp, orpington) Share any pictures if you have any to share.

 

[navychick]

We got 12, day old chicks (3BO, 3EE, 3BR and 3 SLW) and handle them daily. They are all friendly. But as they get older it is more difficult to give each of them individual attention which makes me feel kinda bad. Just a thought.

 

[KaitlynChick55]

I have many different breeds of chickens, but the most cuddliest is my silkie roo. I gotta chase him a little bit to pick him up because he'd rather be lookin at the ladies (even thou they're 2x the size he is

), but he settles down real quickly, and lets me carry him around everywhere for forever

.

 

[Nambroth]

You will get a billion different answers to this, because frankly-- each chicken is an individual, and some more than others!

(My australorp that I handled every day from day 1 is not friendly, but I don't judge the entire breed that way)

 

[Folly's place]

Consider Sussex! My speckled Sussex are the most people friendly birds ever. Mary