Bielefelders, SS, Dorkings, Australorps, BJG?

[thatchickenmama]

What breed is similar to Barred Plymouth rocks or Sapphire gems but likes to cuddle more and is of different color? Or is unique, loving and awesome in their own way?

We raise our girls as pets first and give them healthy feed and treats, and they come forage around us, come perch on our chairs and look at us, and overall get along pretty well. We love to spend time with them and sit in the backyard with them, watching them forage, and having them come up and talk to us.

What has your experience been with any of these breeds?

We raised our current flock of four girls from chicks, and they are about a year old now.

We live in a neighborhood and want overall quiet, friendly, sweet hens. Autosexing or sexing at hatch would help as we cannot have roosters in the city where we live, but are open to breeds that can be sexed by other ways as chicks too.

We prefer clean legs just for ease of maintenance. We currently have 2 BR, 1 Sapphire gem, and 1 Sapphire Olive Egger. All but one of the BR will come to perch, but that one BR makes me laugh, she is sassy and hilarious. The Sapphire gem is super sweet, but doesn’t like to cuddle much (she is the best forager and an amazing layer! No complaints with her). The olive egger comes around to perch, but doesn’t like to be petted and is a bit loud in the mornings (as soon as we feed them they calm down, and now that it’s not so hot I think they are relaxing and feeling much better). They do a pretty good job of staying alert to predators and are smart, which we love that they communicate. We plan on raising the two more from chicks and introducing them to the flock as adults. We’re on about a half acre.

TIA!

 

[Tookie]

You might like Buff Orpingtons, consider looking into them.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Dorkings! I love them so much! They are the biggest, fattest, most docile girls, and the biggest cuddlers! I would not call them similar to Barred Rocks necessarily, as they aren't as bold and forward in my experience, but if I sit out in my chicken yard, I usually have a Dork or two mosey over and either lean against me for pets or hop into my lap for a good cuddle. My avatar picture is of my favorite hen, Elda, rest her sweet soul, having a cuddle with me. The Silver Grays can usually be sexed at hatch by their eye stripes, though you may want to double-check with whomever you get them from that this is a viable means of sexing them as it can become unreliable if it's not selected for. They can easily be sexed by 3-4 weeks by how their chests are feathering in, though, so you don't have to wait terribly long to be sure.

I have only had one Bielefelder, but I also loved her a lot. She was very docile and cuddly as well, and possibly a bit quieter than the Dorkings are. Bielefelders are an autosexing breed so should also be sexable at hatch.

As for the rest in the title, I only ever had one Australorp many, many years ago and I don't remember her being very remarkable. I had a couple Speckled Sussex (I assume that's what SS is) more recently, and I didn't find them to be very cuddly, more outgoing and curious than anything. Not shy by any stretch, but not ones to hop in my lap like the Dorkings and Bielefelder. I have never owned Jersey Giants, so cannot comment on their temperaments. None of these breeds are autosexing, however.

 

[thatchickenmama]

Dorkings! I love them so much! They are the biggest, fattest, most docile girls, and the biggest cuddlers! I would not call them similar to Barred Rocks necessarily, as they aren't as bold and forward in my experience, but if I sit out in my chicken yard, I usually have a Dork or two mosey over and either lean against me for pets or hop into my lap for a good cuddle. My avatar picture is of my favorite hen, Elda, rest her sweet soul, having a cuddle with me. The Silver Grays can usually be sexed at hatch by their eye stripes, though you may want to double-check with whomever you get them from that this is a viable means of sexing them as it can become unreliable if it's not selected for. They can easily be sexed by 3-4 weeks by how their chests are feathering in, though, so you don't have to wait terribly long to be sure.

I have only had one Bielefelder, but I also loved her a lot. She was very docile and cuddly as well, and possibly a bit quieter than the Dorkings are. Bielefelders are an autosexing breed so should also be sexable at hatch.

As for the rest in the title, I only ever had one Australorp many, many years ago and I don't remember her being very remarkable. I had a couple Speckled Sussex (I assume that's what SS is) more recently, and I didn't find them to be very cuddly, more outgoing and curious than anything. Not shy by any stretch, but not ones to hop in my lap like the Dorkings and Bielefelder. I have never owned Jersey Giants, so cannot comment on their temperaments. None of these breeds are autosexing, however.

Wow! This is so helpful, thank you!

You were correct, I was referring to the speckled Sussex.

I knew there was a reason I liked what I’ve read about Dorkings and Bielefelders! They might be just what I’m looking for, aside from the Sussex. Sounds like the former two breeds are cuddlier! It’s great to hear that the silver greys might be autosexing as well, after I talk to the breeders. Thank you!!

 

[BlueBaby]

I love my Bielefelder's! My girl's and boy's always come gather at my feet when I go out there to the coop to check for egg's. There are a couple of the girls that will tap me on the back of my leg to get a pet from me. It's not a peck because it doesn't hurt. I have 2 of them that are currently broody, but you can take the real egg's from under them without getting pecked. The boy's don't like to be touched so when you try they move away. Yes, these are an auto-sexing breed at hatch, so it's easy to know the boy's from the girl's at hatch. My lead rooster didn't start crowing until about 5 month's old.

 

[thatchickenmama]

You might like Buff Orpingtons, consider looking into them.

You might like Buff Orpingtons, consider looking int

You might like Buff Orpingtons, consider looking into them.

Sorry about the glitch, not sure how to fix it. Thank you, some have mentioned those birds. They just don’t seem to excite me at all. I’ve heard they are lazy, and prone to getting ants. We keep their coop and run pretty clean. I guess I seem to like more active birds? I could be wrong but they just don’t call to me are all. The lavender or chocolate orps, if they’re the right fit maybe, but we already have two grey girls.