Brahma? Sussex? Which is better?

[AccidentalFarm]

I've got Brahmas (Light/Dark/Buff/White/Black), Speckled Sussex, and Cochins (Buff/Blue/Gold Laced/Silver Laced) and a few other breeds.

The SS are all stand-offish birds.

The Dark Brahmas are very friendly, inquisitive, and beautiful. The other Brahmas are ok as far as friendliness and don't startle easily.

The Gold Laced Cochins are wonderfully friendly, even the roo. Very beautiful, tame, sweethearts. The rest of the Cochins are decent, not too friendly, not too skittish. All are very pretty.

I have some young Cream Brabanter's that are just wildly pretty birds. They are a little goofy right now, but friendly. I don't currently have any adults (had a few briefly, lost to a predator), but they lay a nice sized white egg pretty regularly. Overall, these are among my favorite of all the breeds for their looks, temperament, and egg laying. They are a medium to large sized bird full grown. There is not much info to be found on this breed as they fairly uncommon, but one of the mods (allenwranch) has some and would probably be glad to post a pic or answer any questions if you are interested. I got a few of her Brabanters a while back and they were beautiful. She also has Gold Brabanters. I'll be getting some of them from her also pretty soon. Very nice birds.

The best all around bird, hands-down though, IMO is the Buff Orpington-hen and roo. They're absolute snuggle butts, almost to the point of annoyance. Wonderful layers that are not totally opposed to going broody. And pretty, pretty, pretty! Not a small bird, though. I don't know if there are bantam B.O.'s. But if you want a lap bird, this is your breed.

Polish are also smallish sized birds, lay a nice sized white egg pretty regularly and are friendly and fun to look at! Lots of folks think they are a skittish bird, but if the top-hat gets too long, their sight becomes limited, hence the skittishness. All of mine (White Crested Black) have been very sweet, friendly girls.

As far as bantam eggs..I believe I've read that it is about 3 bantam eggs to one large or x-large from the store. I've never seen a bantam egg myself.

 

[featherfooted]

I really love my Brahmas. They are alot calmer and quieter than my Speckled Sussex. My Sussex are alittle flighty. The Brahmas are very sweet. My Sussex seem like they are always in a hurry, while the Brahmas just sort take everything at a easy pace.

 

[speckledhen]

And that is why I say there are individual differences as well as general breed characteristics. My Sussex chicks were very flightly, but the pullet I kept is really sweet as she gets close to laying age. My Buff Brahma girl is till very flightly, even at over 27 weeks old, in spite of my efforts. My Delawares were dubbed "the Vampire Chicks" because they plucked all the Sussex in a space of two hours, earning them exile in a dog kennel. Most say their Delawares are sweet, but not a one of mine.

 

[arwmommy]

I got Brahma's and Cochins (all bantams) due to the overwhelming number of people on this board who loved their friendly Brahmas..............and I have to say, the Cochins are MUCH MUCH friendlier! All of the chicks were held many times each day, held by me and by the kids, and the Brahmas were friendly once they were in your arms, but they did not want to be caught. The Cochins on the other hand, would walk up and JUMP into our laps, and when my children went to get them, would just relax into their arms--- no running away - they WANTED to be held!

One of my Brahma's ended up being a roo, and we couldn't find a home for him for weeks. We finally offered up the Brahma girls with him, to make a trio and found them a home. The kids weren't even very sad because they just want more of the Cochins!!!!

Here is a photo of my 4 year old with the Cochin babies in the Free Range House (former doghouse, obviously!, that is now just used by them when they are out and want some shade or water!). She is holding them and reading books to them (see book on ground!). They actually fell asleep in her lap after this was taken. They are sweeties to say the least!

I have also ONLY heard wonderful things about Buff Orpingtons, and am interested in getting some of those at some time! Good luck!

 

[AccidentalFarm]

What a sweet picture!

 

[arwmommy]

Thanks! We call her the "Chicken Mauler" because she is all over them! They love it, and when they are done with her they let her know and she *tries* to leave them alone for a few minutes!

But they hang out together for a lot of the day--- it is great. We never thought she would be so Chicken Crazy, but she is! Even the books she picks out at the library are about poultry-- check out the Duck book she is reading to them-- and the "picnic blanket" !

 

[pattycake]

I have a couple of speckled sussex, and I think they're fine birds. But mine are the least friendly of all my birds, and the best at escaping my grabbing hands. (They might be smarter than the others.) They're the only ones who won't occasionally perch on my shoulder.

 

[peepsnbunnies]

ARWMOMMY - That has to be the most adorable picture I have ever seen! Such a beautiful little girl and the chicks look so calm too. I just LOVE it!

Lisa

 

[EmsoffLambs]

I have a bunch of light brahmas and I really like them. I wouldn't say they are friendly (but I didn't try to make them friendly), but they aren't all that skittish. Never had cochins, so I don't know a lot about them. But I know McMurray says the brahmas are bigger than the chochins. Brahmas get quite large for chickens. One of the biggest breeds actually.

Both brahmas and cochins come in bantams, which will be much smaller than their full sized compadres.

 

[Thefamilyroom]

I'm looking to start a small backyard flock but I don't know what type of chicken to get! I've heard so many different things about different breeds from breeds descriptions online but I'm looking for some personal experience from some forum members. I'm looking for something very friendly, egg laying is a plus but not the most important thing, and I'm certainly not going to eat them! lol.

I've heard that Brahma's make good pets, but I've also heard that the Speckled sussex is a good bird too. I live in the city so I'm trying to find something that also isn't too big, so bantams are probably where I'll head, however, I've also been under the impression that bantams are really flighty and wild. I want something that wants to hang out with me and likes pets.

Any ideas?

I think what’s not being said here is that Brahmas are the second largest bird. Sussex are probably smaller under all the fluff