Buff Orpington or Ameraucana?

[Lilly Cohn]

I want to get 4 chicks next week. The only breeds available are Buff Orpington and Ameraucana. I would prefer docile, dare I say even 'friendly' breeds that are less likely to go broody. Which of these two breeds do you recommend? I will be brooding them with 2 baby ducklings so temperament is very important. Ideally i would love to get two of each but I understand that might not be possible.

 

[Michael OShay]

I've raised both breeds over the past few decades and in my personal experience Buff Orpingtons are generally the friendlier and more gentle breed, but they are more likely to go broody than the Ameraucanas/Easter Eggers. My children and granddaughter (pictured in my avatar) easily made lap pets of our Buff Orps but the Ameraucanas/EEs were more challenging. They tended to be more skittish than our BOs, and while they were generally docile and tolerated being handled, they never really liked it. I'm sure you will get differing opinions, but between the two of them, I personally would go with the Buff Orpingtons.

 

[12 gauge]

go with the buffs

 

[Trucker19]

I would go with the buff orpingtons, are to crazy for me

.

 

[donrae]

Get two of each!

 

[Journey classen]

I want to get 4 chicks next week. The only breeds available are Buff Orpington and Ameraucana. I would prefer docile, dare I say even 'friendly' breeds that are less likely to go broody. Which of these two breeds do you recommend? I will be brooding them with 2 baby ducklings so temperament is very important. Ideally i would love to get two of each but I understand that might not be possible.

The ameraucana is a sweet breed but the ameraucana is not Brody.
The buff Orpington are a great breed as well and the buffs hens are Brody.

 

[IvyBeans]

I agree with donrae. Get two of each!

 

[David61]

Buffs, my Americanas are a little more high strung than my buffs.

 

[SourRoses]

It's a little late, since this was posted 8 years ago

But I have both, and find both sweet. Both likely to go broody.