Chicken Breed temperaments – Selection Help

[WoodlandWoman]

From your list, the only breeds I've heard of having more than the average amount of issues with other chickens are Delawares, Wyandottes and EEs. My impression is that it isn't most of them, but more than the occasional bird. Maybe it's the particular strain. In cases like that, I don't think they're usually mean to their owners, just their coop mates. That's the way our EEs were. I guess I would be a little more cautious about those and check into them a little more, including where people got theirs.

Orpington's are usually lovely birds. Plymouth rocks, Faverolles and Dorkings are also very nice birds, in addition to the others on your list.

Good handling helps, good breeding helps, both together is fantastic. I think it also helps to talk soothingly to them. Mine have always seemed to really enjoy that, even the ones that weren't big lap chickens. Chickens talk to each other a lot naturally, so I think they like it when we talk to them, too.

I guess I missed the part about reducing the list. Does this mean I shouldn't have suggested more really nice breeds???

 

[featherfooted]

I have Brahmas, Cochins and Speckled Sussex. Of the 3, I like my Brahmas the best. They are very calm, sweet, friendly and are the Quietest of the 3. They are good layers of a nice size egg. Next I like my Cochins. They are also sweet, friendly and calm but are not as quiet as the Brahmas. They also go broody alot and make great mothers. Good layers when not broody of a medium sized egg. The Sussex are not as friendly as the other and don't like to be touched. Mine seem to be more demanding at treat time than the others and can be loud at times. I might like them better if they would start laying.

Georgia

 

[SisterFlash]

WOW

thanks all for sharing the great experineces. Now I am concered about the temperment of Delaware's. I thougth they were mellow birds.

So if you got some chickens that came from a hatachery that well did not meet the breed in type or temperment I would like to know more. Experiences?

Keep the great suggestions coming for my future flock. I do want a nice mellow group of girls.

thanks again for all your help and comments wonder info. Please keep it coming.

Barb

 

[Kelly FG]

BO
EE
SLW
Black Australorp

I have these breeds out of the ones on your list

two BO's(Marguerite & Sunny) & they are great layers of big light brown eggs-even in the winter. they are docile & very affectionate-both total lap chickens. They are very smart, they know their names & they "hug", jump for food & jump up on my shoulders if I squat down. One of my BO's has gone broody.

EE(Genevieve & Penelope)-I have two of these as well, one is afraid of everything, she is small & pretty-a good layer of bluish-green eggs. She will let me hold her but overall she's shy.
The other is much bigger more friendly, she can fly across the yard if she wants to, she has gone broody & also likes to make her own nest spot. She lays big green eggs.

My SLW (Filomena)died over the summer

& I still miss her terribly. She was not a great layer, her eggs were very pointy and very pale pink. Her feathers were beautiful, she was moderatly friendly to humans but very bossy to the rest of the flock, she was a food & roost bully.

My Black Australorp(Daphne) is my top hen(we don't have a roo), she is smaller than most BA's I think. She is an average layer, she sings all the time. She loves to snuggle with me, she knows her name and she leads the flock. She also likes to go in the car & she'll let me carry her around for hours.

I got my girls from Mc Murray in March of 2006. I kept them in my house for nearly three months so they had tons of human interaction. I spend at least one hour with them daily & they are pets to us so they get alot of attention.

 

[Zenbirder]

From my flock:
BO - shy, low on pecking order, huge eggs, doesn't like to be touched
EE - about the same as BO, but higher on the pecking order
Delawares - I wouldn't choose them again. Good layers, but agressive. They are the only hens I have had who will initiate a fight with me, just walk up and give my leg a hard twisting peck enough to raise a blood blister.

The RIR are the sweetest in my flock, lap sitters and cuddlers, BR are next for good temperment.

 

[herechickchick]

I am going to have to disagree with everyone about the Delaware. My Egglentine is my favorite hen. She comes when called, she follows me around the back yard and talks to me all the time. She gives me a beautiful egg every day! Now she does not like to be caught and held, once you get her she is fine but catching her is difficult so I just don't hold her that much. She comes in the house when I leave the door open and sits in a basket on my coffee table. She is not mean to any of the other birds. I really think disposition has a lot to do with handling them often but keep in mind that like people they all have different personalities and some will just never be cuddle bugs. She came from Murray McMurray hatchery.

Here she is:

 

[speckledhen]

I think alot of the Delaware problems are coming from a bad strain of them that some hatchery has propagated. I'm sure it isn't a usual breed characteristic.

 

[Kin]

Quote:
I just wanted to add that my EE roo was awfully mean to my hen, but he sucked up to me soooo badly and was actually the most fun to have around because he didn't mind when I picked him up and hugged him.

 

[Zenbirder]

Quote:
I really hope so also. The Delawares are great in all other characteristics. Mine were from Privett, via a feed store, if that helps.

 

[pattycake]

My not-so-nice Delawares came from Mayer Hatchery. I should say that actually, they're quite friendly, sociable, and curious -- they hang around and cackle and seem like they like me. BUT they peck!! They're the only chickens I have that will come up and peck you for no reason. Still, I kind of like them.... they always have a comment about whatever I'm doing.

I also have Speckled Sussex, who are shyer than the others and *impossible* to catch and pick up. I think they might be smarter and faster than the others. Also, they are the only ones who still haven't developed the red face and wattles at 20 weeks.

I have one Buff Orp roo who is a total doll. I'm considering getting a whole Buff Orp flock. I love their golden color and fluffy bodies too.