Docile chicken breeds

[dunnmom]

My Buff Orpingtons are really nice birds. Really gentle. It's the only breed I have to date, but I've heard many good things about Jersey Giants, so I may look into those sometime down the line.

 

[Welshies]

My Buff Orpingtons are really nice birds. Really gentle. It's the only breed I have to date, but I've heard many good things about Jersey Giants, so I may look into those sometime down the line.

One thing that tends to draw people away from Jerseys is their maturity rate. Large breeds like that take 36-50 weeks just to mature.

 

[NikAndHerChicks]

Just going to add my two cents also ... you've already got quite a few good recommendations. I have had good luck with docile Barred Rocks & Gold Laced Wyandottes who are also great layers (FYI, my BR's outshine my GLW's in both egg size & they are slightly more frequent layers). My black sex links are friendly birds, however I have been disappointed by how frequently they go broody... If I wanted a broody I'd be ecstatic, but I wanted a layer. I have Easter Eggers, not exactly my friendliest birds, but aren't mean either, just prefer not to snuggle. They're hit & miss with both laying & size. I have 2 that are larger than my Barred Rocks & one that is only slightly larger than my Silky! (Speaking of Silkies, mine live with the rest of my flock, and haven't had an issue yet... maybe I'm just lucky? But one of my Silkies roosts right on the top roost with my Alpha Queen hen, Lady the Easter Egger). That's my 2 cents! Good luck choosing your flock!

 

[Welshies]

Just going to add my two cents also ... you've already got quite a few good recommendations. I have had good luck with docile Barred Rocks & Gold Laced Wyandottes who are also great layers (FYI, my BR's outshine my GLW's in both egg size & they are slightly more frequent layers). My black sex links are friendly birds, however I have been disappointed by how frequently they go broody... If I wanted a broody I'd be ecstatic, but I wanted a layer. I have Easter Eggers, not exactly my friendliest birds, but aren't mean either, just prefer not to snuggle. They're hit & miss with both laying & size. I have 2 that are larger than my Barred Rocks & one that is only slightly larger than my Silky! (Speaking of Silkies, mine live with the rest of my flock, and haven't had an issue yet... maybe I'm just lucky? But one of my Silkies roosts right on the top roost with my Alpha Queen hen, Lady the Easter Egger). That's my 2 cents! Good luck choosing your flock!

Good post! Also one thing to remember guys- you want a friendly bird? Put the time in. Any chick that was unhandled young will be wild even if it's a "friendly" breed.... just as I've had "wild" breeds become lap-chickens.

 

[NikAndHerChicks]

I agree! It is so much easier to check/work on a bird that is used to being handled. Example: Frigid here today! My oldest son & I had the joyful chore of going out to the coop to lube up the waddles & combs of our girls and check the feet for signs of frost bite. A job that was much easier because our girls are used to being handled. That being said, some enjoyed the individual attention more than others! Chickens are similar to us in the sense that some like people & some just don't (I know some people on this site prefer birds to people! ) They'll tolerate us, but would rather be left alone.

 

[lereg]

Just going to add my two cents also ... you've already got quite a few good recommendations. I have had good luck with docile Barred Rocks & Gold Laced Wyandottes who are also great layers (FYI, my BR's outshine my GLW's in both egg size & they are slightly more frequent layers). My black sex links are friendly birds, however I have been disappointed by how frequently they go broody... If I wanted a broody I'd be ecstatic, but I wanted a layer. I have Easter Eggers, not exactly my friendliest birds, but aren't mean either, just prefer not to snuggle. They're hit & miss with both laying & size. I have 2 that are larger than my Barred Rocks & one that is only slightly larger than my Silky! (Speaking of Silkies, mine live with the rest of my flock, and haven't had an issue yet... maybe I'm just lucky? But one of my Silkies roosts right on the top roost with my Alpha Queen hen, Lady the Easter Egger). That's my 2 cents! Good luck choosing your flock! [/QUOTE

I'm a little confused on the broody issue. I understand that they sit on the eggs, but not why it's a bad thing. That being said, I won' be having any roosters, so they won' need to sit, but why does it seem important to people?

 

[BantyChooks]

"I'm a little confused on the broody issue. I understand that they sit on the eggs, but not why it's a bad thing. That being said, I won' be having any roosters, so they won' need to sit, but why does it seem important to people?"

Broody birds don't lay eggs. Plus, if you let them sit on nothing, they will sit there until they die. Being broody is hard on their bodies and puts them in less than ideal health. You can keep breaking them, but it's rather a pain in the neck.

 

[lereg]

Thanks!! I assumed they would all lay eggs. It does seem like kind of a waste now.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Frequent broody birds are a pain. My flock is so broody egg production is lacking. Each hen will attempt to brood 3 and even 4 times from spring to fall. I break them of the brood with a cage but they won't come into lay again for two weeks if I didn't catch the brooding the first day.

 

[Welshies]

Frequent broody birds are a pain. My flock is so broody egg production is lacking. Each hen will attempt to brood 3 and even 4 times from spring to fall. I break them of the brood with a cage but they won't come into lay again for two weeks if I didn't catch the brooding the first day.

I love having ONE or TWO broodies in the flock. Any more and I have to bang my head against the wall.