Friendliest Breeds?

[awalters0815]

I am going to a show this weekend and want to surprise my three kids (ages 9, 8, and 5) with three new hens. What are some good breeds for kids that like to be held and/or are talkative and docile? The birds we have now are nice, but not overly friendly.

 

[teresa-78]

Quote:
I love the polish, they are so friendly... But I hatched my own.. so they have been handled alot.. But with alot of attention any polish chicken can become really friendly, especially if there are treats on offer. My polish jump on top of the fence when I am in the garden, wanting to be petted.. I also have a cochin x silkie who is the most frendliest chicken ever, even more so than my 2 cats lol... If I am out in the garden she comes over sits at my feet ready to be stroked or picked up..

 

[Merryment]

Speckled Sussex get my vote.

 

[yoie]

My daughters Salmon Faverolles is the friendliest of our group. We have 11 different breeds in the coop and she is always wanting to be petted and picked up. With our bantams the modern games are really friendly, and so tiny!

 

[skeeter9]

Australorps have been consistently friendly for us.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
Yep, I was going to say Faverolles too, the large fowl tend to be goofy until they hit POL, my large fowl hens literally come stand on my feet (unless I'm wearing green shoes, then it's peck-the-shoes time) lol. The bantams are friendly from day one, and like to perch on my fingers, like song birds.

Or, for something tiny and sweet, you can't go wrong with Seramas, but they are NOT cold hardy.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Old english game bantams are very friendly, and a good size for children to handle as well.

Some other gentle breeds to look into are seramas, silkies, cochins, brahmas, d'uccles, d'anvers, and faverolles. Most chickens will become friendly if raised with lots of attention and handling, but the breeds I listed tend towards a calmer disposition than others.

 

[EasterEggersRULE]

Opringtons are my vote there my favorites out my my chooks

 

[Captain Carrot]

I'm going to agree with the Sussex, just from past experience.

My Altsteirer and Bielefelders are also extremely friendly, but I'll be surprised if you see them at the show.

 

[Rathbone]

Buff Orpingtons...they are friendly and curious and don't mind my boys carrying them. I also like them being larger bodied and sturdier - my sons are 4 and 5 and I think the larger size works better for us. My sons like to put the hens under thier shirts and cuddle them like that.