Getting Chickens Once Again!

[Morgan7782]

I had two Barred Rocks I got from the Nevada County fair a few years ago, and raised them and it was very rewarding, not to mention eggs! These two hens were so friendly, and loved being held by kids. I am getting a coop around the end of April, and will be getting two new chicks. Does anybody have any breed suggestions? I am getting one Barred Rock, but I can't figure out what the other should be. This is purely for egg production, and as pets. I have two kids, the youngest being 5, and would like a breed that is good egg producer, but also pretty chill and non aggresive. Any suggestions would be great!

 

[gryeyes]

Buff Orpington, Black Australorp. Maybe a Cuckoo Marans, too. Those three breeds of my 7 are the friendliest. Also good layers.

 

[City Gardener]

Our EE is the friendliest we have. (Our others are Buff Brahmas, which are supposed to be friendly, but ours aren't so much.)

 

[KCNC06]

I think the chicken breed selector thing on My Pet Chicken is pretty fun. If it's really accurate, it should help narrow your choices down a little. Of course, I've found in my very short time with chickens that the chickens don't always follow the breed standard. Everything I've read about Seabright's says that they rarely get broody and one of mine has gone broody twice so far this year. Twice in three months! That doesn't sound like "rare" to me.

http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/which-breed-is-right-for-me.aspx

 

[jettgirl24]

My Orpingtons are still yound but they are super friendly little chicks. Very mellow too in comparison with my Barred Rocks

 

[KCNC06]

My EE was the sweetest, she would come up to me and let me hold her all the time, but we lost her in early February. My Barred Rock is also pretty sweet to people, but was a little aggressive towards the new hens that we got in October. I think she's just at the top of the pecking order though. My mom recently had to get rid of her Buff Orpington hen because she started acting like a rooster. She stopped laying and started attempting to mount one of the Cochins all the time. Of course, she was probably just an odd ball like my broody little Seabright.

 

[felidaet]

My Rhode Island Red is the friendliest bird in my flock. She lays a large egg nearly every day. I am getting several more this year. Two of my three EE's are also very friendly.

 

[journey11]

Of the few breeds I've tried so far, my Easter Eggers are the most personable. Pretty eggs, medium-large. I am hearing a lot of good things about Golden Buffs and I think that is what I will get next. Your heavy weight breeds will usually be the gentlest....they spend most of their time looking for things to eat and are not high-strung.