Good, friendly breed

[Fruit Juice]

Whats a nice, friendly standard breed that lays pretty well?

 

[Fay at Frizzled Feathers]

Barred rock and Rhode Island Red lay well

 

[HorseFeathers]

Buff Orp, Barred Rock, and Australorp are the three friendliest. Our particular BO was adopted and too old to lay, but the others laid extremely well! Our RIR had feather picking problems and I've heard other peoples' do the same...

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Light Brahmas also. Mine are calm and friendly and lay great. The roosters are also very sweet.

 

[Poulets De Cajun]

RIR's are aggressive as all get out in my opinion...

Barred Rocks are rather flighty as well....

I've never owned a Buff Orp so I can't comment....

Cochins are supposed to be pretty laid back, although I can't say anything about their laying abilities...

 

[Guinea Goonie]

Buff Orps are nice gentle birds. I like my Plymouth rocks and I am getting a load of partridge rocks this spring. I have 10 whites (two roos) and they are friendly, docile and lay pretty well.

I also have Cinnamon Queens and they are wonderful layers. I would think any sex link would do well.

Leghorns are a good choice, but they are too easy for the hawks to pick off. I get bigger birds because I free range as much as possible.

Look at cackle hatchery for pics of the layers.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
I had RIR a couple years ago, and I agree 100%. The roosters were the meanest things. They would just spur you for no reason. I did have a barred rock hen, and she ,was friendly, but no where as near as how friendly my Brahmas are.

 

[HorseFeathers]

Quote:
Weird! ALL the Barred Rocks I've met have been soooo calm, even if they never got paid attention to. Like at the stable I ride at, most of the birds are terrified of people, but the BRs will just let you pick them right up! Plus they all have that adorable high voice...

 

[Backyard Buddies]

My RIRs are sweethearts. One will snuggle at any moment she's picked up and will fall asleep in your arms. The other one is very curious during the day, but if I go into the run near dusk, she'll tap me on the leg until I pick her up and pet her. Both were handled a lot as babies and onward.

As far as egg laying, in their first year of laying, I got 307 eggs from one and 301 from the other.

 

[HorseFeathers]

That is a really good point. No matter what breed you get, all will be pretty flighty unless you hold them a LOT-- both as chicks and adults, though more importantly as chicks.