Easter Eggers, Wyandottes, Sussex, Turkins, Orloffs
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Hello, I am new to raising chickens and am really only in the research and planning phase. I would like to find a few breeds that are excellent egg layers but that are really good as pets as well (very friendly and don’t mind being handled). I would really appreciate any input you can give.
Thanks,
Stacy
Well since you live in a very hot area, I recommend Mediterranean class breeds. They are very productive, heat hardy and while most don't consider them friendly, if handled enough growing up, they can become lap pets.
Meds are Leghorns, Anconas, Minorcas, Buttercups, Catalanas, Andalusians, White Faced Black Spanish, Penedesencas, Empordanesas,
Many of the friendly breeds people will recommend here tend to suffer in heat.
Following are two excellent breed selection charts.
http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html