I want to gift an elderly friend with chicks, what kind?

[gritsar]

I'm not sure where to put this, so mods. please move if appropriate.

Last night we went to a mudbug boil hosted by a friend of DHs. One of my favorite people from town was there, along with his elderly father.
His dad and I got to talking about chickens. Seems his entire small flock was wiped out by a coon. He literally begged me to sell him a few of my hens, but my flock is small as it is and I'm kinda attached to most of them.
I'm getting chicks in June and I've decided to add 6 to 8 chicks to the order, raise them for about a week or so and then gift them to this sweet elderly man.
The question is, what kind to order him?
He mentioned that he really liked the buff orps. that he had, but he also mentioned he likes having a mixed flock. He wants gentle, non-skittish birds.
Suggestions?
ETA: I know I'll probably order him a brahma or two, since I love mine.

 

[jerseygirl1]

My barred rocks rule - they are the friendliest, and they were not hand raised

 

[blackcat0229]

Dear Kat,

I'm with you! I love my light and buff Brahmas!

I also had fun with my Cochins, but they didn't lay well. I think my gray splash Cochin hen, Powderpuff didn't lay a single egg in her 6 years. She was very friendly, as was her rooster Freckles (also gray splash Cochin) Freckles was the "pass around" for all the kids at 4th of July. The Cochins are very quiet, almost friendly. All of mine could be scooped up and petted any time, even "Solomn Old Judge" the big black rooster. They are also quite entertaining when they run towards you - those funny fluffy pantaloons on their legs!

Blackcat0229

 

[gritsar]

Thanks you two. Okay, adding barred rocks to the list. Maybe cochins, but I think he'd really like better egg layers.

 

[Ariel301]

Easter Eggers could be fun. You get some neat colored birds as well as the colored eggs. Mine are really friendly too.

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

B. Rocks, EE's and Cochin's are my suggestions. I think what you are doing is a really wonderful thing. It's just what this world needs...kindness. Good job.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

My speckled and light sussex are very people oriented, and I did not play with them when they were little. Easter eggers are fun, too.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Am I the only one who read the whole post?

Cause I cant be the only one wanting to know what a mud-bug-boil is....

 

[vkp23]

What IS a mudbug boil? Our sweetest hen is our Dark Cornish. Her name is even "Sweetie". She is basically my husbands chicken and follows him around like a lost puppy. She likes to come in our house to lay her eggs. And actually, we had lost my fav chicken who had been born with the top half of her beak missing up to her nose. (she got loose one night and we didn't see her again.) She was my baby, and wanted me to hold her and love on her, ride on my shoulder, and followed me around. After she went missing, I was REALLY heart broken and cried and cried. Well I was out side hoping to see her in the bushes (this was the day she went missing) and "Sweetie" out of no where jumped up on my shoulder and talked to me for a few mins. Like she knew I was sad. The jumped off and went on her merry way. She has NEVER done that with my husband, and she loves him. Maybe a Cornish would be nice.

ETA: Also, she is our BEST layer, giving at least 2 eggs a day some times more.
Here is the best pic I have of her.

She makes very pretty babies too...

Sorry for all the pics.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Orpingtons, barred rocks, EEs, cochins, or give them a giggle with a naked neck, silkie, or polish.

I have always just loved orps because they are so sweet and friendly.