If you had to choose...

[keesmom]

I had GLW, SLW and BLRW years ago. I didn't find them to be mean. Not very friendly, but decent layers of medium sized eggs.

I have a speckled Sussex now, and had coronation/light Sussex in the past. Good layers, fairly friendly.

Had Welsummers years ago. Beautiful birds, but very standoffish. I actually prefer the brown Leghorn we have now.

I have white Rocks, not partridge or barred. I don't like barred birds and already have a partridge Cochin. The white Rocks are excellent layers of XL eggs. Very friendly and outgoing.

There are several Cochins in the flock for my daughter. Very friendly, not great layers. I spend all summer breaking them from brooding. Repeatedly.

Two buff Brahmas were added last year. Friendly and good layers.

Other breeds we have liked are Orpington, Australorp, Langshan, black sex link, Minorca, EE, Ancona, Kraienkoppe, Buttercup and Whiting true blue from McMurray. I have a soft spot for Faverolles (bred them for a decade) but I wouldn't suggest them for a mixed flock. Fayoumis , Polish and silkies are the only breeds I won't likely get again.

I have yet to find a breed that avoids predators more than others. It seems to be more luck than anything. I've lost vigilant birds like Anconas and Hamburgs to hawks, and whole flocks to coyotes and foxes. Fox got 5 yesterday unfortunately.

Avoid crested breeds such as Polish and silkies. The Polish we have had have had problems - unexpected deaths, scoliosis, the tendency to escape the pen and wander off into dangerous situations, etc. The silkies just can't see.

Try the breeds you are interested in. If they don't work then rehome them.

 

[Table4Six]

My post wasn’t in direct reference to yours. I’m sorry if it seemed that way
I was just trying to share my experiences and thoughts with the OP.

You're fine.
It didn't come across that way at all.
I found you post very interesting and I agree that a lot of the time breed doesn't play the main role in getting a domineering bird, usually it's just their personality. There are plenty of other breeds that tend to be aggressive, it just depends on the bird. Although Wyandottes tend to be a little more bossy. I also found your post inspiring because I'm usually to lazy to write something that long and detailed, lol.

 

[Table4Six]

Do you find any differences between the colors or are they all pretty much the same?

And hmm, I definitely don't want more bullies but they're also so pretty so idk.



Thanks for the info, this is helpful. And I find you're right. Like my chickens were in pretty cramped quarters at first just cause we had bought a temporary thing for when they were chicks but then they outgrew it and we were building a new one. Anyway, now that they have more room, I find they are much nicer and get along better. And, besides the extra room, they also have more to do. Having been on the other run for 2 1/2 years, it was somewhat barren though I did try to keep them entertained. Now they have new ground to explore and tons of good dust bathing spots (the section we put them happens to have minimal grass, idk why, so they all just lay down in separate holes and sunbathe. It's so cute.

And yeah, that's a good point about getting only one of a breed and part of why I got 2 of each originally plus actually a Meyer Meal Maker which ended up being a 3rd BO but if I doubled all those that would be 30-40 chickens, plus my current 7, and I don't think I'm quite ready for THAT level of chicken math haha

I figure if I get one I can try a ton of breeds and see which ones I like and which ones I don't and decide if I want more later. And yes each individual is different so I could try different lines and stuff too and might but then at least I can know if I totally detest a breed. Might not be the most reliable results but still ha

Plus I figure with one each I can actually tell them all apart which I like.

But it still might be better to just get a few more for now but idk.

I thought I knew which ones I wanted to try but now having more opinions is actually making it harder rather than easier like I thought hahaha

It's cause they all sound good now!!

Most brahmas are gentle giants and pretty much the same. All of mine loved being held and cuddled. I still have my huge buff brahma hen and she is one of the sweetest chickens I've ever owned.

There will always be at least one domineering bird in your flock and other breeds can also be bossy. My buff orpington was raised by my brahma hen who has the sweetest disposition, but she turned out to be bossy and demanding, but still loving to be held and cuddled like her mom. That's just her personality. She is also one of the most personality filled chickens I've owned, if I even just leave the garage door open for a split second she's in there demanding for treats, lol.

 

[CannedMonster]

You're fine.
It didn't come across that way at all.
I found you post very interesting and I agree that a lot of the time breed doesn't play the main role in getting a domineering bird, usually it's just their personality. There are plenty of other breeds that tend to be aggressive, it just depends on the bird. Although Wyandottes tend to be a little
more bossy. I also found your post inspiring because I'm usually to lazy to write something that long and detailed, lol.

Lmao I looked at it after I posted it and I was like Geez, I wrote a book!
Yeah I have a bossy one alright.
She was last and now she’s 2nd and seems to want everyone to know it.
Poor Pepper is bullied sometimes. Penelope will grab her comb and not let go.
She even pulled some of our dominant hen, Red’s, feathers out.
I hate to see what she’s going to do to my littles when I integrate them.

 

[Table4Six]

Yes, Wyandottes are usually towards the top of the pecking order and tend to hogs when it comes to food. It would probably be best to use the see but don't touch rule when you introduce the littles to the rest of the flock. Lol, you could probably get your book published.

 

[CannedMonster]

Yes, Wyandottes are usually towards the top of the pecking order and tend to hogs when it comes to food. It would probably be best to use the see but don't touch rule when you introduce the littles to the rest of the flock. Lol, you could probably get your book published.

Oh yes the littles will be put in our prefab coop very soon and they also have a run so the biggies can see but not touch.
The new coop for the biggies is almost finished!
In fact, they’ve been able to see each other for a couple of weeks now.
I take the littles outside for field trips in a dog play yard and for the last few days I put them in the prefab run to get used to being in there during the day.
I don’t put them in there until the 4 big girls are done laying for the day.
My bantam roo, Hector, behaves strangely with the chicks.
He comes over to the fence and tidbits and when a chick comes over he sometimes pecks it.
One chick has aggressively pecked Hector’s wattles a couple of times!
He just stared the chick down until it retreated.
The big girls just stare at the chicks or ignore them.

 

[Table4Six]

Beautiful birds! At least there hasn't been too much aggressive behavior. I hope it all goes smoothly.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Do you have any other naked necks? Maybe he doesn't think they're chickens lol

 

[CannedMonster]

Beautiful birds! At least there hasn't been too much aggressive behavior. I hope it all goes smoothly.

Thank you!

 

[CannedMonster]

Do you have any other naked necks? Maybe he doesn't think they're chickens lol

He’s never seen a naked neck before. He probably isn’t sure
That’s why the older ones stare...

I have to say they’ve grown on me a lot more than I thought they would.

It’s really funny to open the door to the garage and see 5 naked necks crane up to look over the edge and see who it is
And when they sunbathe they look ridiculous