In search of "friendly" good egg layers

*different* red sexlinks, maybe?

Seriously, I think yours are atypical. Depends on the souce, try getting them from a known friendly line.

Pat

 

Try some Buff Orps, they're extremely docile.

 

I have yet to have a mean hen. But I really liked my Barred Rock hen that I had. She was a sweetie.

BTW, nice name.

 

Buff Orps and Barred Rocks are known for their dependable egg laying and generally good tempers.

 

Barred Rocks, hands down. Then, if you don't mind an occasional broody, Buff Orps are great, too. The Barred Rocks are more aware and curious, in general, at least the ones I've had. I have a brooder full of chicks just hatched, and 10 out of the 19 are Barred Rocks. I stick my hand down and the BRs come running from all corners to check me out while the others hang back some.

 

I have Barred Rocks, who are friendly in the 'we will follow you around and beg for treats but don't think you can touch us' sort of way. Granted, I bought them as 17wk old pullets so they were not used to much human intervention. My NH Reds are docile and sweet, they're from Mt Healthy hatchery. I raised them from babies. Some of them like to be held and petted and some not, but none of them are 'mean'. Not even Elvis my roo. He is protective, but not mean. He ran at me the other day for the first time and I swatted him with a glove and he ran off and pouted.

Good luck on your new chickens.

 

My black sex-links have been the sweetest birds. I have had good luck with Barred Rocks and I do have one RIR and Australorp that are both sweet as can be. My EE's have been good layers, but they are all pretty snippy.

Oh and I love my La Fleche girls, they are rather shy, but they are great in the flock and are supposed to lay as well as BR and Wyandottes...even though I really couldn't tell you since winter hit before they started laying. They are gorgeous as well.

 

I've got 4 red sex-links that are very good girls, all of them came as 17 week old started pullets. I've never seen them even get irritated or try to protect themselves from my daughter's attempts to treat them like dogs. It may be that the one's you got came from poor quality breeding stock. Don't give up on red sex-links as a whole.

How are you trying to introduce new birds into the flock? Maybe there are things to try that might help make the adjustment easier.