In search of "friendly" good egg layers

[Ang]

Ang,

Where do you live? You are the only other "Ang" I have run into online. It would be weird if you lived nearby. LOL!

 

[McGoo]

Maybe they are exceptions, but my son has 12 New Hampshire Red hens that are soooo nice. My GD at the age of 1 would walk around carrying them. They would just stand there and let her. My GS would bring them to their little slide and they would literally slide down and then flutter away... but then come back for more.

The more I htink of it, it's probably good to let the children handle them and keep them docile - whether Barred Rock, BOs or whatever.

Good luck choosing!

 

[meriruka]

I've got 5 red sexlinks and they are sweeties. Not sure how close you are to your chickens, but when you raise the new batch, handle them as much as possible, feed them out of your hand and if they misbehave , pick them up and stare at them for a bit. I did this with mine and they will crouch down when I reach for them and allow me to carry them around. Sure beats having to chase them. They follow me everywhere and 'help' me weed the garden.
Anyway, that did not stop them from trying to kill my new silkies on sight. I keep a piece of fence between them in the coop at night, but during they day they are fairly peaceful unless there is food involved.
It would probably be a good idea to raise the next batch with whatever other breeds you want all together, they will be less hostile to each other as adults. Good luck! Don't give up on the red sexlinks, they're wonderful layers!

 

[Windy Ridge]

My Speckled Sussex are very nice hatchery birds... friendly, dependable layers that don't pick, and come running to me. They're also great foragers, so if you have room to range them on, your feed costs won't be as high as otherwise.

My favorite "chicken temperament" is by far that of my Ameraucanas, but unfortunately, they're not dependable layers in the winter.

 

[ratlummountain]

i have 2 golden comets that are the sweetest birds (golden comets are also known as buff sex-links.)
they both lay XL brown eggs and are very consistant with their laying, it's rare that they skip a day.
they were raised from chicks with 2 RIR's in the same box and coop~ and there is a HUGE difference in their personalities (and eggs.)

 

[devora]

If our Barred Rocks were any sweeter we'd have to wonder if they were crossed w/ puppies. And great layers!

 

[okto]

orpingtons, australorps, rocks, dorkings, cochins

everyone has a hen that they love, and you'll find
every breed represented.

the ones that i listed are "generally" though to be
the calmest and most docile.

 

[skatcatla]

I have four different birds that I raised from day-old chicks: a RIR, a Barred Rock, a Black Star and a cross that we think is Jersey Giant and silver-laced wyandotte.

All of them come running as soon as I open the kitchen door and will allow themselves to be petted a little bit. They don't love to be held, but will submit. Generally they will squat when I go to touch them, so I can usually get a few pets in. :-D