Looking for a docile breed that is not so broody

[chicksandchickens]

Hello, I would very much appreciate an advice on selecting the right chicken breed for us. We really would like them to be friendly and docile (as we hope for them to become our pets too and children would like to actively participate in looking after them). They should be able to get along with our three runner ducks that they would be sharing a run with. We were really keen on Orpingtons, but I am becoming more and more concerned about their tendency to go broody several times a year. Keep working on breaking their broodiness would be an issue for us for several reasons. Plymouth Rock was our second choice, but again seems to be a very broody one. Also, we kind of would prefer not to go for hybrids.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[Mamatomany123]

I have a mix of production blues, EEs, red sexlinks, and barred rocks. None have gone broody and all are friendly. They were handled from day 1. Not sure on sharing with the ducks. I think that's a bad idea no matter the breed of chicken. Ducks like water and make a mess. Chickens need to stay dry. Not a good mix.

 

[EverV]

Hello, I would very much appreciate an advice on selecting the right chicken breed for us. We really would like them to be friendly and docile (as we hope for them to become our pets too and children would like to actively participate in looking after them). They should be able to get along with our three runner ducks that they would be sharing a run with. We were really keen on Orpingtons, but I am becoming more and more concerned about their tendency to go broody several times a year. Keep working on breaking their broodiness would be an issue for us for several reasons. Plymouth Rock was our second choice, but again seems to be a very broody one. Also, we kind of would prefer not to go for hybrids.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

That's a tough one. Most heritage breeds go broody. Hatchery birds would be less likely to go broody than breeder birds, but even then there's still a pretty high chance. I agree with @Mamatomany123 in that keeping ducks and chickens together might not be the best idea, for the reasons she described as well as that, if you have any drakes, they could hurt the hens. Good luck in finding a breed!

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

Hello, I would very much appreciate an advice on selecting the right chicken breed for us. We really would like them to be friendly and docile (as we hope for them to become our pets too and children would like to actively participate in looking after them). They should be able to get along with our three runner ducks that they would be sharing a run with. We were really keen on Orpingtons, but I am becoming more and more concerned about their tendency to go broody several times a year. Keep working on breaking their broodiness would be an issue for us for several reasons. Plymouth Rock was our second choice, but again seems to be a very broody one. Also, we kind of would prefer not to go for hybrids.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

black sex links are super kind birds who are not necessarily known for going broody,
and I have two EE mixes that have never gone broody and they crank out eggs daily.
Most purebreds like to go broody, at least in my experience

 

[EverV]

black sex links are super kind birds who are not necessarily known for going broody,
and I have two EE mixes that have never gone broody and they crank out eggs daily.
Most purebreds like to go broody, at least in my experience

That's what I was thinking. On homesteads, broodiness was a desirable trait because it made hatching chicks possible before the invention and popularity of the incubator. For this reason, all heritage breeds that I can think of have had broodiness bred into them. OP, is there a reason you'd prefer not to get a hybrid?

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

Also concerning raising chickens with ducks I can say from experience it is not a great idea, ducks bully chickens if fed together even if they are female ducks. I didn't want the ducks mixed with the chickens but they were not my animals, I just cared for them.
a good solution would be a separate run

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

I have a mix of production blues, EEs, red sexlinks, and barred rocks. None have gone broody and all are friendly. They were handled from day 1. Not sure on sharing with the ducks. I think that's a bad idea no matter the breed of chicken. Ducks like water and make a mess. Chickens need to stay dry. Not a good mix.

then there is this, which is also a reason. The ducks and chickens I was caring for were free ranged, so I don't have experience with them mixed in a run

 

[ChicNmom]

I have had a mix of breeds for years. So far there has been no pattern to mine as to which go broody by breed.

 

[SueT]

I had a barred Plymoouth Rock hat didn't go broody in the 3 years I had her.
For another heritage breed, may I suggest you look into Appenzeller Sptizhauben....cute, friendly, and
not a broody breed. I love these quirky chickens!
But I have no experience with ducks.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I had 7 Barred Rocks from TSC. They get them from Hoover's hatchery around here. Currently I have 3 hens from batch, 30 months old and never went broody. No Cockerel/Rooster here.
Very friendly and excellent laying first year, 6 to 7 eggs weekly from each. I currently average an egg every 2 days from the 2 that are laying. GC