Looking for very friendly good layers for backyard

[jdragonwings]

I am new to chickens, going to be building a coop in our suburban backyard for 4-5 chickens (that's the max we can have in our city). We live near Chicago, so it get's below 0 in winter and 90-100 some summer days. I want them as pets and also for the eggs. I'm looking for very friendly, docile birds that aren't flighty bc we have kids and dogs.
In all my research I was really leaning towards Speckled Sussex. Is that a pretty good option, or are there others that would be better? Also, what are thoughts about getting all 4 of the same breed vs ordering a few different breeds?

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Speckled sussex is a good breed. I hear Buff orpingtons are a great egg laying breed and cold hardy.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

Also, what are thoughts about getting all 4 of the same breed vs ordering a few different breeds?

It depends on size variety and hardiness. If you're going to get them all as chicks, they have to establish their pecking order and some might be rougher on the others on accident because of size difference or just plain aggressiveness.

 

[cadjarrett]

I am new to chickens, going to be building a coop in our suburban backyard for 4-5 chickens (that's the max we can have in our city). We live near Chicago, so it get's below 0 in winter and 90-100 some summer days. I want them as pets and also for the eggs. I'm looking for very friendly, docile birds that aren't flighty bc we have kids and dogs.
In all my research I was really leaning towards Speckled Sussex. Is that a pretty good option, or are there others that would be better? Also, what are thoughts about getting all 4 of the same breed vs ordering a few different breeds?

I love the variety we have with our mixed flock. All the birds get along well and have such unique personalities. Plus, I get lots of colorful eggs! Our favorite breeds so far are Orpington, Wyandotte, Australorp and Easter Egger. They are wonderful with our kids and all our friends. The white leghorns are the most difficult to deal with, they fly over the small fence around the garden and scratch up all our gardens and grassy areas!

 

[3KillerBs]

I think it's fun to get different colors and feather patterns.

While there are some general patterns of behavior, how friendly a given chicken is depends more on her individual personality than her breed.

 

[Sycamore Hill Chicks]

I am new to chickens, going to be building a coop in our suburban backyard for 4-5 chickens (that's the max we can have in our city). We live near Chicago, so it get's below 0 in winter and 90-100 some summer days. I want them as pets and also for the eggs. I'm looking for very friendly, docile birds that aren't flighty bc we have kids and dogs.
In all my research I was really leaning towards Speckled Sussex. Is that a pretty good option, or are there others that would be better? Also, what are thoughts about getting all 4 of the same breed vs ordering a few different breeds?

Speckled Sussex tend to be sensitive to heat, but with appropriate precautions they will fine. Ordering different breeds can be fun, and Buff Orpington and SS is good match, but if your looking for simplicity, go for all the same.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

If you want to tell them apart and enjoy them as pets, get a variety so you can tell them apart easily. If you don't want to get as attached, get all the same.

 

[Folly's place]

I think that ordering four different breeds is a good way to start. Individual personalities, different looks, different egg colors, all entertaining and fun. Over time you will develop favorites, but diversity is good, especially at first.
Speckled Sussex, definitely. then an Easter Egger, maybe a French Marans, an Orphington, and/ or any Wyandotte, Plymouth Rock, Buckeye, so many choices!
Look at Henderson's Breed Chart and feathersite, and enjoy.
For cold weather, big single combs are difficult, although hens won't have the problems that roosters have, with their very large single combs and big wattles. Any of the 'production reds', red sex-links and hatchery Rhode Island Reds, can be overly pushy with their flockmates, and Salmon Favorelles, adorable as they are, might be pushed around too much, especially if you do get those production reds.
Mary

 

[BleuSaphir]

I definitely agree, it more fun to have diversity of chicken breeds.

I really had good experience with Easter Egger with their friendliness. Also Rhode Island Red or Production Reds. I had one that was a total sweetheart, I can’t hold her without ease though. But she definitely let me pet her and LOVED to be around me. I think she knows I will protect her from my bantam bullies. Lol
Definitely was a fantastic layer. I remember I gotten some eggs during winter. She laid a lot of delicious eggs.

 

[MissE]

I have 3 SS. They are pretty mellow, but if you're looking for a steady supply of eggs, they may not be the best. Mine lay at best a medium size egg and barely laid during this last cold snap, but all my others kept laying. I keep the SS eggs for myself and sell the others. They just look silly in the carton. Yolks are big for the size of the egg, and the taste is great. They're just small.

My ISAs are probably the friendliest of all my chickens and seem to lay no matter what. Last summer all 3 of them laid an egg for 27 days in a row, then one took a day off.

When it comes to looks, the SS beat the ISA hands down. Both are fairly quiet.

ISA egg compared to SS egg: