Looking for very friendly good layers for backyard

[Lightning Bob]

All good choices IME. Orps are maybe the friendliest, Polish are as well. Austrolorp are amiable. ISA’s, Leghorns or RI Reds are good if you want production and don’t mind a bit of unrest in the coop at times. All will do fine in the Chicago climate if you provide the right environment. I’ve never had EE’s or Sussex.
PS: Any of them can become broody, but the big layers seem most prone, IME.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

All good choices IME. Orps are maybe the friendliest, Polish are as well. Austrolorp are amiable. ISA’s, Leghorns or RI Reds are good if you want production and don’t mind a bit of unrest in the coop at times. All will do fine in the Chicago climate if you provide the right environment. I’ve never had EE’s or Sussex.
PS: Any of them can become broody, but the big layers seem most prone, IME.

What do you mean by this? Do you mean the ones that tend to be "big layers" as far as number of eggs, or?

 

[feather13]

Thank you so much for all the information; that is very helpful and just what I was hoping for!
I was also really interested in the light brahma. After all my researching, I'm thinking of getting a light brahma, black Australorp, bielfelder, and Easter egger, and hopefully 2 speckled sussex.

Congratulations! How exciting to get a flock. Your kids must be really happy . Good idea to get six birds. I would get six to seven chicks. Inevitably and unfortunately some will die, some might be roosters (although I *highly* recommend getting sexed birds with such a small flock and if you're not zoned for roosters), and it's difficult to integrate new chickens into established flocks.

The breeds you're thinking of look great, are great layers, and cold- and heat-hardy. I also like having a mixed flock. I think it's more fun and you'll have a lovely egg basket. I would also recommend making a coop and run that is as large as possible. The ones sold as kits tend to house far fewer full sized hens than advertised.

Our Black Australorp, Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, Speckled Sussex, and Black Sex Links/Black Stars all have done well with successive blazing hot southern California summers. They are also really friendly. We have 9 month old Easter Eggers we love, too.

Here are some breeds we've found particularly quiet/docile that are consistent egg layers and mild mannered towards other breeds (a must if you live in a densely populated area): Crevecoeurs, Easter Eggers, Australorp, Orpingtons, Phoenix, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rocks, Faverolles, and Welsummers.

Loud, bossy, skittish, flighty birds (although totally lovable): Black Sex Links, Egyptian Fayoumis, Rhode Island Reds, Buff Minorcas, Lakenvelders

Let us know what you decide to get!

 

[ScratchNbawk]

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

I agree with getting a diverse flock, plus it would give the OP a chance to figure out what they like/don’t like for future purposes.

 

[Lightning Bob]

What do you mean by this? Do you mean the ones that tend to be "big layers" as far as number of eggs, or?

In my experience, leghorns and Reds go broody more than some others. “Big Layers” refers to high-production - not sure if size matters to broodiness.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

In my experience, leghorns and Reds go broody more than some others. “Big Layers” refers to high-production - not sure if size matters to broodiness.

That is what I thought you meant. But asked for clarification becaue it is pretty much the opposite of what pretty much everyone else says. (Including the hatcheries that sell these birds. High production and broodyness generally don't "go together" since a hen being broody stops her from laying. (Hence, less production.) Yeah, size doesn't matter at all. Some of the most "prone to go broody" breeds are the smallest.

 

[Ribh]

A word of caution if your chickens will be pets and you have children. High production breeds like ISAs tend to have very short life spans. They are specifically bred to lay a lot of eggs in a short amount of time & most are dead within 2 years. There will be exceptions but dont count on it.

When considering space & pets dont forget the bantams. The friendliest, most easily handled birds in my flock are all bantams. Some, like Australorp bantams lay a reasonably sized egg regularly. Others are terrible layers but really people friendly, like my Belgiums. My Wyandotte bantams lay a smallish egg really regularly.

 

[Lightning Bob]

That is what I thought you meant. But asked for clarification becaue it is pretty much the opposite of what pretty much everyone else says. (Including the hatcheries that sell these birds. High production and broodyness generally don't "go together" since a hen being broody stops her from laying. (Hence, less production.) Yeah, size doesn't matter at all. Some of the most "prone to go broody" breeds are the smallest.

That is what I thought you meant. But asked for clarification becaue it is pretty much the opposite of what pretty much everyone else says. (Including the hatcheries that sell these birds. High production and broodyness generally don't "go together" since a hen being broody stops her from laying. (Hence, less production.) Yeah, size doesn't matter at all. Some of the most "prone to go broody" breeds are the smallest.

No disagreement, it’s just been my experience. My leghorns have been my broodiest, were I to pick just one breed. But I don’t claim to be an expert, just a small raiser.

 

[feather13]

When considering space & pets dont forget the bantams. The friendliest, most easily handled birds in my flock are all bantams. Some, like Australorp bantams lay a reasonably sized egg regularly. Others are terrible layers but really people friendly, like my Belgiums. My Wyandotte bantams lay a smallish egg really regularly.

x2 bantams! We had Silkies and OEGBs in the past and have Phoenix (not a true bantam) now and they were all heat-tolerant. The Silkies aren't generally great egg layers (and bantams lay small eggs), but they are universally loved and super cute. Your kids would probably go bonkers for bantams. OEGBs and Phoenix are also awesome, although they sometimes go broody. Bantams and unusual looking chickens like Polish sometimes get picked on though, so you could consider getting half bantams if you go with them.

Depending on whether you plan to let them free range or not, some of the more sprightly bantams do have a habit of flying up onto roofs and over walls.

 

[jdragonwings]

Are you allowed to have roosters where you live? (Just in case you end up with one (or more.)

No we aren't. I have ordered all females, but I know that's not 100% so we'll have to figure something out if we end up with one.