Okay, DH gave me the go ahead- so question for you eggsperts!

[8HesperiaChickens]

I have Speckled Sussex, Welsummers, Black Australorps and Delawares...all are quiet and relatively friendly. I also have some very noisy Easter Eggers and a Rhode Island Red.

 

[KatieV]

You're getting the 25?!

Good luck!!

 

[KentuckyChick]

Quote:
Haha, no. He said yes to that assuming we would rehome them, but I'd rather just order a handful more and not have to worry about that!

 

[KatieV]

Yeah, I know shipping costs more, but at least you're getting what you want! I can't picture having 25 chicks at once, how would I know them apart?

 

[wsdareme]

I ordered 12 chicks from BYC in May: Black Australorp, Blue Cochin, Partridge Cochin, White Cochin, Barred Rock, Delaware, Dominique, Easter Egger, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Gold Laced Wyandotte, Cuckoo Marans, and a Buff Orpington.

Of these, the friendliest are 1) Dominique, 2) Barred Rock, 3) Blue Cochin, 4) White Cochin, 5) Cuckoo Marans. The Delaware is always underfoot but is skittish about being picked up. The others all come running to me, but really don't want me to touch them or pick them up. They'll all eat out of my hand.

My DH loves, loves, LOVES the Blue Cochin hen (her name is Clara, named for my little blue-white haired grandmother).

Hope this helps!

 

[akpeeps]

I just got my first Speckled Sussex and EE chicks from MPC yesterday.

The first thing I'm noticing, compared to other chick breeds I've had, is that they don't really panic and freak out when I put my hand in the brooder. They are curious and several of them come over and jump on my hand and check things out. I hope this bodes well for how friendly and personable they'll be as they grow up. That was part of the reason I chose those two breeds along with being very cold hardy.
I also have 3 BBS Orpington hens and just picked up a 6-7 wk old BBS Orp cockeral. They are by far the most friendly of all the large chickens and the quietest in my mixed flock.

 

[sheaviance1]

I have 10 chickens, buff orpingtons, black australorps, barred rocks, and rhode island reds. Of the ones I have, the BO's are the most docile and quiet. They come running up to me every time I am outside and follow me everywhere I go in the yard (but they all do that). The BR's jump up in my lap everytime I sit down. They don't like to be picked up, but will snuggle down in your lap for a nap. The BA's are the noisiest that I have. They are constantly gossiping amongst themselves and they seem to be the bossiest ones in the yard. One of them even tries to dominate my yorkie/chihuahua mix (which, by the way, is hilarious if you are not the dog). Oh, and they are escape artists. The RIR's are the most skittish, are very quiet, keep to themselves, don't come too close (even for treats, I have to toss them theirs). Each breed that I have has some characteristic that I really love about them, but having said that, if I had neighbors to worry about, I definitely wouldn't keep the australorps as they are most definitely the trouble makers in my flock.

 

[HBuehler]

I would personally go with an assorted pack with as much variety as possible.Every hatchery is running great prices on them right now. Then you can decide for yourself what you like best and what works for you and your place.Sell the one's that don't work for you and then focus on what you keep.
BO's are a huge hit...we didn't care for them
RIR great layers-we sold them
BA-Over rated
BR-love all rocks here have them in every color
Sex links-love them
I could go on with the list for a very long time...we have hundreds of chickens

My point..not going to get everyone to agree on the same breeds thankfully We went through more breeds here than I would want to look up before settling on the ones we have now..nothing wrong with any we sold all were great birds just not what I was wanting here.

 

[NellaBean]

I agree with Hbuehler......get an assortment, then keep whatever floats your boat. Honestly you will have quiet birds and noisy ones of every breed, so that is not an easy way to decide. And you will have chicks you fall in love with and others you....don't......so get the assortment, keep the ones you like and sell the rest

If you want really friendly birds, hope for cochins

 

[newlyweds]

Maybe get 2 of each, Barred Rocks (or any color Rock), BA's, BO's, Naked Necks (mine are very friendly, and always a conversation piece), SS, EE (the more the better in my opinion), Silver and gold laced wyandottes (mine isn't that friendly but so beautiful), Ancona's (mine is so sweet and beautiful and will lay white eggs), and if you want some extremely great egg layers, get a few red sexlink's.

I also think that the more a chick is handled the friendlier it will be no matter the breed, so go with what interests you.

It's so fun choosing. Good luck! Let us know what you go with.