Quiet Docile breed that does NOT lay brown eggs

[TheSpiceGirls]

I'm torn between posting this here or in Managing my Flock. But here goes.

The background is, my four pet hens were treated w/ Baytril. I've done some investigation online and I'm going to go w/ Bayer's recommendation that we never eat their eggs again. I already have a strong resistance to some antibiotics and I don't need to complicate my life further in this area. In hindsight, I would have handled that situation differently, but oh well.

Our hens are pets and so I have no intentions of doing anything other than letting them live out their normal lives, eating my bugs, destroying my garden and doing what they do.

But I'm missing my fresh eggs. So I think I'll get two more. I LOVE my super docile and quiet Buff Orpingtons and never thought about getting anything else. But I'd really need to get something that lays a different color egg so I can tell them apart. I love the Astralorps and Cochins, but they too are brown egg layers.

So knowing what you all know about chickens, what breed would you recommend to me?

I'm looking to add 2 hens to an existing flock of 3 BO's and a Jersey Giant. My number one thing is that they are quiet. Second is that they are docile and get along well with my existing BO's. And third, they need to lay something other than a light brown egg and I don't care what color it is.

 

[teach1rusl]

My EEs are extremely friendly (all are lap chickens), and lay green and greenish-blue eggs. Silkies are very mild mannered, but their eggs are small, and some of them go broody at the drop of a hat - not something you want if you're wanting a supply of eggs.
Most white egg layers tend to be flightier birds I think...

Depending on how well you know your birds though, it's pretty easy to distinguish between the different breeds' eggs, even when they're all brown egg layers. I know my BRs egg (pinkish brown) from my BA (very pale creamy egg), from my BO (med brown, often w/speckles), etc. So I wouldn't necessarily rule out the docile brown egg layers...

 

[4hchickmama]

I was going to suggest EEs too. They are usually very friendly and not super noisy. Not any noisier than an Orpington.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

That's a good point about the brown egg layers. Because I can usually tell my JG's egg from the BO's. If not by color, then by size for sure. She lays a BIG egg.

And you know, I had an EE and maybe I need to give the breed another try. This EE was a SPAZ! And I mean SPAZ. To the point where I often wondered if she didn't see well. She was loud, flighty and a bully. A BIG bully which is why I gave her away. She was a producer when it came to eggs. I probably got an egg from her 13 out of 14 days. A BEAUTIFUL green egg.

And I think what I could do is wait for one of my hens to go broody and wait the 21 days and then tuck some day old chicks under her. I could buy 6 chicks knowing I would only keep two and then keep the two with the personality that best fits my existing flock dynamic. I'm sure I'd have no trouble selling the other 4.

 

[FireTigeris]

EE at POL that are proven blue or green or pink layers? and spend lots of time with them.

 

[4hchickmama]

I think that is probably a really good idea. Then you know you will be keeping birds that get along well and have good personalities with your girls. Here is a question though, can THEY eat their eggs after being treated? If so, scrambled up or smashed hard boiled eggs are a great source of protein and they wouldn't be going to waste.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

You might want to consider cuckoo marans. I've not had them, but the two people I know who have absolutely LOVE their temperaments. And their eggs should be dark enough to easily differentiate. Personally I would suggest not going with EEs. Simply because egg colour is not certain. If you go with true ameraucana or araucana your will get blue eggs. For white eggs, consider polish; they tend to be friendly, and if you trim or pluck feathers so they can see, they aren't usually flighty. If their sight is limited, they tend to be "jumpy" when something unexpected happens, such as being picked up or handled. If they see you, it isn't usually an issue.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I think that is probably a really good idea. Then you know you will be keeping birds that get along well and have good personalities with your girls. Here is a question though, can THEY eat their eggs after being treated? If so, scrambled up or smashed hard boiled eggs are a great source of protein and they wouldn't be going to waste.

Yes, those birds could eat their own eggs. But if you are concerned about developing resistance, you would want to avoid feeding them to new birds; probably difficult to manage if they are kept as one flock.

 

[4hchickmama]

Yes, those birds could eat their own eggs. But if you are concerned about developing resistance, you would want to avoid feeding them to new birds; probably difficult to manage if they are kept as one flock.

Good point. The other birds would want to eat the eggs as well, and if you are trying to work it out of the flock, it wouldn't be the best idea. I wasn't thinking about that.

 

[DeannaOR]

My Cuckoo Marans is very quiet. She talks to me often but always very very quietly. They lay very dark brown eggs..so you could likely tell the difference.
I also love my Welsummer..she hasn't started laying yet, but she is very quiet and super lap friendly. She will also lay darker eggs.
These are probably not what you are looking for, but my Sicilian Buttercups lay pretty white eggs consistently. They started out being a little flightier than my other girls, but have settled in and are pretty normal now. They are quiet most of the time...but when they do make noise..it's weird ones. They make the strangest noises. We always know when it's them because they are so distinct.