Quiet/docile Long Term Layers

[TK421]

I’m in a similar boat, living in an HOA and suburban neighborhood. my recommended breeds are below but 7 hens seems like a lot for a typical neighborhood lot. Make sure you have the space for them or that you don’t care about your grass. You’ll lose it.

my criteria have always been quiet quiet quiet, and good layers. The neighbors that touch my yard can Hear them (I gave them a heads up and offered to fix any problems Immediately) but even 2 houses down didn’t know about my chickens until I told them 4 years later.
Plymouth barred rocks Are by far the best for me
easter Eggers/Americaunas are strong layers
silver laced Wyandotte’s were ok
buff Orpington does ok
gold laced Wyandottes were good (a little broody for my taste)

 

[jbpoole]

Thank you very much for the excellent replies. I appreciate the information and will find it to be very useful.

Here is a list of breeds that I was originally considering for a mixed flock:
Speckled Sussex
Welsummer
French Black Copper Maran
Olive Egger
Partridge Plymouth Rock
Easter Egger

Some of these match the suggestions I have received, although the possibility of getting a rooster remains as issue.

Cream legbars may be a very good option, but they seem to be expensive and hard to find in stock. Any suggestions on a hatchery? Black sex links have been mentioned as well. Do they not suffer from health issues and short longevity attributed to other sex links?

A couple of you commented on my avatar. I served 38 years and, given the current situation, have lots to comment on, but this is not the place...

Again, thanks for all of the great posts!

 

[gunslinger33]

IMO hands down Bielefelders compared to my other breeds
Brahma
Orpington
Partridge Rock
Wyandotte
Olive Egger ( not a true breed )


Large , dark colored , very personable and great layers. There are aLao fairly quiet.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thank you very much for the excellent replies. I appreciate the information and will find it to be very useful.

Here is a list of breeds that I was originally considering for a mixed flock:
Speckled Sussex
Welsummer
French Black Copper Maran
Olive Egger
Partridge Plymouth Rock
Easter Egger

Some of these match the suggestions I have received, although the possibility of getting a rooster remains as issue.

Cream legbars may be a very good option, but they seem to be expensive and hard to find in stock. Any suggestions on a hatchery? Black sex links have been mentioned as well. Do they not suffer from health issues and short longevity attributed to other sex links?

A couple of you commented on my avatar. I served 38 years and, given the current situation, have lots to comment on, but this is not the place...

Again, thanks for all of the great posts!

As to Black Sex Links.....yes many fall victim to reproductive issues that are fatal.
Many....but not all.

Rudy and Trudy are mine. Both are 4+ years old and lay pretty regularly. Full of personality and rather chatty too. Rudy got her name because she is rather rude. I have grown to like them though.

I wish you luck in your search for the right chickens but please understand that an HOA that forbids poultry is often seen on here and rarely turns out the way rhe chicken keeper would like.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I think a silkie would be best for you situation. They may not lay the most eggs but they are very friendly birds that look adorable and are pretty quiet.

My Silkies are crazy loud! They sound like their toes are getting stepped on:

"ow. ow. Ow. Ow. OW. OW. OW! OW!! OW!!!"

My Cochin and Brahma are nearly silent, but they don't lay every day.

My Australorp and Barred Rock are very, very quiet and lay big brown eggs very frequently!

 

[Molly Mojo]

My chickens are about 3 months old.

I bought them straight run and the white one turned out to be a roo.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Bantams can be a bit quieter because they have smaller voice boxes so they kinda are restrained by their own bodies.

Unless you're talking roosters! Those high-pitched crows are like sirens, I tell you. SIRENS.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Thank you very much for the excellent replies. I appreciate the information and will find it to be very useful.

Here is a list of breeds that I was originally considering for a mixed flock:
Speckled Sussex
Welsummer
French Black Copper Maran
Olive Egger
Partridge Plymouth Rock
Easter Egger

Some of these match the suggestions I have received, although the possibility of getting a rooster remains as issue.

Cream legbars may be a very good option, but they seem to be expensive and hard to find in stock. Any suggestions on a hatchery? Black sex links have been mentioned as well. Do they not suffer from health issues and short longevity attributed to other sex links?

A couple of you commented on my avatar. I served 38 years and, given the current situation, have lots to comment on, but this is not the place...

Again, thanks for all of the great posts!

Cream legbar are expensive because they're still a little new, and they're autosexing while staying purebred so they don't have to vent sex them

People claim that sexlinks are unhealthy. I've never had a problem. Granted mine ended up getting picked off by predators, but I had one that lived and laid until 9 before she went down hill.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Thank you very much for the excellent replies. I appreciate the information and will find it to be very useful.

Here is a list of breeds that I was originally considering for a mixed flock:
Speckled Sussex
Welsummer
French Black Copper Maran
Olive Egger
Partridge Plymouth Rock
Easter Egger

Some of these match the suggestions I have received, although the possibility of getting a rooster remains as issue.

Cream legbars may be a very good option, but they seem to be expensive and hard to find in stock. Any suggestions on a hatchery? Black sex links have been mentioned as well. Do they not suffer from health issues and short longevity attributed to other sex links?

A couple of you commented on my avatar. I served 38 years and, given the current situation, have lots to comment on, but this is not the place...

Again, thanks for all of the great posts!

You can buy sexed chicks. The likelihood of getting boys is very small, though it still happens. There are autosexing breeds and sexlinks, of course.

My suggestion is to either buy autosexing/sexlinked OR buy sexed chicks and have a solid backup plan just in case you need to rehome a boy or two.

No chicken is silent. Egg songs are a thing, and they are rather loud (although my Australorp doesn't sing one).

Good luck!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Forgot to add: Let us know what you end up getting!!!! So exciting!!!