Recommendations for a very small (2-4 birds) flock

[Joev1973]

Hello all!

I have convinced my employer to build a chicken coop (at work) and start a small flock for eggs for his family. I'm thinking a very small flock of 2 or 4 pullets, no roosters allowed.

I'm looking a a full size bird that is laid back, friendly, and does not need to free range. I will make sure they have plenty of coop and enclosed run space, but I doubt they will get to free range much.

My own personal flock I have BO, BPR, RIR, EE, and California Whites. I'd like to see what you have to say about breeds you currently have.

Thank you!

I am hardly qualified to give chicken advice here on BYC but a couple of your keywords sparked my reply.

You said large laid back and friendly.
So I have to tell you about my first chicken venture back in Ohio 10+ years ago.

I wasn't allowed chickens so I googled. What's the quietest most laid back bird so we could sneak a few . Buff Orphington hens showed up on top of the list. We ordered 4 hens from murry mcmurray and snuck them into a shed/coop in the backyard. Those 4 girls laid 1 big brown egg almost every day and never made a single peep. Not a single noise.

They were friendly and polite and wanted to be near us. Every evening my wife and I would go out back and sit in chairs to relax and I would let the girls out to scratch. Instead of scratching they would jump in our laps like dogs. They wanted us to pet them and pay attention to them. So gentle so docile and so quiet.

They never misbehaved or fought. They walked single file and stayed together always. When it was time for bed all 4 girls would walk theirselves in and go to bed. We had a 6 ft roost they would all squeeze together and take up about 1 ft.

They lived for years long after they stopped laying eggs and we didnt have the heart to eat or replace them. We never got caught with the hens and fell in love with the buff o breed.
Once we thought a bird was sick, we called a friend and described her behavior and he laughed. He brought us a blue egg and told us to put it under the bird. She hatched it and raised a little americana as her own so they are fantastic mothers to.



We loved them so much and missed having them that we recently moved to Tennessee where we are allowed to have birds and we ordered 16 birds. 12 of which are buff O. And this time a rooster.

By far 100% my favorite and they are beauties. I describe them as the golden retrievers of chickens.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Mimi13]

I am hardly qualified to give chicken advice here on BYC but a couple of your keywords sparked my reply.

You said large laid back and friendly.
So I have to tell you about my first chicken venture back in Ohio 10+ years ago.

I wasn't allowed chickens so I googled. What's the quietest most laid back bird so we could sneak a few . Buff Orphington hens showed up on top of the list. We ordered 4 hens from murry mcmurray and snuck them into a shed/coop in the backyard. Those 4 girls laid 1 big brown egg almost every day and never made a single peep. Not a single noise.

They were friendly and polite and wanted to be near us. Every evening my wife and I would go out back and sit in chairs to relax and I would let the girls out to scratch. Instead of scratching they would jump in our laps like dogs. They wanted us to pet them and pay attention to them. So gentle so docile and so quiet.

They never misbehaved or fought. They walked single file and stayed together always. When it was time for bed all 4 girls would walk theirselves in and go to bed. We had a 6 ft roost they would all squeeze together and take up about 1 ft.

They lived for years long after they stopped laying eggs and we didnt have the heart to eat or replace them. We never got caught with the hens and fell in love with the buff o breed.
Once we thought a bird was sick, we called a friend and described her behavior and he laughed. He brought us a blue egg and told us to put it under the bird. She hatched it and raised a little americana as her own so they are fantastic mothers to.



We loved them so much and missed having them that we recently moved to Tennessee where we are allowed to have birds and we ordered 16 birds. 12 of which are buff O. And this time a rooster.

By far 100% my favorite and they are beauties. I describe them as the golden retrievers of chickens.

Just my 2 cents

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I’m here to say I agree with your assessment of the BO breed, 100%. And that your 2 cents is worth about $100, so keep giving us your 2 cents.

 

[Joev1973]

Thank you. Those 4 hens long ago are the reason we just built a coop and ordered chickens again

 

[GrannyYank]

Oh I forgot about those! They are super sweet, as I remember. My current full RIR is so loud I can hear her in the house, plus she's dumb as a brick, so full RIR are off the table. lol

My RIR are sneaky and the meanest. One loves to wait and watch until I’m distracted to run up and peck the back of my leg! My most skittish are the Wyandotte’s, my friendliest are Golden Comets

 

[Thomas70]

Hello all!

I have convinced my employer to build a chicken coop (at work) and start a small flock for eggs for his family. I'm thinking a very small flock of 2 or 4 pullets, no roosters allowed.

I'm looking a a full size bird that is laid back, friendly, and does not need to free range. I will make sure they have plenty of coop and enclosed run space, but I doubt they will get to free range much.

My own personal flock I have BO, BPR, RIR, EE, and California Whites. I'd like to see what you have to say about breeds you currently have.

Thank you!

Silkies are very docile and make excellent pets and that is why we like them. They lay for about 30 days and then want to brood for 30 days. They are excellent if you want to raise chicks. As for just having eggs to eat a white leghorn or rhode island red are good but road island reds can be mean. I had one that would set on the roost and peck you when you came in the coup door.

 

[Pretty Birds]

I LOVE my Speckled Sussex and Buff Orpingtons! Very friendly, pretty, and great layers. Red Sex Links are EXCELLENT layers, but in my opinion not as pretty or friendly. They are nice, just not as friendly as the BO and SS.

 

[Mary Chapman]

My ISA Brown lay every day. And they are HUGE eggs!!!!