Silkies and Buff Orps are both broody breeds. The Silkies I find if handled a lot are not mean broodies - you can slip under them to collect eggs, you don't have hard pecks on your hands.
My friend's Buff Orp on the other hand is an overly protective broody, hard hand-pecking, and a bit pushy after her first brooding of chicks - she was almost 2 years old. My friend keeps her because there are no bantams in her flock.
My friend's Ameraucana and 3 EEs and my own Ameraucana are all the best layers in our flocks - as good as our White Legs. As far as I've researched the Ameraucana doesn't go broody or seldom does. Very vocal birds. They will continue a conversation with you just because you are talking to them. They are a kooky spooky skittish bird but not stand-offish like a Mediterranean breed. Easy to pet, easy to pickup. Ours chases stray cats out of the yard and makes a very vocal alarm. She yelps when we suddenly appear and she yelps when we disappear around a corner. She yelps when she hears noises or things flapping in the yard. I told my husband that sweet thing will have a heart attack at that rate. She entertains us hourly! Ameraucanas have sweet lovely temperaments and lay the prettiest blue eggs.
