Starting Over - Advise for Pet-able Chickens Needed

[Sharisr32]

I think that being breed specific is a waste of money and time- Chickens - like dogs, people and most living things do just that their own thing you have to raise them -and see if they will be pet quality each has a personality - I have scars from a cochin but my sebrights were gentle - Sebrights are known to be the pitbulls of chickens ( I still think cochins are the devils breed) my Buckeye were the most awesome with kids but I had a cranky one of those to - I'd buy an assortment and find out who is wanting to live on the petting farm---

 

[thndrdancr]

I personally love EE's and they lay the prettiest eggs, olive or blue tinted eggs. I have had a few that were absolutely spastic but they were also my most loving chickens in the end. They also come in such a WIDE range of colors and you can buy them sexed from the feed stores if you are so inclined.

 

[mstricer]

The nicest one I have is a 12 week old BCM that I hatched she was the only one to hatch, I didnt pay any more attention to her then the others but shes like a puppy. I call her name and she comes running I just leave her cage open so she can visit with the older BCM's that were mean to her, she will jump up on my shoulder while I feed and water everyone I heart her alot.

 

[teach1rusl]

Of the five breeds listed in my signature (all of which are listed as calm and/or friendly breeds), my buff orpington is my "cuddliest." At this point (6 months), all of my birds will jump up on my lap if they think I have FOOD somewhere on my person. I can pick them all up easily too. However, my BO is the only one who settles in for a snuggle/petting even with no food present. It's like cuddling a big fluffy feather pillow. Each of my chicks was handled frequently, and it continued as they grew up. So they've all had basically the same upbringing.

 

[patricium]

I think one of the big things is to get them as young as possible and spend a ton of time with them when they're tiny. I picked mine up twice a day, one at a time to make sure I got everybody. 3 of the 4 Buff Brahma bantams would shriek and run insanely every time, for about the first 2 months. As they got a little bigger, they calmed down a lot. The 3 Red Stars seemed more people-imprinted from the start. They always came over to look at us through the brooder wall. When they all moved outside, I would go sit with them and let them hop up on my lap to sunbathe. Now that it's winter, I still go do that, and it's very popular with them to warm their feet up. Being their primary caregiver seems to make a difference too, as they're not quite as friendly to my partner. I always move slowly and smoothly around them - I think of it as chicken-time, kind of like bullet-time.

I have limited experience in breeds - my Brahmas are more serene and snuggly, wanting to cuddle a lot. All four want their morning lap time. The Red Stars are more outgoing and adventurous - always the first to run up to see if you have any treats on you, but they're more fidgetty when snuggling. My Barred Rock bantam is a rooster, so can't really draw the same behavioral conclusions there, but he enjoys snuggles when he's cold. He likes to sit on my arm where he can keep an eye on everybody when I'm in the chicken chair.

 

[Chip Gilleland]

Our Blue Jersey Giant (Sparkley) is everyones favorite and very loving. Start by getting any breed to eat fish food flakes from your hand,They love them so much they will allow you to pet them once they are used to eating from your palm. From there, I just pick up any of our 4 hens with no problem. RIRs and BJGs are my recommendation because all of mine are very friendly and will come and hang out next to my feet when I'm sitting outside.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Silkies hands down. They are lovable and docile. And they will talk to you alot!

 

[LovinMyPeeps]

Oh I have got to vote for my Barred Rocks. They are sooo friendly fly to greet me, follow me around, like to be held, beg at the back door for treats, I love them to bits!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I suggest either the Silkies, Orpingtons, Sultan Bantams, Cochin Bantams, D'uccle Banams, Easter Eggers, Brahma Bantams, Old English Game Bantams!!!!!

 

[spamee34]

I have an ancona she is flighty and so are some of my rir's and my br's are not flighty just don't try to pet them but I have one rir that is soooo friendly she's the only one in the pin I can pet and she's cool with it the others will follow me around the pin and eat from my hand I just can't pet them unless they are eating but that's ok cause none of them but my ancona is slighty. We had alot to do with all our birds when they were growning up we always had them on feeding schedules so they saw us as a good thing entering their pin and feeding them . We also have kids that loved on them alot as babies so they knew us well and we fed treats often to make them happy to see us LOL. I think some breeds do not become friendly like leghorns they are very high strung and so are some americauna's I have had them before and they did not ever become friendly. It's just how much time you spend with them basically . I would say tho that the buff orpington's have all been really calm and didn't seem to mind us having something to do with them even picking them up and holding them was fine and I had a light brahma you could just sweep up when ever ya wanted but I have only had one of those she got some kind of skin condition and died I miss her but your major production breeds are just about all flighty but the sexlinks they are also very calm birds I have the red and have had some black one's too. I have to say tho that the most friendly birds I have had were my polish chooks but I live in a very wet place and the polish couldn't handle it so I lost the five I had they were so calm but they do not lay well . I had a white crested black he was so awesome he flew up on my shoulder every morning when I went out to feed and I also had a white crested white polish she was like a baby she'd fall asleep when you held her and folowed you around wherever you went . I think that's like a silkie it has a top hat so it doesn't freak out much cause it can't see you to run so they are easy to handle and tame very well I do not know how well they lay tho. So I would say for good egg production and good handling the brahma's the buff's or the sexlinks would be my choice of good natured birds or what everyone'else has said just spend lots of handling time with what ever ya want and you will know if they are gonna be friendly before long.