temperament of LF OEGB *hens*?

[patandchickens]

On another thread, in which I was trolling for ideas for nonfeatherfooted broodies, OEGB hens were suggested.

What can you tell me about their temperament? Are they reasonably calm or are they all whackadoodle sky-is-falling like campines and leghorns?

How are they when kept in a pen with other fairly easygoing birds such as EEs or speckled sussex?

How would they likely be with my kids? (Kids are not big on petting or picking up chickens, but I don't want chickens coming after 'em, either)

Thanks in advance,

Pat

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

In my expierience the hens have been especially calm. When they go broody they are very protective of thier eggs, and of thier chicks when they hatch. Other than that, they are generally great birds.

Also Ive never had any problems with them interacting with other breeds, they always get along great.

 

[Teach97]

OEGB

Hens are great...I have seen that the ones I have that go broody tend to be a bit more agressive than the ones that don't go broody...I do have a few roos that are mad at the world but others that enjoy being held...so temperment varies...same thing goes with reaction to other birds...I have some that get whooped others that give whoopings...I have one black rooster that is fine as long as nobody messes with him...he doesn't loose! Not top dog but just won't take nothing

 

[Bisqit&Gravy]

I love my OEGB!! All my hens are sweet and like to be touched. They even fly up to my shoulder or arm. My last rooster was nice but didn't want to be touched. The rooster I have now(T-Bone) is just too dang sweet. He's velcro to me as soon as I walk in their yard. He likes to be petted and demands it!! I usally have to scrap him off when I'm ready to leave. He also hatched here and got lots of attention as a baby along with the hens I kept.

Before T-Bone, I had MF's with my OEGB and my one huge silkie mix girl and everyone was fine. I just rehomed my MF's a few weeks ago once they healed up enough. T-Bone started picking on them and the hens joined in. They scalped one of the hens!! And pecked the other one to pieces.

 

[blackred]

Are you asking about Old English - Large Fowl or Bantams?
In your title you use LF and OEGB- the B stands for bantam

 

[AilsVonHelson]

My OEGB pullet, Athena is an absolute character. She's very quiet, but she likes to assert herself over the other females. She's no joke when it comes to the pecking order. She's second in command , coming second only to our standard golden phoenix hen.

She hasn't began to lay yet, so I don't quiet know how broody she is/ how egg-aggresive she is.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Oh! You are quite right. Don't mind me, I'm just an idiot

When I wrote the title before composing the post I was meaning to ask about the bantams but then changed my mind as I really dunno about banties in my unheated chicken building, so I stuck in LF and forgot to remove the B. Doh!

Anyhow, information on *either* is welcomed, as I don't really *know* about the temperature thing. It hasn't been below about 20 F this year. But I'm not a-gonna run a lamp for anyone.

Sorry for the confusion

,

Pat

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

In that case, my OEGBantams hens are the sweetest birds ever. All of them are very calm and love to be handled, some of the roos on the other hand have big attitudes for such small birds.

ETA: they are very cold hardy as well, for such small birds. It has been down in the single digits here a few times this year and in the teens alot, (not as cold as you) and my pens arent completly draft free and all of my OEGBs have been fine.

 

[sred98]

Well I had an OEGB and she was a sweetie. She wasn't real big on you holding her, but she would fly onto your shoulder and sit, or perch on your arm like a parrot. When we were in the yard, she'd stay a respectable distance, not underfoot, but following us. Unless we had snacks!

Then she was hopping on our feet, jumping up to the bag of treats, etc. Never aggressively, though. She just wanted to be first! LOL! We only got a few eggs out of her before she was eaten by a hawk, but she didn't go broody, although she watched you really close when you went to get them.

She flew really well, and would go up on the roof a lot. She was kind of Delaware colored, and looked like a dove flying. Absolutely gorgeous!

I clipped her wings after she accidentally flew into our neighbor's yard with the crazy dog. A hawk got her the next day.

I felt awful.

She was a really sweet bird, though. When she roosted, she would tuck herself up under my Dark Cornish hen like a baby. I think they are pretty cold hardy. Even for their size. Especially if you have more than one or two. They snuggle together. With my bantam, she was a wonderful bug catcher! She'd snap a fly out of mid-air and never even move!

I never wanted bantams, but I plan on getting more OEGB hens. They are really cool birds!

Shelly

 

[minna]

I have had both LF and batams, they were great. They do great with other chickens and have never came after anything. I'm not sure where you live, but my bantams have always done just as good in the cold as my LF.