Here is what I currently have: 1 EE, 1 Blue Andalusian, 1 RIR Unlike what I usually hear, my RIR is friendly but LOUD. My EE is by far the friendliest (I can call her and she jumps onto my arm) and the andalusian is really quiet, but when she does make noise, it's more of a quiet coo. Here's what I need: They're for eggs only so it does not need to be dual purpose, I'd like a good layer Heat tolerant- It gets up to about 120 here, the lows are rarely below 28 Quiet- I live in the middle of the city and don't want angry neighbors I would like them to be friendly to me, but that's not as important as them being friendly to the other hens. I'd like to get two different varieties so I have a good mix. I can only get two because where I live, the law says I can have 5 hens. I was thinking an australorp maybe? Barred rock?
I loved my black Australorp, i live close to my neibors and they never knew also my gold sex links were great layers and quite as well.
From my experience I definately would not go with BR. Mine are very dominant over my EE's and are constantly chasing them. I would think an Orpington or standard Cochin would work.
Yes Barred Rocks. I do turn the fan on mine here in the hottest of our North Carolina summer, which last year was at least 100. The have tolerated our cold here well, lows about 30 at night lately, course they are in a coop with a heat lamp of 100 watts. Extremely sweet natured and makes more cute noises than loud obtrusive ones. My Rhode Island Reds make an entirely differnet sound, more of the loud bwak bwak moises. The Rocks are chatty when I'm out there and all of them are noisey when laying an egg but other than the egg laying or socializing with me, they are quiet as mice! The Rocks are the ones that jump in my lap to be held and hugged on.
Get another Andalusian. I think they are beautiful. Or a brown Leghorn (or any Leghorn not production bred). The hens are mild mannered and they are very good layers.
My barred rocks are noisiest when someone is using the nest box they want to use. They are also most likely to start the "I just laid an egg" alarm. But, I luvs them anyways. They're super friendly and generally don't put up a panic when I catch one of them.
just make sure you quarantine them, when adding hens to an existing flock ... plenty of threads on this ...
I would say Brahmas, but mine suffered in the humidity...I'd stick her in a wading pool and she'd feel a little better. I think a Cochin might have the same problem. How about a Modern Game?
I want a turken or a showgirl so badly, but I'm sure they'd get sunburned. Maybe I can get one and get her a little chicken sombrero to keep the sun off!!