what do you like about the various rocks, buff orpingtons, astrolorps?

[Lothiriel]

Barred Rocks are very sweet birds. They lay very well, and have awesome temperaments, and endure cold (at least around here, where it can get down to a few degrees below zero). And I can tell you about setting! One of mine sat in the box for the entire 21 days straight! (On nothing though. No roo to fertilize the eggs, so I took them.)

Black Australorps... *sigh* I REALLY wish that I had more. They are the best of all the breeds I have had (that includes RIR, NHR, BR, ??, SLW, and themselves, BA). The one I have left (the others had to go to the butcher

) lays an egg every day, and she's 3 years old. One of the others (before she got taken away) did the same thing as my BR.

All chickens are curious about shiny things, so just no allowing the chickens to sit on shoulders or too close to the face. (I know from experience!) My younger siblings (4 and 7) adore my chickens, and they have never had an "accident" with them.

Those are the only two of the breeds you're asking about that I have owned, so in all, I'd say that you'd be really pleased.

 

[FractalFarmer]

I have BO's and BR's. Both are sweet and friendly, and great with my kids (11 & 9).

BO's: Fun & friendly. I find that mine are only aggressive (with other hens) where food is concerned. The BO's are always the first to run up when I go out with the scratch cup or the compost bucket. They'll dive under a moving shovel to get a worm. Hungry little beasts, but very gentle. Also they're very quiet; I hardly ever hear them clucking.

BR's: Our older hen stays more to herself, but the younger pullet seems to like being handled. She's our "most catchable" bird, so the kids get to pet her a lot. If noise is a factor for you, my BR's are much louder than the BO's. They have a tragic sounding honk that can go on for awhile. Our BR cockerel (whom we just re-homed

) was the nicest little thing ever. Loads of personality; we miss him like crazy.

They're not laying yet (any day now, girls!) so I can't speak to that. But they are both nice birds.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Quote:
Oh, but you gotta love the BR honk! It's hilarious!

I think that my RIR gives the BR a run for her noise money. The BR seems to make noisier outbursts, but the RIR is just pretty chatty in general. She's always muttering bbbbbrrrrrraaaaaaaaaakkkk.

 

[farmerlor]

We have all those breeds and as many have said, they're all wonderful chickens with good temperment and great egg laying abilities. My little BR is the alpha chicken which is seriously weird as she's the smallest chicken other than the Wyandottes so she's out there bossing all these big, heavy Orps and RIRs around ..... some kind of Napoleon complex... and yet, she's the one who always rushes over to me to be picked up. The Buff Orp scares the kids because she's always pecking at their shoes but she only does that because she's looking for food and has NO fear of humans.

 

[digitS']

I have had Buff Orpingtons and now have Barred Rocks and Black Australorps.

One of my BO's did a good job as a setter but over many years of chicken-keeping, that was the only time I allowed setting on eggs. I go to the feed store and purchased chicks and it is usually Black Australorps that I'm looking for.

They are quiet but active birds that fit well with my style of care - really, they all do. The BA's are the best layers.

My BR's are larger birds than the BA's but lay smaller eggs. One is quite noisy. In fact, I'll say that she is very noisy. The other BR is a talker but never cackles. She's a good hen and was the 1st to lay out of the group.

For quiet, docile birds you might want to put the Buff Orpingtons at #1 but I think the Australorp are the best, all around.

Steve

 

[vermontgal]

I like my barred rocks, but when I was planning to get chickens, I really wanted to get partridge rocks instead.

Here's what KrisRose had to say at the time about barred vs. partridge rocks:
"I also have Partridge Rocks. They are large birds and matured slowly. Did not start laying till about 6 months and now that they are close to a year old the eggs have finally increased in size in size to large/xlarge. At first I was disappointed in them, skittish and puny eggs, but now they are very friendly and have become some of my most reliable egg layers. In contrast, all my ISA Brown's (hybrids) had egg binding issues in their 5 to 6 month. They started laying at 4 months and -boom - started laying large to xlarge eggs immediately. I'm lucky I did'nt lose any of them. So if you are looking for long term egg layers they will probably do just fine. You just have to be a bit patient with them as they take a long time to mature. My Barred Rocks are not that friendly but they did start large egg production sooner. Others talk about how sweet they are and mine are starting to let me touch them."

I would also be interested to hear other opinions about Partridge vs. Barred Rocks.

I really like my barred rocks now, but next time around, I may still try for partridge rocks.

My accidental NHR, on the other hand, is destined for Craigslist in the spring. I don't like her, she makes awful wailing noises, she doesn't like me, and she beats up on my favorite chicken. Not only that, but I made the mistake of naming her after Sarah Palin. (darn, I still want to photoshop those glasses on to the chicken's pic...)

 

[cjstanman]

I started out with 5 BRs and 1 BA. (Found out 2 of the BRs were boys, so they're in my freezer now.) So I'm left with 1 BA and 3 BRs.

The boys were very friendly and curious, always would eat out of my hand. I never did handle them muchl so I don't know about the whole jump-on-my-shoulder thing, but they all have been very friendly and funny. One of the BR girls just started laying and just talks, talks, talks. They are all very chatty.

The BA seems to have a stronger personality and is more bossy, but no one has gotten pecked or picked on.

Cold temps haven't phased them one bit.

 

[divinemercy]

Our Black Australorp is one of our sweetest birds. Yes, she is larger than the others, but even my five year old is able to pick her up and carry her around.

 

[A2SciTeach]

I have Buff Orpingtons -18 weeks old. The BOs are so friendly, come right up to me and love to be petted. They are curious and if chickens could be called smart, I think they are. As someone already said, they are quiet cluckers, make lots of interesting noises. Two started laying eggs this week, in the nesting boxes without any issues or fanfare. Compared to the 18 week stand-offish Silver Laced Wyandottes, they are much more like pets. I'm sure whatever you decide, the kids will adore them! Chickens + Children =

 

[JennsPeeps]

Today I noticed that my BR sounds an awful lot like a seagull crossed with a goose.

I couldn't see my BSL because she was my shadow any time I was in the yard today!