Interesting how this running poll across three threads is going. Honestly, I think that it could easily be going, going, gone.
Individual differences will surely turn up a noisy hen in every breed, I think. And probably, flock dynamics what they are, there is probably a bird assigned the job of making noise or keeping quiet based on pecking order as much as temperament.
Until the vote against the Cuckoo Marans they were up to 3 votes as a quiet breed and running nearly abreast the Orpington. However, if we continue to allow a single black ball to disqualify, the Marans are OUT.
Folks with Welsummers have already voted but not one of them declared that they were quiet (or noisy). Keliejc, your Welsummer hen AND your Cuckoo Marans may both be exceptions to the rule. But, I'll include the Welsummer with a single vote for and none against. And by my reckoning, those Buff Orpingtons get another vote as Quiet Hens (with no votes as noisy):
Welsummer: 1
Cochin: 1
Andalusian: 1
Light Brahma: 1
Dorking: 1
Orpington: 5 votes for and none against
Now, I'm going to stop tallying these votes because I'm all but certain that they are going to get bumped off one after another. But, it is interesting to note how long the Marans lasted and how well the Orpingtons finished.
Steve