What would you say are the BEST tempered, GOOD laying, NICE looking hens?

[Alpine Bobwhite]

If you like leghorns but want a calmer bird, you might check out Austra Whites which are Australorpe/Leghorn crosses. Any chick I spent plenty of time with has turned out friendly, but some breeds are definitely calmer than others, startle less and are more tolerant of handling.

They look quite nice!

 

[5Australorpasaures]

We all have our bias. Me, I like solid colored Rock type birds. The most color you'll see in my yard are Barred Plymouth Rocks. Today I have Blk Australorps. In a few weeks I will probably pick up some Buff Rocks or Buff Orpingtons, maybe some RIRs.

 

[3KillerBs]

Temperament is both individual from bird to bird AND a matter of personal taste as to what defines "nice".

I love having a couple California White's in my flock because they're the dash of hot sauce in my flock of laid-back Australorps. But if you want a lap pet rather than a source of humor mixed with exasperation -- Repecka was on the coop roof yesterday -- you probably don't want a California White.

My friendliest hens were some Dominiques and my calmest are the French Cuckoo Marans. The Large-fowl silver-laced Cochin follows me around to the point that I periodically step back onto her foot feathers.

 

[Finnie]

Speckled Sussex are considered to be quite a friendly breed. And they are beautiful. I’m not sure if they are hugely prolific layers, but they are what I consider normal. Probably at least every other day. (I have never really checked how often my SS hen lays because her eggs blend in with all my other light brown eggs.)

Swedish Flower Hens also seem to check all 3 of your boxes.

Anconas get 2 out of 3. I’m not sure if they can be tamed. Probably if you raise them as pets.

 

[Krugerrand]

My golden comets have been super friendly and docile. They're egg laying machines. But, I can't say they look anything special.

 

[Iluveggers]

I would suggest Wyandottes, Orpingtons, Plymouth Rocks, and Speckled Sussex for beautiful birds. I also really like Ameraucanas. All of them we’ve had have been friendly & personable as well.

Would you consider getting a variety of individual birds? IMHO, I think a mixed flock is the most beautiful of all (& you can tell each chicken apart.) How many are you looking to get?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I really enjoy Appenzellar Spitzhauben. Blue Australorps are very good birds, too, and very pretty. And who can resist bantam Cochin s?

My Leghorn is a nice girl, but she's not a lap chicken. I think that level of friendliness comes from a combination of genetics and handlung.

My one bantam Cochin has started cuddling up with the pregnant barn cat and I am half wondering if she plans on kidnapping children in the near future She is sweet enough I could almost see her attempting to brood kittens

 

[RubelliteRose]

The breeds I have are EE, OE, Dominique, BCM, Speckled Sussex and Silver Leghorn. All are friendly and tolerate handling whether raised inside as chicks or by broody hens. I should add that my first broody became more human friendly while hatching and we spent A LOT of time in the coop with her and the babies, so they were socialized almost as much as the babies raised by us.
My lap birds are my EEs, Dominiques and my Silver Leghorn. The rest hang around me and sit beside me, but don't hop onto my lap.
As far as egg production, the EEs, Dominique and Leghorn are the best. The others are ok. My worst layers are one of my OEs and my Speckled Sussex.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

All of mine are either

Nice tempered and good looking
Or
Good layers and good looking

None that are all 3

 

[Sammster]

My RIRs are beautiful. They are highly productive. They are smart and personable, but NOT cuddly. Integrating new birds into a RIR flock takes time and patience.