Which chicken breed have you found to be the friendliest?

[Rietta]

Agree that it depend on the individual bird. I have a barred rock that I got as a chick that literally seems like she is talking to me. And an ameraucana hen and rooster I raised from chick that are great. The only negative is I am the only family member who can go into the run with the girls and not need a rooster shield. OKay, maybe not funny for other family members.

Mine are all friendly but most do not like to be picked up

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Modern Game Bantams have been my friendliest breed so far.

 

[Mandrogora]

It really depends on the animal. My light brahma likes to cuddle up in your lap. So does my silver laced wyandotte, but not as often. She also tends to peck more to get her point across. Like when she wants to sit on your lap and it's already taken. My sussex is super friendly but doesn't really like to be handled. She likes to be with us all the time and talks non stop. More of a helper type. My faverolle likes to held sometimes but mostly just by one person. She's usually off in her own world. Doing faverolle stuff and checking in from time to time. And contrary to other's experiences, my rhode island red is total sweetie. Not really a cuddler but has all kinds of things to say and is just a sweet gentle girl. That being said, all of them like hopping up on my back when I'm doing chores.

 

[Bluegenes]

I love my brahmas.
They’re very friendly,docile and quiet, they follow me around when I’m out working in the garden. Mine will jump up and sit on your lap if you’re sat anywhere near them.
They’re also good egg layers and make great broody mothers being able to cover extra eggs as they’re so big.
I’m planning on breeding mine this year, here’s some photos
View attachment 1660623

Beautiful birds! Have you ever shipped hatching eggs? I'd interested!

 

[Ptera]

Modern Game Bantams have been my friendliest breed so far.

I agree. I had some in the 1980s that I bought from an elderly breeder nearby. I'm sure he's no longer alive. I'd love to have some again but haven't ever seen any since then. Anyone in Maryland have any to sell?

 

[Ptera]

Speckled Sussex for sure. Also breeds meant for showing, like Phoenix, Yokahama, Long Tails. But the important part is that you start taming them from day old chicks.

 

[Bluegenes]

LF
Speckled Sussex
Brahmas
Certain EEs (I find their temperament much more variable since they are not a true breed. Some are wild, but the nice ones are about the nicest chicken out there. I have one who will literally run up t you and wedge her face/neck between your legs and stand there for as long as you will pet her just like a dog.)
I'm going to add I have also heard really wonderful things about Bielefelders and Euskal Oiloa if you're interested in rarer breeds. I'm getting both these this spring, so I can't say from personal experience.

Now I think bantams really shine in this area. They are just wonderful, d'uccles being pretty much my top choice of chicken ever, followed by d'anver, Dutch, Nankin, Serama, bantam Cochin, female OEGB. Silkies can be good, but they are not all as great as some people make them sound, IMO.

Breeds I have not been as impressed with (from hatcheries):
Wyandottes (very calm but never had one interested in being around me)
Orpingtons
LF Cochins (weird, crazy critters - I love the bantams, but not the LF)

Barred Rocks and RIR have been mixed. Some are friendly, some calm but not interested in you. Hatchery RIR can also seem to have trouble fitting in a flock. The ones I have seemed to not have good social skills and were either picked on or picking on others.

If you really want friendly birds what I'd recommend is order several of each breed you are interested in and then select the ones that are immediately the friendliest/tamest. The ones that run up to your hand in the brooder and like getting cuddles. I have never had a chick that is incredibly friendly turn out wild as a grown up. I have had some that started out wildish calm down, but not vice versa. Sexed female chicks are very easy to sell on Craigslist, FB, etc. so you can just sell those who aren't as friendly and make back some of your shipping money.

 

[BirdsOnTheInternet]

I checked out the articles on the different chicken breeds and almost all of them were listed as friendly LOL. I have had Two leghorns and one barred rock. Both are friendly and we’ve had them for several years, But all of them are skittish about being held. I know this is normal chicken behavior but are there any types that you’ve had that just seem extra friendly And even seem to enjoy being handled than others? Or, do you find that it really just depends on the particular chickens personality or perhaps how much you have handled them as They have grown?

I found the Orpingtons tend to be great for the backyard. They're fun and talkative, My Lavender Orpington comes inside the house to talk to himself and me. Silkies are also great because if you have a rooster the hens are very broody. Silkies are very soft and are very pretty breeds.

 

[Brahmachicken240]

Beautiful birds! Have you ever shipped hatching eggs? I'd interested!

Thanks
Haven’t yet, planning on doing so though.

 

[mandelyn]

Our Bresse have been the sweetest, consistently so. You can just go out there and boop them on the nose!

If you squat down at the door they'll come up for belly rubs. They might fly onto you. They're so "helpful" that you have to be careful not to step on them. They don't need to be handled a lot to get this way, they just are that way. Never a problem out of the boys. For a meat type bird, it's pretty ridiculous. They treat you like flock!

It varies a lot with the other types we have though the B/B/S Marans have been fairly friendly too, especially the girls. In the past I've had super friendly Red Sexlinks, Orpingtons of course, Wheaten Marans, Brahma and some others.

As a rule I don't treat them as pets, I don't hold them as babies or handle them much... some insist on being my friend anyways. With the Bresse though, it's always the whole group. The other breeds in a hatch will hang in the back when I open doors, the Bresse rush to the front ready to say Hi.