Favorite breed? (Relatively Quiet and Chill)

[Faraday40]

Much will depend on individual

Silkies are very cuddly - but our 9 year old hen will cry, whine, and moan when she sees my daughter and is being ignored. Lol However I normally would not think Silkies are loud.

If you have the opportunity to get a Dominique, they have some advantages over a Barred Rock. They are sweet, friendly, easy on the feed, can free range, softer feathers, winter hardy rose comb, and intelligent. They are curious and easily trained plus a heritage breed with several historical talking points. They have a sleek u-shaped body. —- In contrast, the Barred Rocks are slightly larger so they eat a little more but eggs are also larger. My main complaint with Barred Rocks is that they can be bullies.

 

[EvieChickenGirl]

For me, Cochins have been one of my favorite. Quiet, docile and chill. They can't get away from predators easily though and they are not egg-laying birds. Same with Orpingtons from my experience. My black sexl inks are amazing layers but are rather loud and I have 2 barred rocks who are quiet and great egglayers! Totally recommend Barred Rocks!

 

[Labsandchickens8]

I have both Light Sussex and Chocolate Silver Laced Orpingtons and both fit your criteria. They are quiet, dignified, friendly, very good layers, and are pretty to look at.

I have a speckled Sussex I love dearly. So know I really need a couple of light Sussex. Where did you get yours? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[BoundlessLove]

The Speckled Sussex are my favorite chicken breed. Friendly

Quiet? Nah, none of my chickens are quiet.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

I'm curious what everyone's favorite breed is.

I'm looking for a couple chill, friendly, quiet birds (I know, I know, no breed is quiet) who do well in confinement but also will be happy to free range the backyard when they get the chance.

I live in a neighborhood with close neighbors. The chickens will have a dog run with their coop attached (about 15sf per hen of space). I plan to have 3 or 4 laying hens.
They'll be in their coop/ run throughout the day, but when I get home from work they'll have a few hours to to free range before bed.

Thoughts on breeds?

I'm raising 4 right now, but two are for my friend
I currently have:

Whiting True Green (2 weeks old) - Winnie, she's kind of the black sheep. She's an absolute sweetheart and comes running to my hand when I put it in the brooder.
Easter Egger (2 weeks old) - Wanda, She's the boss, but is skittish and only cares about her food and scratching around.
Cream Legbar - (2 weeks old) - She only tolerates being touched or pet when she's super sleepy, otherwise she's pretty skittish
Bielfelder - (2 weeks old) - She's the smallest and the bully! She does not want anything to do with me, she is not a fan of being pet, or picked up, or eating from my hand, and she loves to pick on/ annoy the others.

Others I'm considering:

Amber Star
another Whiting True Green
True bred Ameraucana..?
Welsummer
Dominique (don't know much about these)
Barred Rock (just worry about this one being much larger than my others)

Please add your suggestions!

I have a Wesllsummer. She's a little bit of a bully but not terrible. My absolute favorite is my Speckled Sussex - she's sweet, friendly and not loud. My barred rock is actually not very friendly but she's very cute and not bossy. My Orpington is in between - not skittish and sweet but not quite a lap.chicken. Yet.
My Easter Eggers lay gorgeous eggs but always think I want to put them on the crock pot. Hoping they'll come around.
I was glad to read that Dominiques are sweet. I need to know if Wyandottes are good for a mixed flock. I really don't want another stinking bully. I have a mean Bresse that's got that angle covered.
I always read that Ameraucaunas can be flighty, and have wondered if that's why my Easter Eggers are so skittish.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I need to know if Wyandottes are good for a mixed flock. I really don't want another stinking bully. I have a mean Bresse that's got that angle covered.
I always read that Ameraucaunas can be flighty, and have wondered if that's why my Easter Eggers are so skittish.

They can be. My first wyandotte was a bit of a bully, kind of like you describe your welsummer. But my current wyandotte is super sweet, bottom of the pecking order and doesn't start drama.

Easter Eggers are a crapshot as far as flightiness. None of mine have ever been bullies, and a few of them have been very personable. My favorite chicken was an Easter egger.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

They can be. My first wyandotte was a bit of a bully, kind of like you describe your welsummer. But my current wyandotte is super sweet, bottom of the pecking order and doesn't start drama.

Easter Eggers are a crapshot as far as flightiness. None of mine have ever been bullies, and a few of them have been very personable. My favorite chicken was an Easter egger.

Thank you! I really want a Wyandotte so this makes me feel better.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I like Lavender Orpingtons for their color. Or anything blue or gray. If I placed an order for chicks I would get excited for a LO or disappointed if there was not one in there. This year I found a guy with pure LO rooster, and pure and not pure hens. I hatched our his babies, and will have a bunch to raise now. Mostly blue gray LO.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

I'm curious what everyone's favorite breed is.

I'm looking for a couple chill, friendly, quiet birds (I know, I know, no breed is quiet) who do well in confinement but also will be happy to free range the backyard when they get the chance.

I live in a neighborhood with close neighbors. The chickens will have a dog run with their coop attached (about 15sf per hen of space). I plan to have 3 or 4 laying hens.
They'll be in their coop/ run throughout the day, but when I get home from work they'll have a few hours to to free range before bed.

Thoughts on breeds?

I'm raising 4 right now, but two are for my friend
I currently have:

Whiting True Green (2 weeks old) - Winnie, she's kind of the black sheep. She's an absolute sweetheart and comes running to my hand when I put it in the brooder.
Easter Egger (2 weeks old) - Wanda, She's the boss, but is skittish and only cares about her food and scratching around.
Cream Legbar - (2 weeks old) - She only tolerates being touched or pet when she's super sleepy, otherwise she's pretty skittish
Bielfelder - (2 weeks old) - She's the smallest and the bully! She does not want anything to do with me, she is not a fan of being pet, or picked up, or eating from my hand, and she loves to pick on/ annoy the others.

Others I'm considering:

Amber Star
another Whiting True Green
True bred Ameraucana..?
Welsummer
Dominique (don't know much about these)
Barred Rock (just worry about this one being much larger than my others)

Please add your suggestions!

Orpingtons are nice, but with your worries about the Plymouth Barred Rock, I bet you would also say they're too big. however I keep both those breeds with White Leghorns, and the Leghorns actually seem more bossy and aggressive. my Orpington girls are nice to everyone, and my Barred Rocks vary by individual bird, but never as flighty and bossy as a Leghorn.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

Size doesn't always determine personality. 1 have 2 little Polish is a mixed flock of 10. The other 8 are all big girls. The Polish hold their own just fine. One of them went broody (which "never" happens. But chickens. . . ) and would literally chase the other hens around on the rare occasions she came off her "nest" and wouldn't allow anyone in the nest box. It was pretty entertaining but quite inconvenient for gathering eggs. She even bosses my sweet big Orpington.