Favorite breed? (Relatively Quiet and Chill)

[new_mama]

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!

 

[2ndTink]

I've had good experience with Dark Brahma's and Swedish Flower Hens. My most friendly and interactive are the Swedish by far, down right pesky

 

[Rose the Legbar]

My friendliest are my faverolles, ameraucana based EE, and my appenzeller spitzhaubens! Faverolles are kinda stupid but very sweet. they are quite talkative but it could just be my girls. My EE is super quiet and super sweet, she lays very nicely too. The appenzeller spitzhaubens seem like a funky choice but mine are incredibly sweet and friendly (chamois and gold varieties).

 

[new_mama]

I've had good experience with Dark Brahma's and Swedish Flower Hens. My most friendly and interactive are the Swedish by far, down right pesky

That's so interesting! I've always heard the opposite about the Swedish

 

[SilkieMom0406]

SILKIES!!! They're docile, friendly, great with kids, and generally quiet. The only con about them is low egg production...

 

[tviss711]

I can't speak highly enough of the Speckled Sussex. I got two on a whim last year, and they were absolutely the friendliest birds I've ever owned. I lost them to dogs a few months ago, but a friend gave me a new little speckled Sussex chick (named Beans) to raise with my new pullets, and even as a week old chick she is so laid back and happy to climb into my hand when I offer it to her in the brooder.
I also have a friend who kept Brahmas and swore up and down by their temperaments, but I haven't personally owned one before.

 

[Iluveggers]

Agree w above that Specked Sussex are amazing, friendly, gentle & quiet!

I would highly recommend NOT getting a Welsummer. We love ours, she is very friendly, likes being held, but she is LOUD. Many people say the same thing. Her voice level is decibels above my other hens, and not just when laying an egg. If you need a quiet breed I would stay away from this one!

 

[Carrot_Mama]

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.

 

[DLA]

My wyandotte hens (silver and gold laced) are pretty quiet and friendly, they're also beautiful. My RIR and barred rock hens are very friendly and interactive but also very vocal and loud. The easter eggers and olive egger hens are medium noise, not overly friendly and two are quite skittish. The surprise EE rooster has turned out to be very much the gentleman and well behaved, he crows a good amount throughout the day but he's not excessively loud. He lets me pick him up to keep his spurs and toe nails clipped with no fuss. He's clucks but doesn't get aggressive when I handle his hens. I am not afraid of turning my back on him which is something I never thought I'd say about a rooster. The two rhode island blue hens are pretty mellow, somewhat friendly, and not overly noisy either which I wasn't expecting with the RIR in their breeding.

 

[townchicks]

Oh gosh, they are all such individuals, I don't even generalize any more. My experience has been frequently just the opposite of most. My buff orp was the most skittish of all the chickens I have owned, my RIR was the friendliest, and never picked on any flockmates. My first 3 EEs were pretty quiet, but my current EE is the LOUDEST hen in the world. She yells about everything at the top of her lungs. It's all a crap shoot. Cross your fingers and give your neighbors eggs.