However, not all chicken breeds are created equal. Some breeds are more suitable for families with children, while others are not.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the best chicken breeds for families to raise based on their temperament, personality, and egg-laying abilities.
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They left out the most docile and friendliest chicken I ever owned - the Naked Neck.
I've got Buff Orpingtons too, and while they're friendly as hell the Naked Neck is downright affectionate, running towards me when she sees me step out of the house and trying to jump into my arms. She even makes kind of a purring chirp whenever I pet her.
She's so docile that when her coopmate was killed by a feral dog a couple months ago, I put her in the other coop with the 'friendly' Buff Orpingtons for company and they bullied her so badly I had to put her back in her old coop by herself after a couple weeks. She just wouldn't stand up for herself.
Which wuns is bestest fer fuckin?
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you try cassowarys.
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I have Buff Orpington now, a great bird. I am thinking of getting some Rhode Islands. I almost bought some peeps at the farm store the other day. I just want a mixture. I've had many types and always like the Rhodes too.
ReplyDeleteWe first had two Black Australorps. Best birds ever. Heat tolerant, cold tolerant. Laid every day we had them, even in the winter with no light. Filthy fox got them.
DeleteWe now have two Buffs and a Bared Rock. Bared Rock is sweet, but my wife hates the Buffs. One is broody as hell, and they are loud as F. Also, they lay infrequently, while Bared Rock lays every day.
Anecdotally, I’d pass on the Buffs. Been hearing good things about Buckeyes, but can’t find them here in Idaho.
Had some Buffies and they were great. One Arikana I had was the best mom chicken ever.
DeleteI started out with RI Reds and eventually went to Buff Orpingtons.
DeleteBack to nature for some city folks.
ReplyDeleteMother: "Go get Suzy ready for dinner tonight, but do a better job plucking her than you did with Betty last week!"
I meant to add, I am also thinking of Golden Comet. Those I've never had. Any information out there?
ReplyDeleteHere's everything you need to know:
Deletehttps://www.thehappychickencoop.com/golden-comet/
Have never heard of that breed.
DeleteI still swear by Black Australorps. Best birds we’ve ever had. Sweet, quiet, hardy for cold and heat, lay eggs every day. I really enjoyed them.
I said above, I keep hearing good things about Buckeyes….but hard to get, West of the Mississippi.
Never heard of Naked Neck. I had the same experience with my Black Australorps. They were pets, not just egg producers. I miss those birds….
DeleteWhen my Sussex rooster (Click Norris) was finally killed by foxes, I got an Australorp rooster to replace him. That rooster was another nice rooster, but not a fighter like Cluck was. Foxes got him quick.
DeleteI have six Golden Comets in my flock. They are great foragers, they are friendly but do not act like pets. They lay well and get along with the other hens nicely. They like to fly for short distances and I sometimes have to dodge them at night when I distribute the corn treat.
DeleteAll in all, I have 30 birds. They are: 9 girls are almost 4 years old; 20 girls are 7 to 9 months old; a single rooster that is about 9 months old. The birds are an eclectic mix but 6 are Golden comets and 5 are Plymouth blues. I have a fair number of Araucanas and some are one-offs. My eggs are multi-colored; the majority are brown but we have pink, blue, light green, olive green, and an occasional gray egg. I have never seen olive green or gray eggs anywhere else. The eggs are medium to jumbo in size.
We get between 14 to 24 eggs a day out of the hens and our median is in the 18 to 19 eggs a day range. We have some regular customers for the eggs that call us when they are ready to buy; they consume roughly what we have in production. The money we make from sales just about covers our opex (food, cartons, travel), so the eggs we consume are practically free. We buy commercial feed directly from the manufacturer at 2/3 the cost at farm stores.
The birds are fun. They think my wife and I are super chickens with access to the best food. We protect them from wild and feral animals. They are our friends. We have let some of the older girls hang around even if their production is lower now simply because we don't have it in us to kill them.
I'm a fan of the Barred Rocks, it's what I've primarily kept over the years, but Rhode Island Reds are good as well......
ReplyDeleteI'm more interested in egg and meat production than being docile or affectionate..
JD
I'm in the minority, I know, but I hate Buff Orpingtons. Every one I have ever had was extremely mean to the other hens. Just dispatched one yesterday because I got tired of her picking on everyone. Our favorites are Light Brahmas, very docile, get along with everyone.
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean about affectionate chickens, Kenny. It was a Rhode Island Red who turned me into putty when I was chicken-sitting a few years back. Might be partly just plain disbelief that a chicken can be so sweet and actually be trying to bond with a human, but it's just downright great to cuddle with a hen!
ReplyDeleteBought some brown leghorns a few weeks ago, thinking about getting some black jersey giants in a couple weeks when they’re ready. Have got some cinnamon queens, that lay good, but none are real friendly. Have lost several to raccoons this fall, and need to replace them
ReplyDeleteGreat names for chickens...reminds me of a lady I dateda while back, she gave me a Golden Comet....sort of.
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