Active birds will not be happy in close confinement. Jersey Giants chickens are super friendly and quite calm and docile, too. There are plenty of friendly pet chicken breeds out there for you to consider as you build a docile, fun-loving flock of backyard chickens. We publish weekly guides and articles written by experienced chicken enthusiasts! 2. Some of the smartest chicken breeds are also quite friendly, meaning you can easily train a chicken to be a lap chicken of your own! While showing chickens is not a priority for most backyard flock masters, you should think about whether you might want to breed and/or show your chickens, somewhere down the road, before you start your flock. Ancona are some of the best layers, producing 5-7 eggs a week, though they have a tendency to be wilder than most and do enjoy a good fly once in a while, making them a bit harder to keep fenced in. We give the answer in this article. You’ll also receive an impressive four eggs or so each week from your hens. Naturally, however, within a breed there will always be variations. The Egyptian Fayoumi is a Mediterranean chicken that has to be one of the flightiest breeds out there. Egg Color: Brown. Now that you know what to look for in a friendly pet chicken, here are some of the most popular friendly chicken breeds. They may lay blue eggs but may also lay green, tan, pink or yellow eggs. This isn't an issue for many people. What Are the Best Animals to Keep With Chickens. that they are incredibly easy to handle. The Malay chicken is certainly not for everyone. Finally, if you plan on raising a friendly chicken breed as a pet, you will want to consider how easy it is to train. Remain on guard if you have a more aggressive chicken, but don’t turn away. However, once you trim the crest back, your chickens will not only be able to see better but will also be less nervous around you. Available in black, blue, or white, these chickens are good foragers, too. Booted Bantam Star chicks can be sexed at hatching time, making it easy for you to tell whether you are getting a hen or rooster – and thereby eliminating the likelihood of gender-related aggression in your flock. Hatchery breeders are more concerned with quantity than quality, but keep in mind that “quality” here refers to the APA standar… The first of the 5 Best Egg Laying Chicken Breeds is the White Leghorn is a hardy breed of chicken layers with a reputation of producing an average of 180 eggs per year. They enjoy being around humans and do well in confinement. To achieve this level of egg production, this breed needs good care, proper diet, and a conducive environment. Temperament: When choosing a breed, consider temperament. They are so tiny (often less than a pound or two!) Faverolles come in many colors, but the most popular is salmon. White Leghorn (And Brown) choice if you want a pet chicken, as it is not only friendly, but it loves to Polish chickens are gaining popularity as backyard chicken breeds, largely because they have a bizarre appearance that is prized by new chicken keepers. Download Planning Tool . Barbu D’Uccles are known for their proclivity toward perching on the head and shoulders of their owners, as well as for their enjoyment of being held and cuddled. And don’t forget – just because a chicken has a great personality, doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice on your “wishlist” in other departments. We have the chicken breeds that are for meat. Wyandotte chickens are frequently raised in backyard flocks because they are beautiful to look at – but they are also prized for their calm, sweet demeanor. They aren’t very friendly though, so they don’t do well with humans and other chickens. … Stand as tall as possible and if you can, avoid using a boot or stick as a protection measure – chickens often view these measures as threats. Instead, at the first sign of dominance, establish yourself at the top of the pecking order by grabbing the aggressive chicken by the feet and turning it upside down. mean chicken, however, and you’ll likely be met with silence or, in the very They are dual-purpose birds, however, and can also be raised for meat or exhibition. Best of all, Sultan chickens are docile and calm. Wyandotte chickens can also be raised for The White Leghorn is a productive chicken that can produce about 280 white eggs each year. Ideally, a friendly pet chicken will not only be docile around other chickens but will have the courage to stand up for itself if it is being bullied – this can prevent it from becoming injured by other more aggressive members of the flock. Ask anybody how to deal with an aggressive or To avoid such issues, selecting the right chicken breed is helpful. The APA still doesn’t recognize them as a breed however. They are mostly scavengers and are very resistant to diseases. After all, the best way to replenish your stock of meat chickens is naturally. You might not pick this chicken to be your pet, but if you are worried about potential predators this is one of the weariest breeds you can turn loose to free-range. If you have a small space in which to raise the birds, choose breeds with a calmer temperament and avoid birds that are listed as active. Suited best as an ornamental breed, the Booted Bantam is easy to tame to the point of becoming a pet since they are calm and very friendly. Hens are extremely quiet, and while these chickens are extremely fluffy, they don’t fly well. I have raised nearly twenty different breeds over the last seven years and temperament from breed to … This is one of the largest breeds in the world and is an ideal chicken for newcomers as they’re easy to manage. A docile chicken breed that is also easy to train, these birds are prolific layers, producing about 200 brown eggs each year. For example, think about how your chicken breed of choice will interact with other members of the flock – as well as chickens of other breeds. The golden comet chicken is created by getting a white rock hen and a New Hampshire rooster and mating them together. A derivative of the Chilean Araucana, American scientists bred the Ameraucana to preserve the distinctive light blue colored eggs of the Araucana, yet eliminate a gene that could cause chicks to die inside the egg. They are curious birds, so an indoor environment is recommended to keep these inquisitive chickens out of trouble. KnowYourChickens.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. Most prohibit at-home butchering, so you need to avoid meat birds as well. Some breeds are calmer than others. … Silkie chickens of any kind are popular choices for backyard flocks, but bantam birds tend to be the most popular. specific breed or genetics. They make one of the best free-range chicken breeds due to their ability to avoid predators. Orpingtons have friendly dispositions that make them great options for people seeking low-maintenance flocks. Don’t forget to offer your chickens a plentiful supply of different toys to help keep them entertained when you’re not around. Barbu D’Uccles are native to Belgium, specifically from the area near Uccle. Easter Eggers are the most-loved breed in the US as they can produce eggs in colors such as green, blue, and even pink. breed, it’s important that you also consider its disposition. For example, convincing the chickens that you are an alpha chicken can be quite beneficial. And to make matters worse, they attack other chickens if you have a mixed chicken yard. Strong egg layers but flighty birds, Andalusians are a rather active breed and can run very fast. The most accurate way of telling the two breeds apart is by looking at their combs. These birds are calm and docile – and an excellent breed of chicken for beginners and more experienced flock owners. Ameraucana Chicken: The Complete Breed Care & Info Guide, 18 Common Types of Chickens That Lay Colored Eggs, Can Chickens Swim? They have low wings and plenty of leg feathering, making them a beautiful addition to your backyard flock. They also tolerate cold climates very well. This is one of the largest breeds in the world and is an ideal chicken for newcomers as they’re easy to manage. However, there are some ways you can encourage your chickens to be friendlier, even if you don’t have one of the friendliest chicken breeds we already mentioned. Please seek advice from a certified veterinarian in a case of emergency. Last on our list of white chicken breeds is the White Australorp, which originated in Australia. The Ameraucana breed was (surprise!) The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Hens can become extremely cranky when they are broody and their nests are disturbed, while roosters are generally quite ornery in the first year of their lives (when their bodies are surging with hormones) as well as in the early spring. A calm, curious breed, the Barbu D’Uccle is known to occasionally fly but also does well in confinement. These chickens originated as court birds for the Sultans of the Ottoman empire. It is also one of the most aggressive it is advisable to ensure these birds are well socialized with any other chickens you may have to avoid a bloodbath. The Sussex chicken is another dual-purpose breed that lays about 250 eggs each year. They can be raised for both eggs and meat. That being said, the Silver Laced Serama is widely regarded as the most aggressive breed of chicken. via Visual Hunt / CC BY. Brahma chickens produce about 150 eggs each year. They need to be kept out of inclement weather, too, since their feathers aren’t like those of other chickens. Orpington chickens will be in the middle of the pecking order among other calm chicken breeds but can end up at the bottom of the pecking order with more aggressive breeds. Some of the more aggressive breeds seem to love bullying them. They are small, docile, and incredibly sweet. This is what made us, the typesofchicken.com team to prepare for our readers an article about the best dog breeds that can keep you, your … Some breeds are meant primarily as meat birds and grow at a much faster rate than others. However, these white chickens have beautiful appearances with large, puffy crests and vulture hocks. Chicken Breeds to Avoid in the Heat This fluffy, mellow bird is also quite cuddly. An excellent pick for a beginner flock, this chicken lays about 260 eggs each year. These chickens occasionally go broody and are great mothers, too. All Rights Reserved. Not only are these fluffy birds great egg producers, but they are also excellent pets. while it’s important that you consider the egg and/or meat output of your So keep an eye on your chickens, regardless of how heat-tolerant their breed allegedly is. But, there is some level of skill to succeed in a mixed flock. They are as close as possible to being wild, so they don’t make very good domestic birds. The Brahma can do everything, from lay eggs to become a filling dinner to win awards at a breed show. Their maturity period is six months and they lay an average of 3 to 10 eggs a month. The Fayoumi is best as an ornamental bird, as well as a research subject as they are resistant to many diseases. So while they aren’t great for egg production, these chickens are excellent when raised for meat. That being said, these chickens aren’t the best for raising in hot climates, as they have lots of fluff that can cause them to overheat during the worst parts of summer. If you want to get the most for your money and have chickens that allow for ample breeding, these breeds should be high up on your list. In fact, most chicken owners celebrate their varied flock. Plymouth Rocks are some of the most popular dual-purpose chicken breeds around. This breed was bred from the Orpington chicken as breeders sought a thriving dual-purpose chicken. They are easy to handle and while they aren’t well-suited to cold environments, they can easily be raised indoors, too. Easter Egger and Polish breeds are two types of chickens that you might want to avoid if you want a quiet coop. They both sport the iconic black and white barred pattern. The A-Z List of Breeds Ameraucana. Luckily, the Wyandotte is one of the quietest breeds of chickens. It is a French chicken from the Faverolles region. These chickens were developed in the 1900s and are bantam chickens. Everything You Should Know. The chicken itself does not view these behaviors as mean – after all, a chicken doesn’t know the difference. They’re a disruptive breed and aren’t worth having if you want some peace and quiet on the homestead. eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'chickenbreedslist_com-box-3','ezslot_1',138,'0','0']));Here you’ll find a list of 61 different chicken breeds. due to its small body and large comb. These birds have a tendency to be quite friendly and docile – they’re also relatively easy to train. Hamburg 1. This breed can be found in multiple color combinations, including mottled black, porcelain, and mille fleur. There are plenty of friendly chickens that are also great egg layers and meat producers, too. There are however some dog breeds that are more like puff balls than actual feathers, and white if. Feeders and can be bearded or non-bearded, but bantam birds tend to be one of the most homestead. 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