4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[jennifer+simon]

hello, we are looking for a friendly breed which is also a great layer. we were going to get the gindernut rangers from omlet but there is a long wait. we are concidering the ranger/warren and the light sussex..... anyone know what these are like. we are also concerned about the noise the hens may make as we have a town garden. if you have any other suggestions on which hens to buy it would be appriciated. thank you!

[TOMWARDFARM]

From my experience evry hen I have had has been friendly as we have tamed them including white stars and colombines which are notoriously hard to tame.

 

The easiest to tame are the Hy-Lines and are very similar to the gingernut ranger, from POL when I had mine they would alllways jump onto the side of the run for a fuss before they went off for their food.

[Avalon Fantasy]

I really like the rangers for friendliness and ease.. but you know I think as with all things if you show it lots of love and attention thats is the best thing, our only other chicken is chikky, hes a cockerel and a light sussex and has lived in our house ect, been carried about and generelly molly coddled and now hes as tame as anything, he comes when you call him, he comes to the door to get us to come out, and he hops up onto the porch of the eglu for a cuddle..and if you`re watching tv and the doors open he clatters in over the stonework to see whats going on....

According to my farmy friends hes spoilt and wouldnt know what to do if faced by anything less than pink and frilly..L

 

Our neighbours have chickens and they run a blasted mile, you cant pick them up, they wont come when called and the reason in my thinking is that they dont go and see them or play with them... its a case of they are there just for the eggs!

They have children and even they dont go to see the chickens..

[TOMWARDFARM]

might be worth looking at the thread running i think it entitled 'newbie worries - foxes/lice etc' or something lol

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree, it's handling your chickens as soon as they arrive that makes them friendly. Some will be naturally aloof, but you can help by stroking them at bedtime when they're drowsy in the eglu and bribing them with food. We used to bring one hen at a time into the house for a cuddle on our knees in the evenings .

[Redwing]

I think Rangers/Warrens and Gingernut Rangers are one and the same hybrid. I have two and they are lovely, cheeky and super sweet (with me not with each other ) they are always the first to come and see what you are up to

[cathychic]

I have two Bovans Goldline and two Speckledys. The Goldlines are extremely docile and love being picked up. The speckledys have never got used to it and struggle after about 10 seconds.

 

I have also been told Bluebelles are very docile.

 

I get a huge amount of pleasure from picking up and cuddling my girls. It is very therapeutic. And Matilda who loves the attention actually lays the biggest eggs and it is not because she eats more than the others because she is actually 'bottom' chicken and usually gets the leftovers.

[Lewis]

We used to bring one hen at a time into the house for a cuddle on our knees in the evenings .

Oh the memories

When we first got the trio of bantams my friend came round and we all had a chicken and sat and watched tele I have a picture somewhere of him with a chicken on his head

We also used to go in sit in their coop, didn't last more than a few days when they'd christened it

[tidygirlsuk]

I too think it's alot to do with regular handling and length of time living with you, and age.

 

When i got my first girls one ate out of my hand straight away, another the day after, but it took a whole month for one of them to do it. Then i was able to pick the other two up but not her. I thought that she would never let me. Then she started to crouch (which they do just before they start laying) so i was able to get her. Now i pick them all up whenever i like and pop them on my lap and stroke them and they close their eyes and love it.

 

My next chickens where 4 banties, three of them where older when i had them and were not tame, so i only used to pick them up for health checks, but will eat out of my hand, One of them(a cockerel) needed antibiotics and i had him in the house and he's that tame now he doesn't leave my side, and waits at the back door for me. He is looking at me right now . I will add a picture when i get a chance. The 4th bantie was 18 weeks and wasn't tame at all she is getting better and i can pick her up now. its took a while though.

 

Sometimes it can be the birds personality or sometimes the breed but in alot of cases it can be turned around if you really make the effort.