orp_lover Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Having decided that Orpington's will be too big, we have decided to look at a local breeder's chickens tomorrow. The ones we are fancying are WARRENS, BLACK ROCKS, BLUEBELLS and LIGHT SUSSEX. Does anyone have any knowledge of these breeds? We want chickens that are docile, friendly and inquisitive. Are LIGHT SUSSEX less so than the others I have mentioned? Also, if I later decided to add a pekin to the coop, is it likely the pekin would be bullied? It just worries me because they are that much smaller. Thanks guys, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 The ones you are suggesting are hybrids, so they should be relatively friendly and lay plently of eggs. Light sussex, I have heard, can be flighty but any chicken can be no matter what breed they are!I have plenty of experience with warrens as we have 7, and we have a lovely bluebell. We have a copper maran, which is a hybrid almost identical to the black rock, who is lovely too. I would recommend hybrids over purebreds, but I love all our hybrids (warrens, copper maran, bluebell, amber star) so can't really choose between them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daffodill Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 I have 2 sussex and they are so friendly with other chickens and humans, they allowed 2 new buff orpintons into the flock after 1 afternoon of separation no problems, if anything they are the silliest chickens I have, but I love them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 (edited) Lovely choice of girls My Warrens (actually, rescued barn hens) are the friendliest, scattiest, funniest girls I have and love to sit on my lap, given half a chance My Blackrock is very clever, the boss, a bit of a hooligan and makes the others toe the line, she just LOVES to dig (as does my new Suffolk Noir, another dark hybrid). My Sussex Star is a big girl but quiet and mlore reserved that my barnies, and my new Columbine and White Star are skittish and still nervous (but they only moved in 2 weeks ago!). But they are all tame, docile, inquisitive and come back to me and into the run happily at the shake of a mealworm tub! And as for pekins, I don't know exactly but think they'd be a fair bit smaller and so need special care - my lot would bully them and could do a lot of damage HTH Edited May 10, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 How about bantam Orps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted May 10, 2010 Share Posted May 10, 2010 Aww I have a bantam orp and she is lovely, but i also have 2 light sussex and they are the friendliest funniest chooks of them all. Took a few 'night time' cuddles to calm them down but so worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Sussex are lovely docile birds and they're great layers too, but mine are all bantams and are predisposed to broodiness - all three are on eggs at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted May 11, 2010 Share Posted May 11, 2010 Mine are all bantams - the pekins and one of the plymouth rocks are very friendly and docile towards people. Perhaps it just comes down to individual personality? The pekins are smaller than the other 3 but are very feisty and give the others a run for their money eg Janice the pekin is broody and was pecking the sussex who dared intrude in HER nestbox! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
