[eneville]

We had a flock of three red hens (probably Warrens), they passed away and we then had a Reverse Sussex and a Plymouth Rock. Now, after getting a Pied Princess and another Warren like I'm pleased to see just how friendly the Warrens are in comparison to the others. This is all just based on my experience with a handful of birds, I'm in no way saying that you should experience the same, all creatures are individuals etc.

So, is this expected? Are there other breeds out there even friendlier?

[splash101]

I think you are absolutely right.
The first chickens we had were warrens and were so freindly. They'd come and eat out of your hand, they'd sit with you on the bench and generally happily be with you.
Everything else i've had (and there have been many) haven't been nearly as friendly. Not unfriendly but just not like the warrens.

[pepsi100]

I got Buff Orpingtons, even the cockerel is best mates with me, he likes being stroked and I dont think he crows that much (no idea what others think though) the hens sit down next to me in the garden, I just think they like the company

But I think its upto how you treat them, regardless of breed

[8doubles]

Warrens and similar hens were bred to be placid. A dozen hens to a battery cage you do not want any bird to be a fighter or easily frightened and upsetting the rest and lowering egg production.

I found that many of the pure breeds will be willing to say jump up on your knee to see if there are any treats going but they never like being handled.

I had a Goldline that was silly tame from the day i got her, the neighbour came around to tell me that she had escaped into her garden and was most upset when i walked straight to her and picked her up.

The neighbour had settled into a garden chair expecting a 20 minute Benny Hill style chase !

[Sassy]

I had a Cotswold Legbar that would jump up onto my back/shoulder/head and 'help' with my chores, the cockerel of the same breed and hatch was very timid.

[splash101]

  8doubles, many a time i've done the Benny Hill chase with Black Rocks. They were very quick and very springy.

[brookieme]

I have sussex and young brahmas. Two of the sussex like being handled and one will sit on my knee quite well. The Brahmas are only 14 weeks so are still timid but I am hoping they will be even friendlier. Hard to catch them at the moment, they are so fast but they grow to be huge birds that waddle around and hopefully will become tame.

[Prod]

I have 2 groups of Buff Orpingtons, both cockerels are like big pussycats & I think enjoy being picked up as do the hens, if I bend down to pick them up they sit there and wait. I know it sounds daft but my chickens free range so I have taught them that when I say 'bed bed' and with the help of a large thin stick I herd them to their coops and they just go in. The only exception is Eli, one of the BO cockerels, who has to walk around the coop at least six times before he goes in, it's like a game. I have still, and have kept, various breeds but the BO is most definitely the friendliest and easiest to pick up.

[8doubles]

I have 2 groups of Buff Orpingtons, both cockerels are like big pussycats & I think enjoy being picked up as do the hens, if I bend down to pick them up they sit there and wait. I know it sounds daft but my chickens free range so I have taught them that when I say 'bed bed' and with the help of a large thin stick I herd them to their coops and they just go in. The only exception is Eli, one of the BO cockerels, who has to walk around the coop at least six times before he goes in, it's like a game. I have still, and have kept, various breeds but the BO is most definitely the friendliest and easiest to pick up.

As long as you don't have a bad back.....................in which case a silkie is much easier !

[Prod]

I have 2 groups of Buff Orpingtons, both cockerels are like big pussycats & I think enjoy being picked up as do the hens, if I bend down to pick them up they sit there and wait. I know it sounds daft but my chickens free range so I have taught them that when I say 'bed bed' and with the help of a large thin stick I herd them to their coops and they just go in. The only exception is Eli, one of the BO cockerels, who has to walk around the coop at least six times before he goes in, it's like a game. I have still, and have kept, various breeds but the BO is most definitely the friendliest and easiest to pick up.

As long as you don't have a bad back.....................in which case a silkie is much easier !

Funny you should say that.... 10 years ago I suffered a prolapsed disc & was rushed into hospital for an  emergency operation. Despite telling them I am allergic to penicillen  and wearing a bracelet, you guessed, they gave me penicillin. I went into shock, coma you name it & I now suffer from neuropathy, which is the closing of the channels that carries your nerves and is random in it's attacks. Hence the stick   I can & do bend down but very very carefully.

Changing the subject my broody, Buffy, a BOxCream Legbar cross has just hatched 3 purebred BO's which I am hopeful are all hens, but she is the most ferocious and protective hen I have ever seen and I bear the scars to prove it!!!  Good luck with your choice.

[andy46]

I have four warrens and they are mega friendly will jump on my knee when outside with them.

[nerdle]

I'm biased but I love mah lil Pekin chicky girls... 

If I could go back in time I'd check them out as chicks.  I brought 3 home and Chock was instantly friendly and took food from me.  The others were more shy.  If I'd done that at the breeder's I might have found even friendlier ones.

[devonbarmygardener]

We have Brown Lohmanns and they are friendly to each other, but they go for our legs if you don't go into the run wearing wellies!!!
Olbas
We had a real mixture of breeds the first time around and they were dreadful - picking on each other, most of them had bald bottoms from all the hen-pecking that was going on!

[joyfull]

You can get friendly hens in all breeds as well as stand offish. Every bird is an individual however you can help to get them friendlier by hand feeding them treats.