Just a thought - is there any reason you need to catch them. If they need "things doing" then after they have gone to sleep on the perches is a good time.
Probably if you want them as tame pets, I have heard that Buff Orpington, Cochin etc are good, though presumably they won't be great in the egg producing department.
If you are more interested in just egg production then go for a standard hybird such as any of the Brown commercial Warren types, and they are generally pretty quiet, or I have heard White Star are really good layers though flighty. Black Rocks are good all-rounders, but need plenty of free range or can become a bit pecky.
If egg quality rather than quantity is paramount then my choice is Cuckoo Marans and Cream Legbars, though in both of these a good utility based strain make a good account of themselves in the egg laying department, and can become really tame if time is spent with them.