[ludo2013]

Hello there. I'm new to this forum, and am after some advice please.  Having kept a very small number of hens in my garden several years ago (1 Maran, 1 Welsummer, 1 Australorp and 1 small feathery-footed bantam, all sadly dead now) , I would like to get a few more.  My problem is that I now have neighbours who use their garden alot in the spring and summer months, and I remember my Maran and Welsummer as being extremely loud birds.  Can anyone suggest any breeds that might be a bit quieter?  The books seem to suggest Australorp (my previous one was quiet), Plymouth Rock, or Pekin.  Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

[plumseverywhere]

We have a couple of pekin bantams tucked in with our hybrids and they certainly are quieter than the other breeds we have. Even the cockerel does a shorter, quieter crow!  Our bluebelles were quite quiet too.

[HesterF]

My Orpingtons are quite quiet I think although clearly steering clear of a cockerel would be a great start. The only time I hear mine shouting is if they've been flustered about something but it's rare.

[Padge]

As said pekins are lovely friendly little garden birds     best to avoid a cockerel for the noise 

[in the hills]

I think it also depends on your purpose for keeping hens. We have a mixture here - hybrids, RIR, Friesian Fowl, Pekins, etc. Pekins are wonderful, feisty, little hens and make tame "pets". However, they are not the best if you want an egg every day for breakfast  . Our "mixed colour" pekins lay remarkably well .... though nowhere near the laying capabilities of a hybrid. The "pure" colour pekins do not lay very well and speaking to breeders, this is generally the case. Also pekins are frequently broody ... so not laying and often needing to be popped in a cage to break their broodiness (otherwise they lose condition). They are characters and we love ours but I think are classed more as "ornamentals" as opposed to "layers".


If you want lots of eggs, then you probably can't beat hybrids. Never found them that noisy .... only after laying or when alarmed and even pekins can make a fuss then  . Usually Warren types are very calm and docile and do well in gardens.

[chrismahon]

Orpingtons are quiet. Wyandottes are noisy. Blackrock hybrids are quiet but ours died early.

[ludo2013]

Thanks all, that's given me a lot to think about.  I have kept warrens a very long time ago, but found that although quieter and definately very productive, they were lacking in the character (and beautiful-looking eggs) that I got from the 'fancier' breeds which I kept a few years later.  It certainly would seem that pekins are a popular choice, or orpingtons. Do they go broody as much as pekins does anyone know?

[chrismahon]

We have 4 Buff Orpingtons and all 4 went broody this week. 3 were sorted quickly by putting plant pots in the nest boxes but the 4th is being rather stubborn. Two weeks is the longest one has been in the cage. That should be it though for this year. Our blue, black and jubilee Orpingtons rarely went broody, if at all. The Buffs are derived by different breeding so perhaps they are to be avoided Ludo.

[Padge]

we've tried some Orpington banties   but they're only young yet

[in the hills]

Friend tried Orpingtons. Very broody and she personally found that hers were not very hardy or suited to life in the Welsh hills. This may not be the case generally though.