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What other chickens mix well with buff orpingtons? (B.O. roo too)

post #1 of 13
10/31/10 at 12:04pm
Thread Starter 

I have always wanted silkies, but I am guessing it will be impossible to keep a few silkie hens happy and healthy with a big ole' BO roo tearing up the place, now wouldn't it?  I am guessing I won't even be able to try polish again?

What kind of ornamental/layer hens CAN I keep with a B.O. roo?

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Own: 6 dogs, 8 parrots, 2 bunnies, 2 frogs, 18 chickens, 2 aquariums.
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John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Own: 6 dogs, 8 parrots, 2 bunnies, 2 frogs, 18 chickens, 2 aquariums.
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post #2 of 13
11/2/10 at 2:35pm

It really depends on your preference and desires. Other Orp varieties would work. Do you want color and variety or purity?
We had a few silkies and the size difference was too much as the silkies started getting torn up after he had worn out their feathering. We have a few Wyandottes mixed with ours too. The offspring from both crosses were absolutely beautiful. The silkies had a few male chicks with a Wyandotte roo and their lacing and coloration was more beautiful than the pure SLW father.

Good luck on your selection.
Bill

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post #3 of 13
11/2/10 at 2:38pm

i have a bo hen and her best friend is my silver laced wyandotte.  i also have a polish and a silkie in with them and they dont fight.  they also do well with black australorps auracana rhode island red cornish seramas marans and barred rocks.  over all they are friendly and i have yet to find a chicken they dont get along with

UK IMPORT ORPINGTONS -    www.ewecrazyfarms.com

LF CHOCOLATE ORPINGTONS, MOTTLED ORPINGTONS, SILVER LACED ORPINGTONS, LEGBAR ORPINGTONS, BLACK ORPINGTONS, AND JUBILEE ORPINGTONS.

 

Also have : Svart Honas, Cream Legbars, Olandsk Dwarf, and French Black Copper Marans

 

Katahdin Sheep - Breeding and commercial stock. Ewes and Rams AVAILABLE. PM for info 

 

 

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UK IMPORT ORPINGTONS -    www.ewecrazyfarms.com

LF CHOCOLATE ORPINGTONS, MOTTLED ORPINGTONS, SILVER LACED ORPINGTONS, LEGBAR ORPINGTONS, BLACK ORPINGTONS, AND JUBILEE ORPINGTONS.

 

Also have : Svart Honas, Cream Legbars, Olandsk Dwarf, and French Black Copper Marans

 

Katahdin Sheep - Breeding and commercial stock. Ewes and Rams AVAILABLE. PM for info 

 

 

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post #4 of 13
11/2/10 at 2:47pm
  • gryeyes
  • Platinum Poultry
  • Covered in Pet Hair & Feathers

I have a TOTALLY mixed flock, with 1 BO hen in amongst all the ones in my signature paragraph.  She gets along with all of 'em.  They're pretty together, too. 

What I think would be a striking flock is BOs and BAs.   lol  Black and orange chickens!  And they're about the same size, and marginally related breeds. 

Just a thought.

-- Linda (AKA: gryeyes)
I refuse to fight a battle of wits with an unarmed person.

Buncha Outdoor PET chickens, ducks, two Toulouse ganders, and four turkeys. Plus 2 wiener dogs, some bunnies and a rescue cat which owns me. Oh. And a house silkie....

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-- Linda (AKA: gryeyes)
I refuse to fight a battle of wits with an unarmed person.

Buncha Outdoor PET chickens, ducks, two Toulouse ganders, and four turkeys. Plus 2 wiener dogs, some bunnies and a rescue cat which owns me. Oh. And a house silkie....

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post #5 of 13
11/2/10 at 2:52pm

I have Orps - heritage.  My Roo is a very large boy.  He lives with bantams - a cochin hen, rosecomb roo, rir roo, rir/rosecomb pullet - shares a coop, run and freeranges with them.  He was added to my flock when he was already an adult rooster and my little guys were about 8 months old.  Have never had a problem with the Orp and the bantams.

Depending upon your roo - I say go for it - get your silkies.

Here is a picture from last year.  My roo Versace is on the right - the little tiny splash hen in the middle of the photo is a full grown Rosecomb hen - a few more bantams on the let.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk5/EquineFeatherz/Chicks/little%20chickens/DSC_0788.jpg

Fowl adventures happening daily       

"Poultry- they may be your pets, they may be your hobby, they may be your livestock. But remember, if you fall down in the pen, unconscious? They WILL eat you." ~ Sally/Ranchie - we miss you.
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Fowl adventures happening daily       

"Poultry- they may be your pets, they may be your hobby, they may be your livestock. But remember, if you fall down in the pen, unconscious? They WILL eat you." ~ Sally/Ranchie - we miss you.
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post #6 of 13
11/2/10 at 4:50pm

My three girls get along just fine.  They really are pretty and stand out red/yellow/black.

Ai-chan (RIR), Ruby (BA), and Lulu (BO).
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Ai-chan (RIR), Ruby (BA), and Lulu (BO).
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post #7 of 13
11/2/10 at 4:53pm

Light Sussex are pretty, large enough for a buff orp roo, and about as mild as BOs.

Caretaker of a lovely mixed flock including: australorp, plymouth rocks, wyandotte, d'uccles, silkies, EEs, andalusian, and a few seramas, plus a golden retriever, great dane, and three cats.
R.I.P. Bear 2010 - "The Best Dog Ever"

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Caretaker of a lovely mixed flock including: australorp, plymouth rocks, wyandotte, d'uccles, silkies, EEs, andalusian, and a few seramas, plus a golden retriever, great dane, and three cats.
R.I.P. Bear 2010 - "The Best Dog Ever"

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post #8 of 13
11/2/10 at 5:18pm
Thread Starter 

I've actually gotten really interested in Delawares!  What about those?  They're about the same size and all. 

I don't know, my roo is quite the gentleman, but he's still very large!  We had tried some polish once before, and the ONE hen I got out of four straight run chicks got killed by the other three polish and the two BO roos before we could butcher them all. 

I am going to go and measure my coop here, and I would like some input on exactly how many chickens can be kept happily/successfully in it.  Thanks for your input, all!

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Own: 6 dogs, 8 parrots, 2 bunnies, 2 frogs, 18 chickens, 2 aquariums.
Reply
John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Own: 6 dogs, 8 parrots, 2 bunnies, 2 frogs, 18 chickens, 2 aquariums.
Reply
post #9 of 13
11/2/10 at 8:27pm

The suggested room for each:  standard size bird is 4sq ft inside the coop and 10 sq ft  in the run..  If you free range every day/ most of the day -you could get by w/ less space... BUT remember if you have lots of ice/snow they will have to be cooped up together more often..

I had a BO roo and have 2 BO hens and would never put a bantam in w/ them.. The roo was too rough on my full size hens and he was rehomed.. The hens are bossy and in charge... BUT I know most people say they are very nice... so I have the exception to the rule... 

I love my Barred Rock hens.. They are beautiful, they are laying machines, they are nice but not cuddly and will not be 'pushed' around but will not pick a fight...

2 RIR, 2 BO, 1 BR,  4 true Ameraucanas, 2 Black Copper Marans  --looking to add a few SLW, GLW and Blue Copper Marans --Oh, the Chicken Math!!!
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2 RIR, 2 BO, 1 BR,  4 true Ameraucanas, 2 Black Copper Marans  --looking to add a few SLW, GLW and Blue Copper Marans --Oh, the Chicken Math!!!
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post #10 of 13
11/2/10 at 8:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gryeyes 

I have a TOTALLY mixed flock, with 1 BO hen in amongst all the ones in my signature paragraph.  She gets along with all of 'em.


And my BO is a total jerk. rant Most of the others hens don't like to be around her, except perhaps the Dark Brahma. Just tonight when I went to close up the coop, the Plymouth Rock was off by herself on the roost. I quickly figured out it was because Cashew was next to her. I relocated the PR to the middle of the roost and she was very happy.

Cashew thinks I'm the cats meow and wants nothing more than to sit on my lap.  D

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Managing Your Flock › What other chickens mix well with buff orpingtons? (B.O. roo too)