Possum-Pie
Songster
We got a Buff Orpington, a Barrd Rock, and two black Austrolorps 2 1/2 years ago. We recently introduced 4 new 2-year-old hens adopted from someone who couldn't keep them. Another Barrd Rock, another black Austrolorp, an easter egger, and a Silver Laced Wyandotte.
We have 1 Rooster, a Welsummer and he gets along with all of the hens.
My observation is that the two Barrd Rocks are both bullies. They don't harm anyone else but push and peck everyone out of their way to get food/treats/water. They will be munching on a pile of cracked corn and see the others pecking at a different pile, and run over and push them away.
The Buff Orpington was the sweetest, most laid-back hen I had, but a hawk got her.
The two black Austrolorps are laid back but near the top of the pecking order. Not intimidated by Barrd Rocks, just ignore them. They generally roost beside the rooster. One of my original Austrolorps died of unknown causes.
The Easter egger and the Wyandotte are the bottom rung of the pecking order. If ANY of the other hens come near, they quickly move aside. They are inseparable, eating, drinking, and foraging together. They often spend much of the day crammed in one nesting box if the others come in the coop, and won't go into the run unless I put them there.
SO.....Question: Do Barrd Rocks tend to be mean in general? I'm considering getting rid of them b/c there is no breaking them of this constant bullying. Are EEs and SLWs prone to being bullied? I didn't know the history of them before I got them, only that they came from a flock of 16 hens. I don't want to over-generalize a breed's behaviors, each bird is different, but what are your experiences with these breeds? The internet reads like a Horoscope when Googling a breed's temperament: "Super-friendly, laid-back, sweet, etc" for every breed. One site did mention that Plymouth Rock's in general can bully, but that was all I could find.
We have 1 Rooster, a Welsummer and he gets along with all of the hens.
My observation is that the two Barrd Rocks are both bullies. They don't harm anyone else but push and peck everyone out of their way to get food/treats/water. They will be munching on a pile of cracked corn and see the others pecking at a different pile, and run over and push them away.
The Buff Orpington was the sweetest, most laid-back hen I had, but a hawk got her.
The two black Austrolorps are laid back but near the top of the pecking order. Not intimidated by Barrd Rocks, just ignore them. They generally roost beside the rooster. One of my original Austrolorps died of unknown causes.
The Easter egger and the Wyandotte are the bottom rung of the pecking order. If ANY of the other hens come near, they quickly move aside. They are inseparable, eating, drinking, and foraging together. They often spend much of the day crammed in one nesting box if the others come in the coop, and won't go into the run unless I put them there.
SO.....Question: Do Barrd Rocks tend to be mean in general? I'm considering getting rid of them b/c there is no breaking them of this constant bullying. Are EEs and SLWs prone to being bullied? I didn't know the history of them before I got them, only that they came from a flock of 16 hens. I don't want to over-generalize a breed's behaviors, each bird is different, but what are your experiences with these breeds? The internet reads like a Horoscope when Googling a breed's temperament: "Super-friendly, laid-back, sweet, etc" for every breed. One site did mention that Plymouth Rock's in general can bully, but that was all I could find.