We have 3 adult Rhode Island Reds in our flock. We started with a RIR, an Easter Egger and a Polish. I wouldn't have identified any of them as being highest in the pecking order; they were all buddies and it was pretty peaceful. Then I adopted 2 adult RIRs (they came with them names Betty and Veronica) from a friend, and everything that I read about new birds getting picked on left me unprepared for them to arrive and step up to the top of the pecking order. They bullied my 3 around for a week, until my RIR joined their clique and the 3 of them have been top of the pecking order ever since (we now have even more chickens than just the EE and Polish).
I am glad they integrated into our flock well, and the other chickens usually just stay out of their way. Betty, Veronica and Apple Jack are the queenly trio, and want first food, first water, and plenty of personal space from the other chickens. If the 8 week old chicks come too near, the largest RIR will peck it squarely on the back, and once even yanked out a beak full of feathers. They are all decently friendly to people, however, and usually if I reach out to pet them, they stay put and let me pet their back and neck for a few seconds before they dash off. My kids catch them and carry them around, and once in arms, they are gentle and easy to handle. They are pretty big birds too, though I've never weighed them.
Betty
They are my 3 brown egg layers and every single day I can count on at least 2 brown eggs, and often 3. One of the adopted RIRs lays an egg so big I can't close an egg carton for extra-large eggs around it if it's inside. I thought it would be a double yolker the first time I got one, but it wasn't and never has been. Just one GIANORMOUS egg. The other lays a pinkish brown egg. The third, Apple Jack (our original RIR) lays a bumpy brown egg that occasionally has speckles on it. They are lovely and taste delicious. I am pleased that they are such dedicated layers. The original RIR even laid throughout most of the winter, only stopping for about 5 weeks in January-February. I don't know how Betty and Veronica do in the winter yet.
I would never want to have a minority of other-breed chickens in a small flock, but in my experience, as long as the other chickens out number the RIRs, the Rhode Islands can't get too aggressive because they can't chase them all at once. But (for example) 3 RIRs and 1-2 chickens of another breed would probably be bad news. They seem to be able to tell who looks the same as them, and exclude those who don't! (Racists? Breedists? LOL).
I am glad they integrated into our flock well, and the other chickens usually just stay out of their way. Betty, Veronica and Apple Jack are the queenly trio, and want first food, first water, and plenty of personal space from the other chickens. If the 8 week old chicks come too near, the largest RIR will peck it squarely on the back, and once even yanked out a beak full of feathers. They are all decently friendly to people, however, and usually if I reach out to pet them, they stay put and let me pet their back and neck for a few seconds before they dash off. My kids catch them and carry them around, and once in arms, they are gentle and easy to handle. They are pretty big birds too, though I've never weighed them.
Betty
They are my 3 brown egg layers and every single day I can count on at least 2 brown eggs, and often 3. One of the adopted RIRs lays an egg so big I can't close an egg carton for extra-large eggs around it if it's inside. I thought it would be a double yolker the first time I got one, but it wasn't and never has been. Just one GIANORMOUS egg. The other lays a pinkish brown egg. The third, Apple Jack (our original RIR) lays a bumpy brown egg that occasionally has speckles on it. They are lovely and taste delicious. I am pleased that they are such dedicated layers. The original RIR even laid throughout most of the winter, only stopping for about 5 weeks in January-February. I don't know how Betty and Veronica do in the winter yet.
I would never want to have a minority of other-breed chickens in a small flock, but in my experience, as long as the other chickens out number the RIRs, the Rhode Islands can't get too aggressive because they can't chase them all at once. But (for example) 3 RIRs and 1-2 chickens of another breed would probably be bad news. They seem to be able to tell who looks the same as them, and exclude those who don't! (Racists? Breedists? LOL).
