Adding a gentler breed to my flock

[janiedoe]

Question: Will favorelles do ok in my flock or will they get beat up?
Facts:
I am considering adding four favorelles chicks to my existing flock. I know they are very gentle and usually end up at the bottom of the pecking order.
I had a favorelles rooster for a short time (sadly lost when he went over the fence) and I really liked him.
TS has favorelles right now and I have considered bringing 4 home.
I have a very mixed flock. I would keep them in a look-see-don't touch mini run inside my bigger run until at least 8 weeks of age. The run is 20'×16' (not including the coop, which has room for several more hens) The flock consists of a mixed 1 yr old rooster ( marans / glw) and five 2.5 yr old hens; a black langshan, a buff orpington, a barred rock, a slw, and an ameraucana. These girls get along pretty well and have been around chicks in the past without too much pecking.
I do have another flock of 11 hens & a rooster but they have a separate coop and run. My chicken yard is also devided as well, So no mixing due to fighting amongst the roosters.

Opinions welcome.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

That Plymouth Rock and Wyandotte will beat up your Faverolles problems. Brahmas are a gentle breed that can hold their own with more dominant breeds like Plymouth Rocks.

 

[janiedoe]

Thank you @Brahma Chicken5000. I was pretty sure that would be the case. My barred rock is the only one I had doubts about. So , no favorelles for me. I have considered buying a brahma rooster (& a couple of pullets)from a breeder just to introduce the gentle gene.

 

[Roo5]

You can’t really determine this until you actually try. These are animals we can’t just say what’s gonna happen.They may or may not pick on your favorolles,just depends on the bird and how satisfied it is with the favorolles and it’s living quarters.However I have found certain breeds to be more aggressive, such as the Wyandotte.I had a an issue with my hen being a bit too aggressive with younger birds.

 

[Roo5]

Don’t cancel out not getting them based off because you have a certain breed, there is just as good of a chance for your Brahmanas to get bullied just as much as your favorolles unfortunately, that’s just chickens.

Thank you @Brahma Chicken5000. I was pretty sure that would be the case. My barred rock is the only one I had doubts about. So , no favorelles for me. I have considered buying a brahma rooster (& a couple of pullets)from a breeder just to introduce the gentle gene.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

The Faverolles breed is extremely docile and gentle. They are a breed that will not push back when getting picked on so they would suffer greatly in a flock with Plymouth Rocks or Rhode Island Reds. Brahmas on the other hand are a docile and gentle breed but won’t let other birds walk all over them like Faverolles.

 

[Roo5]

I get that,but you really never are 100% sure the birds gonna get picked on till bloodhsed.Lots of lower order birds no matter what the breed is usually won’t push back when being bullied,I’ve had a bullying issue before and trust me, this bird was not part of a breed known to be “gentle” with other birds.

 

[Roo5]

What do you mean by pick on?

 

[Redhead Rae]

@Chickassan may have some tips.

 

[Sequel]

For what it's worth, I got into chickens when I was given a pair of Salmon Faverolles that had been picked nearly naked in a mixed flock. I'm on my third set now, just lost the second of the first ones this winter. I've been wanting to add some pullets this year but have been anxious about adding troubles to my flock. So I guess I have the opposite problem, lol

Cathy