Advice on chicken breed compatibility.

[ODY GIRL]

We have a great flock of 14 hens, and one rooster. My girls are Salmon Faverells, Blue Ameracuanas, French Wheaten Marans, and my favorite -- Black Australorps. They all get along super, even though there is some pecking order issues, which fortunately are few. I do want to mention that #1, they were all brooded together, and I spent a lot of time with them as chicks. #2, I saw this on YT about the "line of sight" with chickens. This means you create blockages of line of sight around their coop, or yard. My coop is unusual in that we have one of those small coops up on an old metal nursery table with the doors removed. That means my chickens have lots of places to go for privacy, but are still in the flock. #3, Also on YT, I saw where you take a hen under your arm backwards like a mother hen for a while. That seems to work. #4 invest in Black Fly Larvae treats to feed from your hand starting at about two weeks. All this being said, all chickens, even in the same breed, have different personalities. Two of my Australorps are the most friendly, followed by one of my Faverelle ladies. While some of the others are friendly, they don't want to cuddle. We used to have chickens for 30 years till the raccoons hit us. We are back to having a flock, and this group are the best get along ladies I have ever had.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

From my experience, pick a calm breed (not flighty) and start handling the baby chicks as soon as you get them. Let them eat out of your hand, pick them up daily, let them fly from you hand to the ground (from a reasonable height). Put them on your shoulder, sit on the ground cross legged and put them under your legs (on grass is best).
Pretty soon they are like a parakeet. Good luck!

 

[Bsmac]

We're looking to start with chickens for eggs next spring. We prefer breeds that will be friendly with us and let us hold them. We really like the idea of multiple egg colors and I've done some preliminary searching and have come up with a list of various colors (multiple breeds lay brown, but that's ok) that appear from what I've seen to be friendly.

1. Olive Egger
2. Black Copper Marans
3. Pearl Legbar
4. Welsummer
5. Barnevelder
6. Lavender Orpington
7. Golden Laced Wyandotte
8. Blue Laced Red Wyandotte

My concern is if any of the breeds would be likely to be aggressive to others on the list or are otherwise a bad idea with any of them. I ran a quick search , and it came back that the Wyandottes were likely to be aggressive with timid hens. The thing is, I've been in love with Blue-Laced Reds since I first saw them online and they've been at the top of my list for years. If they're an issue with one or two breeds, maybe I'll change out those breeds, but if they're a problem for all breeds, then I may have to rethink having Wyandottes. So are they an issue? If so, is it a space-related issue (we have more than enough coop and run space)?

Thank you!

Hello! Lavender Orphingtons are docile birds. We have two Golden Laced Wyandottes that are just short of coming into lay. I just integrated them a week and a half ago. I think they tend to be assertive but the established hens and pullets put them in their place! I think they will be fine with a bit more time. If all the birds were the same age I could see them at the top of the pecking order or very near it! Good luck when you get your birds!

 

[Bsmac]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but certain breeds are absolutely more friendly than others, in general. There is a genetic component to it. However, it is also true that friendliness varies from individual to individual even within the same breed.

I agree!

 

[McChooky]

We're looking to start with chickens for eggs next spring. We prefer breeds that will be friendly with us and let us hold them. We really like the idea of multiple egg colors and I've done some preliminary searching and have come up with a list of various colors (multiple breeds lay brown, but that's ok) that appear from what I've seen to be friendly.

1. Olive Egger
2. Black Copper Marans
3. Pearl Legbar
4. Welsummer
5. Barnevelder
6. Lavender Orpington
7. Golden Laced Wyandotte
8. Blue Laced Red Wyandotte

My concern is if any of the breeds would be likely to be aggressive to others on the list or are otherwise a bad idea with any of them. I ran a quick search , and it came back that the Wyandottes were likely to be aggressive with timid hens. The thing is, I've been in love with Blue-Laced Reds since I first saw them online and they've been at the top of my list for years. If they're an issue with one or two breeds, maybe I'll change out those breeds, but if they're a problem for all breeds, then I may have to rethink having Wyandottes. So are they an issue? If so, is it a space-related issue (we have more than enough coop and run space)?

Thank you!

I rescued a Wyandotte 3 years ago after her owners dogs killed her flock mates . She walked in the coop like she owned the place after I integrating her 2 weeks.All of my hens ran out of the coop so I waited 2 more weeks but let her stay with them during the day.They let her roost with them after that.Never saw any of my hens try to fight her

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I rescued a Wyandotte 3 years ago after her owners dogs killed her flock mates . She walked in the coop like she owned the place after I integrating her 2 weeks.All of my hens ran out of the coop so I waited 2 more weeks but let her stay with them during the day.They let her roost with them after that.Never saw any of my hens try to fight her

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht

Your comb strategically flopped below one eye - you’re the ultimate Wyandotte

Aaarghh, it’s stuck in my head now

 

[McChooky]

Lacy flew on top of a house to escape from a pack of dogs that killed her flock mates. One dog was chasing her up there or we wouldn't have known she needed saving .We witnessed it from across the street. I will always be a hero in Lacys eyes but the real hero is the guy that got her off the edge of the roof and handed her to me.I chased the dogs off and stuffed her under my shirt and carried her home with me.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Lacy flew on top of a house to escape from a pack of dogs that killed her flock mates. One dog was chasing her up there or we wouldn't have known she needed saving .We witnessed it from across the street. I will always be a hero in Lacys eyes but the real hero is the guy that got her off the edge of the roof and handed her to me.I chased the dogs off and stuffed her under my shirt and carried her home with me.

Dogs running loose - don’t owners ever think about what their dogs might be doing?!

 

[BDutch]

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht

Your comb strategically flopped below one eye - you’re the ultimate Wyandotte

Aaarghh, it’s stuck in my head now

Love it, only Wyandottrs dont have floppy combs!

 

[McChooky]

Dogs running loose - don’t owners ever think about what their dogs might be doing?!

I rescued the chicken but my brother ended up rescuing all the dogs a year later(he bought kennels for them all)4 big labradoodles and a white terrier