all one breed or mixed, which is best?

[gryeyes]

Mixed. See all the different breeds listed in my signature paragraph?? I started out wanting different breeds for all the reasons listed above... just thought if I got all one breed, RIR for example, I'd not be able to tell them apart and my daily routine would start out with greeting them one by one, "Good morning, Rhoda. And you too, Rhoda. Rhoda, good morning! And good morning to you, too, Rhoda... What a pretty girl you are, Rhoda!"

And I love the variety so much now that I have nine chickens 9 months old and all these younger ones of different breeds, too. I don't have any desire to get more than two of any particular breed.

Which means I have a wish list of those I'd like to add, eventually.

 

[swordgeek]

Ha ha! I totally get that. I had no intention of getting 3 of the same breed, but my kids and I couldn't agree on which of the woman's Ameraucanas to take. So we took all 3. Plus a marans and a bantam silkie, just because we liked them.

It's like eating M&Ms or something.

 

[Morgan7782]

I have all different breeds as well. Well, the Wyandottes are TOTALLY different colors, but I have 2 of them. The others are Dark Brahma, Easter Egger, Barred Rock. I originally did it for the same reason as gryeyes points out, to tell them apart, but I really like the variaty of personality in the different breeds and now I am a bit more open minded to other breeds. Mine have mixed well so far too.

 

[NT]

Mixed it is

! Thanks for the input.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

I was the first to post "mixed" but then someone else said Americanas and I have to agree... lots of different colors and then there are the colored eggs... plus, they have a nice mellow personality and fuzzy whiskers. I still say mixed but I'd mix some Americana in... just a thought.

ps: next Spring I think I'll get some Americana Bantys.

 

[elmo]

I was going to get a mixed flock, too, until my very experienced (20 plus years) chicken keeping friend advised me not to choose single individuals of a breed. It's the old "birds of a feather flock together" thing. He told me that singletons he's had over the years seem lonely, compared with birds who have others of their own kind to hang with.

Except for the two d'Uccle chicks we raised this spring, all of our chickens are closely related breeds, all part Serama. I've noticed that the chickens who look more alike tend to stay together, even departing from their clutch mates they were raised with.

I've often wondered whether you get more integration/pecking order problems with a flock of mixed birds that look different from each other.

 

[bragabit]

Mixed. I have both breeds you listed. They are both friendly chickens that have their own personality perks.

 

[Jessie_Jazz]

Hiya, does the mixed breeds thing also apply to bantams and larger chickens?
I am currently building my first coop and was thinking of getting 3 bantams and two regular sized chickens (maybe black rocks) will they mix well together?
Their coop is going to be 6' by 4' with the same sized outside space underneath, plus a run which will be at least 8' by 6' maybe bigger if we have any mesh left over as they will not be able to free range.
Sorry to hi-jack this thread but I would be grateful for any advice you could give me on mixing bantums with larger chickens
Thanks

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
I've got a relatively small flock with different breeds. I noticed that certain chickens do hang together, both during the day and on the roosts at night. They even did it in the brooder as chicks. I originally thought it was by color but now I think it may be more by personality. Each breed does tend have its own type of personality, so it looks like similar colors hang together. I've noticed one of my Australorp and the Delawares , black and white, hang together. These are my explorers, always pushing the boundaries. My Orpington and Speckled Sussex tend to be buddies, but maybe that is because they are the ones left behind. Then there is the Australorp that seems to prefer the juvenile mutts when they are free ranging instead of her brood mates. I haven't figured that one out yet. Anyway, I'm not convinced it is as simple as color.

Just a thought.

 

[Unclebean]

I like a mixed flock. We have 9 different breeds in our flock of 22. They all seem to get along but I agree with the statement to have at least 2 birds of a breed.