I am seeing many questions posted to this group and several other groups about problems with introducing different age and, more importantly for this discussion, different breeds of chickens into the same flock.
Let me start by saying different breeds of chickens have very different temperaments. Some more so than others! They can be very difficult to impossible to have live together safely or happily at times.
If a person is new to raising chickens, I strongly recommend having all the same breed. Some breeds have a very hard time getting along because they have such different personalities. Too often people are taken with the prettiness of having different colored, chickens. It does make for a very interesting looking flock, unfortunately, it can also be very cruel to the bird that by breeding is too passive to get along with a more aggressive breed, and this bird is doomed to a miserable existence.
I think this is something too many books do not emphasis enough. It really needs to be the first line in the book in big bold letters, If these are your first chickens buy all the same breed!
We will have many chicks across the country purchased for the Easter weekend, many of these animals will have a very short life, and even more will not have the life they deserve to live. People buying multiple breeds of chickens to live together without doing any research into how well will they live together or the knowledge of how to help them live a more harmonious life are being cruel to these small animals.
When we purchase chickens each of us should ask two questions; how much experience do I have and how well will these birds be able to live together? If the first answer is not very much, then the second answer is going to be very hard to answer.
If you are a first time buyer of chickens or any poultry or fowl, select only one breed of bird to learn on. Wait until you have them a year, at least a year, better yet wait two years before taking the more difficult step of having multiple breeds of birds. Ask around, do research, look into several forum boards, and find out which breeds people are having trouble with keeping together. Even better, find out which ones most people can successfully raise with each other, before buying the mixed choice. Have a plan of what you are going to do with a bird that is a bully or is too passive to live a good life in your flock. It is neither kind nor pleasant to have to watch a bird being bullied or even killed by an aggressive bird, and do not think size is important. Bigger birds are often picked on by smaller birds.
So let us work toward a more sustainable life for our small-feathered friends as well as each other. Learn more about the dangers of multiple breeds of chickens being held in one coop, not a danger to ourselves but a possible danger to these wonderful, giving creatures, born with no way of taking care of themselves and sadly, all too often placed in a life of misery for them.
Being a newbie i was curious what your thoughts were about this. I am watching the comments on the other board but thought I would see what you guys here said. I have no clue what is the best way to do things since i am still learning. I had planned on getting a ton of different breeds of bird, but was unsure if I should not do that.
Not trying to stir up trouble or anything just trying to learn
Thanks everyone.
Shaun
