Barred Rock Attitude-- Fact or Fiction?????

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I usually let my new pullets grow to around 16 weeks before integrating them and I try to add 2 or more at a time to lessen the amount of bullying each one has to take while the new pecking order is established.
The blue breeds I have personally seen are Blue Andalusians, Blue Orpingtons and Blue Wyandotte. I know there are more but these are the only ones I've had contact with.
 
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My Barred Rock is bossy, but has never been mean to the point of injuring any of the other birds. She is head of the flock, but I've integrated a single Marans into the flock, and now two EE babies that they free-range with but sleep in separate cages until they are bigger. Easier to keep them on the right feed that way, too.
Other blue LF chickens: Blue Ameraucana, Blue Plymouth Rocks, Blue Marans.
 
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What about taking one of your most docile hens, and put her in with the new girl so they can be friends, then integrate them together?

There's lot's of breeds that come in blue: Cochins, Orps, Plymouth Rocks, Jersey Giants, Ameraucana's, Marans, and on and on....... (Search the hatching eggs area for BBS - it means black, blue and splash) You can always hatch more.
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, it just won't help you this go round. Integration does get easier too. My 2nd time was much easier than my first. (both on me and the chickens)
 
I have 3 BR's in my flock...they are not the alpha hens but they don't take a lot off of the others their age...they dodge the BO's who are #2 and they try to stay out of the radar range of the sex links who are the alpha hens. I think one day they just may outrank the BO's. Not saying they are mean...they are 'pushy'...if I'm feeding treats...they come right up to the food while others are reluctant knowing they are going to get pecked. They are pretty speedy in grabbing bites of bread crusts or other small things I pitch into the run...they run right under the noses of the alpha hens, grab the treat and are gone before anyone realizes what just happened.
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I really want to thank all of you for your wonderful advice. I love my rocks my momma bought them for me as an early birthday present last year. and they are very reliable layers. I should have known better, I thought they would be ok with her because their friendly with us and my BR roo is a sweet heart. He used to be a 4H show bird. He will let us pick him up and carry him around, but he is protective over his girls.
I have read on the forum that there is a difference between breeding stock and hatchery stock. How can I find out the difference?

Thanks
 
I have two barred rocks that I acquired as adults and added to my flock, at that time mostly RIR's. They held there own with the aggressive RIR hens. One is lower in the group, but I think she is just used to being there, she is small and mostly bald on the back of her head, and was like that when I got her. The other one is one of the highest ranking hens now, she picked her place in the flock and stuck to it. She actually fought back like a rooster when the resident hens tried to put her in her place. She wouldn't even let the rooster near her. They are the first ones to take a peck at the other birds. And they don't just peck, they hang on until their point is made! It has never become a problem though, the others just stay out of their way. The higher ranking barre rock was the first to challenge my new little bantam hen. I put her in at night, and in the morning she had stayed on the roost until I let them out. When she finally flew down and came out it was that BR just jumped on her. She took it a couple times and then she'd apparently had enough and ran off, but she didn't just go hide, she shook it off, and then came FLYING back at that BR feet first! They had a little tussle, and it ended with both of them hopping around facing each other off, and apparently they decided it was a stalemate. That was the end of it, but only because the bantam fought back. I think she would have kept at it if it was a hen that wont fight back.
With that said, I also have to mention that when I introduced my chicks to the flock early this summer, I sectioned off part of the coop for them, with their own access door and run, parallel to the big run. When I felt it was time, I took off the wire over the top of the partition, off leaving just the 2ft high solid wood partition. The barred rocks were the first to breach it and would go out in the chicks run and never bothered the chicks at all. I never saw one touch a single chick. Now that the chicks have grown and are about to start laying it's a different story. They have to watch out now.
I dont think they are more agressive persay, just very habitual in nature. I think when they moved in with my birds they just took the same place in the order they were in where they came from. I think they dont have a problem unless that order is messed with, and they didn't see the chicks as a threat to that order until now. I think to them that order is very important, it's LAW, and if you dont bother them they wont bother you.
Of all my chickens my australorp and my marans are the most laid back. They dont bother anybody and nobody, and nothing bothers them.
 
Thanks for the lesson Violet Blue Ivy, these are the first chickens, I personally have ever had. I really thank you ALL for your help. Now I understand why the pecked my lucky lucy. Thanks.
 
Your welcome! I am no expert! I am a newbie too! But it seemed relevant so I thought I would just share my observations. I learn alot from just watching the chickens, and I have learned that I could read every book about chicken rearing in the world, but I learn the most from other people sharing their personal experiences and stories. Thats why I come here! (thanks BYC!)
 

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