I'm curious if anyone else has had an experience like this. This spring we ordered chicks from two different hatcheries. We had 8 from one then ordered 6 from another, because the first did not have the breeds we wanted as sexed day olds. 11 altogether survived after 3 losses right after they arrived. Anyway, in the end the chicks hatched 2 days apart so they were very close in age. We brooded them separately because there had been some health issues with one of the hatcheries earlier in the spring. After a month or so we integrated the two batches. After a few minor squabbles they got along quite well. We did notice that the 4 that were 2 days older stuck together no matter where they were in the brooder. Didn't seem all that strange at the time. Then we moved them outside to the coop. They still stuck together in the pen. Then we let them out to free range with our older birds. Most of the time I can look out and the 2 barnevelders and 2 welsummers are close to each other, no matter where the rest of the flock is. At night, each and every night they are next to each other on one roost. I'd have thought by now they be truly integrated but they seem to want to be together. They get along with the other chickens when they're around. The others all mix throughout the day, hanging around with whichever chickens are nearby. Except at roost time. They all have their favorite spot!
All my chickens were raised together, but I have two Easter Eggers that are inseparable. One is a roo and the other is a hen and they are never far from one another. They even sleep next to each other. None of my other chickens do this, just those two. They must be soul mates.
Mine too are from one order, but they definitely have their cliques. When I see Lil'Bit I know Lilith is somewhere close and I have three light brahma hens that I call the triplets...they are always together and more often than not walking in a straight line.
The chickens I have are different ages from 6 years old to 1 year old. In the past, the three oldest girls always slept together and did everything together. But as time passed (by time I mean a few years) they have all integrated pretty clearly. However, the three oldest girls still sleep in the primo spot and God help any of the others if they try to take their spot!
I've noticed it with my girls. They're all from the Ideal and the same age but seem to hang out by breed. Even while they were in the brooder they stuck with their own. Now at 19wks when I watch them in their run it seems to me there is more squabbling between the breeds than amongst the same type of birds.
I have two separate flocks who happen to be 3 weeks apart. They blend for the most part. A few of them are always hanging out with their buddies though.
Mine seem to separate according to color. It seems odd. For example, my 2 white plymouth rocks and 2 CA whites are always together. The RIR and production red are always side by side. Then my buff orp and New Hampshire Red are running around together. The odd balls are the black sexlink and my silkie, who is the rooster. LOL, now that I think about it, maybe that's why the sexlink is his "favorite" (if you know what I mean ) Shane
I have a 5 different age groups and they do have cliques. I now have 8 in the brooder and are from 2 different farmers one was born yesterday and is the only one is blond the other 7 are black and 1 day apart so far so good on them. And I have a 2 year that hangs out with 16-17 week old sex link but not the other 7 who came out of a different batch.
