Breed compatibility

[Gallinarium]

I'm getting these breeds from Murray McMurray hatchery in eight to eleven days, (Yes, I'm counting down.) I'm doing the traditional last-minute panic, so I'm wondering whether or not these breeds will get along. Does anyone have any experience keeping any of these breeds together?
They will be brooded under a hen when they arrive, not sure if that makes any difference.

The breeds, (and varieties,) are:

One white Leghorn,
One red Leghorn,
One rose comb brown Leghorn,
One single comb brown Leghorn,
One silver Leghorn,
One black Minorca,
One buff Minorca,
Two Black Stars, (Black sex-linked birds,)
One Red Star, (Call it whatever you want,)
Two Whiting True Greens,
and Three Whiting True Blues.

All of them are probably pretty haughty, though I don't know about the Whitings.
All of them will, (hopefully,) be female.

Ah, yes. After allowing for natural deaths, and gifting away any roosters, if there's still over a dozen we'll be giving away the extra hens, as fifteen was cheaper than twelve. So the twelve hens will be in a nine foot by four foot coop. I would let them free range, but the last time I did that, a fox got five of our twelve birds. And it was near noon. So the run isn't built yet, but it will be at least six square feet per bird.

So yeah, will the coop be Switzerland, or will it be World War III in there? I might just be paranoid, but you never know.

 

[NatJ]

There is a very good chance those chickens will be fine together.
Part of it will come down to individual personalities, which can differ among birds even within the same breed.

Twelve might be a bit much for your coop, but if it is too many, you will notice that at some point.

If they do have trouble: watch carefully for a bit, to see which bird it's best to remove. Sometimes it's better to re-home the victim (if all the birds pick on the same one), other times it's better to remove the bully (if a single bird is picking on everyone else.)

Sometimes all individual birds are fine, but things are just too crowded: in that case, of course you would keep your favorites and re-home the ones you just don't like as well.

Looks like you did a good job picking colorful chickens that should all be good layers!

 

[Gallinarium]

There is a very good chance those chickens will be fine together.
Part of it will come down to individual personalities, which can differ among birds even within the same breed.

Twelve might be a bit much for your coop, but if it is too many, you will notice that at some point.

If they do have trouble: watch carefully for a bit, to see which bird it's best to remove. Sometimes it's better to re-home the victim (if all the birds pick on the same one), other times it's better to remove the bully (if a single bird is picking on everyone else.)

Sometimes all individual birds are fine, but things are just too crowded: in that case, of course you would keep your favorites and re-home the ones you just don't like as well.

Looks like you did a good job picking colorful chickens that should all be good layers!

Thanks for the response. I'd pretty much given up on this thread.
Got them and the coop does look like a rainbow. By fall I'll be way overloaded with eggs. But that's not a bad thing!
They're still peaceful, but then they're still like twelve days old. Here's hoping it stays that way!

 

[BaaKaaawk]

I think any chicken can get along with any other chicken for the most part- as long as you're not talking Roosters of course, which they don't get along with anyone. I have 26 chickens and guess what- 22 different breeds! Never had a problem. I've got all sorts of heritage breeds, easter eggers, tophats, silkies, big birds, little birds, bird with every kind of comb you can bount... and I even have a cornish hen in there. Nary a problem.

 

[Gallinarium]

I think any chicken can get along with any other chicken for the most part- as long as you're not talking Roosters of course, which they don't get along with anyone. I have 26 chickens and guess what- 22 different breeds! Never had a problem. I've got all sorts of heritage breeds, easter eggers, tophats, silkies, big birds, little birds, bird with every kind of comb you can bount... and I even have a cornish hen in there. Nary a problem.

Thanks. I'd love to have a "Heinz 22" flock like that, but not enough space or money for the Purina bill.
Glad to know they'll get along, assuming the 15 percent sexing accuracy doesn't come into play. Fingers crossed!

 

[BaaKaaawk]

Thanks. I'd love to have a "Heinz 22" flock like that, but not enough space or money for the Purina bill.
Glad to know they'll get along, assuming the 15 percent sexing accuracy doesn't come into play. Fingers crossed!

If you get a Roo, they are super easy to get rid of. Just list them for free on Craigslist and they will be gone within hours.

 

[Gallinarium]

If you get a Roo, they are super easy to get rid of. Just list them for free on Craigslist and they will be gone within hours.

Noted!

 

[jolenesdad]

They’ll all be fine. Especially brooded together. The time you would maybe have an issue is if you want to add birds. You’ll need to add several at a time because you’re right.... you have a lot of haughty birds! The whitings are all Ameraucana/Leghorn crosses, so you have a whole slew of leghorn birds.

you will be swimming in eggs!!!!! Congratulations.

 

[Gallinarium]

QUOTE="jolenesdad, post: 22617119, member: 342889"]
They’ll all be fine. Especially brooded together. The time you would maybe have an issue is if you want to add birds. You’ll need to add several at a time because you’re right.... you have a lot of haughty birds! The whitings are all Ameraucana/Leghorn crosses, so you have a whole slew of leghorn birds.

you will be swimming in eggs!!!!! Congratulations.
[/QUOTE]
I always maintain a closed flock, keeping the one chicken to brood the chicks was the only exception I've had. Though I have to steel myself every time I walk past the chicks at Fleet Farm, new birds won't be a problem.
I'm trying to tame them, but I did in fact get the Snooty Special. Yay.
I'm almost definitely going to have to sell eggs. More money for the Purina bill!