Buff Orpington Vs. Easter Eggers

[FluffyPuff]

I don't know what to do!!!! Should I get what seems like the sweetest breed out there, that might get killed by my mean hens or should I get the fun egg layer???? Easter egger or buff Orpington??? I need help! I have barred rocks that kill any docile birds. I'm using the chickens more for pets than anything else. I'm actually using them for therapy in nursing homes. They have to be kept with my barred rocks. They can't be bantams. They have to be pretty/cute.

 

[Silkiehen]

My Buff Orpington is aggressive towards people and animals. I would suggest Sikies but you don't want bantams. I think EE are sweet!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

How many birds have your barred rocks killed? If you aren't attached to the BR, why not rid yourself of them and build a flock more fitting to what you are looking for - docile, sweet birds

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

If you are set on keeping your more aggressive birds and still want to have a nice docile group for your visits, etc you may want to consider setting up a second coop/run so you can have two separate flocks

 

[donrae]

I wouldn't put ANY bird in a pen with hens that are known to kill others.

 

[FluffyPuff]

I wanted

My Buff Orpington is aggressive towards people and animals. I would suggest Sikies but you don't want bantams. I think EE are sweet!

I wanted silkies really bad but they don't sex them

 

[Sarevan]

My EE's aren't really sweet birds. I have 6 vary from white, brown, grey, to black. The 3 greys pick on others but not bloody picking. Digger the blackish hen lays pink eggs, the others lay various colors of green.

They get along with the 2 welsummers and 3 california greys. Love the heck out of our buff orpington roo Dino. We like him so much we got him 9 lil buff orpington ladies that are now 6 weeks old, I think one may be a roo have to wait and see.

The EE's don't mind being held once they settle down but would rather not be held would rather be doing chicken things. They were all held and fed by hand as lil ones, as they got older got more independent and have to catch them now. A smaller group may have better results for a cuddle bird. Mine are for eggs and entertainment watching them do what they do.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

My buffs are the friendliest things ever. I agree with donrae though. I wouldn't keep ANY hens with ones who have killed others before! My gold sex-links are very friendly too.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I wouldn't put ANY bird in a pen with hens that are known to kill others.

This. Integrating new birds into any flock can so often be difficult anyway, integrating new birds into a flock that has a history of killing other chickens....the outcome is not likely to be good and I don't think it's fair to the new birds. I would either get rid of the birds with the bad temperment or keep two separate coops.

 

[FluffyPuff]

That's probably what I'll have to do. Or I could just separate the one mean bird. Caramel is the only one who is mean. The other Barred rocks are fine.