Can I mix breeds

[chicken0123]

Hi I have lovely chi kens but I would've my flok
To look interesting can I mix chicken breeds such as brown novos and silkies and
Light Sussex and red Rhode Island reds please reply soon :/

 

[elch]

yes

 

[Gayleyy]

As long as you introduce them properly it does not matter what breeds they are. Just like dogs or cats.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Most chickens that are raised together that are the same general type will do fine in a mixed flock, ie most heavy brown egg layers like the Sussex, Australorps, Wyandottes, Sex Links, etc will do find together. There are some breeds to be careful with, Silkies are often special needs because of their crests and their silkied feathers, they often will be picked on by other birds in a mixed flock and will need to be kept separate for their own safety. Polish are another one that will often have their crests plucked by other birds in a mixed flock and need to be kept separate. Also some breeds seem to be more likely to be bullys in a mixed flock, hatchery Rhode Island Reds seem to be one of these.

 

[gander007]

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Yes you can mix breeds, but bantams generally fare better with large fowl if they have been raised together. Frequently Silkies and Polish find themselves on the bottom of the pecking order because of their sometimes diminished vision caused by their crests.

 

[Blooie]

I have Easter Eggers, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Red Speckled Sussex, Buff Orpingtons, Red Sex Links and Cuckoo Marans all co-existing happily together. The EE, GLW, BO, and 2 of the RSL have been together since hatching and were my original order. The RSS and the CM's are all two weeks younger, and 2 of the RSL and 1 BO are a week older than my original order.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Yes, you can mix breeds. Babies growing up together don't know the difference. If you mix in new birds to an established flock, do it slowly over several weeks, keeping the new birds behind a fenced area or in a cage within the flock. You can't just throw new birds into a flock or there will be chaos.

Enjoy your flock and welcome to ours!

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! My Silkies were bullied by the rest of my flock and I had to rehome them