Can I mix the breed of chickens I raise

[felidaet]

Yes, as other have said, you definitely can mix breeds. Look at my signature line to see my mixed flock. Mine are all large size birds, no bantams. My RIR is the friendliest. Second friendliest is a GLW. I am getting 3 or 4 more of them this spring. Most of my breeds are friendly except the Black Austrolorps and Buff Orpington. This is contrary to most people. I suspect I did not handle these enough when they were chicks. My research said they were friendly and so I did not handle them as much as the others.

When I expand my flock this spring I will be getting 7 - 9 breeds, some of which I already have and some I don't.

I don't have a rooster. I rehomed the one chick that turned out to be a rooster. The entire flock seemed much calmer immediately after he left and remained that way.

 

[Whisper]

Mixing them is the most fun! You get to see so many different personalities and quirks and watch them all grow.

And I don't worry too much about my rooster . . he's about five inches tall. ;-) Bantam roosters, all the coolness without being big enough frighten anyone.

 

[joebryant]

I would not want to go without a rooster, BUT I will never tolerate another mean one again for five minutes. There are lots of really well-behaved roosters; be SURE you have one that is (or a big dumpling pot on the ready until you get a good one).