we have ordered 5 different breeds to raise from chicks. about 3-4 in each breed mostly pullets (17) and 3 roosters. the breeds are barred rock,delaware,RIR,black australorp,golden laced wyandott. Will they get along fine since they will be raised from chicks or will the breeds get to fighting each other? We tried to pick docile mild tempered breeds. We will have an 8 x 16 coop divided in half (2 coops). ANy experiences good or bad or advice? also my hubby wondered if its possible to plant anything in the runs that would be good for the chickens? not toxic. thanks
Sounds like you've picked a great collection of chickens there. If they grow up together, they should have no problems getting along. Sometimes, if one looks really different than all the others, they will pick on its feathers (such as, one brown one in a batch of black chicks). But I don't think you'll have any trouble. Have fun! PS check sticky at the top of 'Feeding Time'. There is a list people have put together about plants chickens can eat with no side effects. There are lots of things you can plant....but they love them so much, they'll eat them to death very quickly Down at the bottom, past the 'chicken treats' there is a link to 'toxic plants'.
My missmatched ones are getting along fine so far. It will all depend on the individual animal. If they are raised together though, I think they'll be fine. There are too many cool breeds to just pick one anyway! Good luck with them! _miss Annie
Different breeds get along just fine, I have 38 chickens, and a total of 19 different breeds including bantams. They all get along just fine. Some were raised to gether as chicks, and others were introduced later, as adults. I have never had a problem with different breeds fighting with others.
They will be fine. My 6 girls are of 5 different breeds and they do wonderful together. All the breeds you listed are fairly docile...the RIRs can be a little aggresssive at times but they are all babes growing up together so all should be well.
Quote:It sounds like you picked a great variety of breeds to raise. I have 4 different varieties. I got them all as day old chicks. The only thing I was told about my RIR is to hold them more because they can be a little aggressive. So, we hold them a little more then everyone else. They should be great together! Have fun with them!
Yup - they will be just fine together since they are being raised together. You picked some great breeds - you'll be very happy with them all I'm sure. We have one RIR and she's as sweet as can be and doesn't pick on or get picked on by the others.
And, to address your other question, there are plenty of nontoxic things you can plant in your run, ALL of which will be completely wasted effort since the chickens will eat/scratch/dig/poop/squash them to death pretty much immediately and you'll be right back to bare dirt where you started Pat