chicken racism??? Please helpl

[hencackle]

Somebody asked me how my chickens sorted themselves by breed. I tell them a chicken recognizes its own feather colors and patterns while preening. When it sees those patterns & colors repeated in another chicken, it knows they are alike.

Stephanie

 

[V Chic Chick]

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Ever since my first two, I've always had two birds of different breeds together. They've always all got on fine, even the large orpington and the bantam araucana.

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They are different breeds, just like dogs. If they were different species then they would not normally cross breed, and if they did then the offspring would be infertile. This is why some people say that Muscovy ducks are not ducks (nor are they geese) but are in fact another species.

 

[luvnchix]

I need to ask a question regarding pecking. I have 5 red sex links, 2 buff Brahams, and one each of silver lace Wyandotte, speckled Sussex, black australorpe, and barred rock. They are about 4 1/2 months old. I'm stressed out because of the pecking. I can deal with the occasional peck but it seems like one (especially the red sex links) will single out another bird and really go after it repeatedly. Usually it is one of the more timid birds. Will this kind of pecking stop after the pecking order is established? When is it usually established? On Mon I will be going back to work full time and their all day free ranging will be over. I am worried I will come home to gutted chickens. My coop is 8x10 and right now the yard is the same size but will be expanded next year. How do they make it through being cooped up all winter long without killing each other?