Chickens hanging out in own groups?

[jasminty]

So I have recently read that some chickens tend to hang out with their own breed type... Is that really common?
And if so I'd like your opinion.

I am thinking of getting some (about 6-7) peeps to add to my two RIRs that I adopted (I think we will be loosing one soon to internal laying

so I want the other one to have company).

I am planning on sticking to mostly mid-large sized as I need hearty birds that will give us lots of eggs. I was going to do a one of each type thing, thinking no two will be alike and that will be fun, but might they be happier if I do more of breed pairs (pullets only!)?

I mean I'm sure they'd be fine either way lol, but reading about that just got me thinking.

So I'm curious what you guys with more experience think?

 

[Maryallison77]

I am by no mean a expert, but I have several breeds and 3 different ages and all mine are living happily together. I likes the idea of having several different breeds too. (That way I can remember everyones name

) With mine all the oldest ones hang out in 1 group and then the youngest in another group. I hope 1 day they will all hang together, but they are doing ok like this too. Good luck!

 

[debilorrah]

Gosh I hope that isn't the case because none of mine are the same breed at all!!!

 

[the simple life]

I have never heard of that and I have quite a few different breeds.
Mine hang around in groups by their order of hatch.

The first group that I had only hangs out together, second group comes along and they don't mix with the first group.
First group chases them off.

Third group comes along and same thing happens.

I think its just the age difference and it can sometimes be hard to intergrate them.

I just let them do their own thing.

 

[Sylvie]

I got 2's and 3's of different breeds because I thought I would have losses early on and that some might be roos. All but one survived and no roos in the batch. The pairs get upset if one goes where the other can't see her but the 3's aren't that bothered with separation, especially the SLW. They are all 3 months now and I guess this could change but that is what I have observed with my flock so far.

 

[lavandula girl]

It's funny, I was just noticing today that my two brahmas, two australorps and two RIRs seem to hang with their breed buddies. Theoretically, they're all the same age, or within a day or so. One of the brahmas is a bit smaller than the other birds, and the RIRs are for sure the biggest right now, but they've all been in the brooder together since I bought them as 3-4 day olds about 2 weeks ago. Being a newbie, I just assumed they liked being with "their own kind". Then I realized that, since I haven't put any chick-length mirrors in the brooder, they have no idea what they themselves look like, right?

Weird.

 

[crtrlovr]

I got my buff orps and barred rocks at the same time. I got the RIRs a week later, and I got the AustralOrps two weeks after the RIRs. The first group hangs out together and mingles well with the 2 guineas, the RIR roo, the SLW roo and the SLW hen I already had. The RIR pullets stay almost exclusively to themselves except when I first open the coop and everybody comes boiling out, and the L'Orpie girls stay mostly to themselves, but will join the buffies & adults if they think goodies are imminent...

 

[debakadeb]

I have 2 red sexlinks, 2 black sexlinks, and one cochin. They all hang out together but I have noticed that the cochin tends to be the lowest of the pecking order. That could just be her nature ...

 

[redhen]

i notice that although they all get along..the same breeds actually do tend to hang more by each other...espically my aracauna's, and marans..but they all mostly do it..silkies, orp's, sex links,....for me anyways, i notice it...i'm sure everyones are differant... Wendy

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
This is what mine do as well. It is more of an age thing with them. I have heard that silkies like to hang out with their own kind though.