Did i make a mistake

[Michael OShay]

What are your thoughts on adding in a few buff Orpington's when they get to the store? The others in the flock will be a month older. Will that be a no no to do?

If you get birds with that kind of age and size difference, you will need to keep them separated but able to see each other until your Orpingtons catch up size-wise.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[greg eviston]

Thank you all for the input!

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with the above, keep the BO chicks separated until bigger. Huge difference in size 1 week to 1 month, not so much difference 3 months to 4 months.

But another point. if my count is right you are looking at 25 birds. 25 Chicks don't take up much room, but 25 hens need a LOT of room, you are going to need a coop that has about 75-100 square feet, or 10 x10. And a much bigger run. When birds bully and pick on each other it is way more apt to be over crowding, rather than breed choice.

Mrs K

 

[birdman55]

you can add birds to your flock whenever I add twenty to thirty birds all the time...they will develop their pecking order...add the birds at night time as this will help the introduction and the picking to a minimum...when I added my first 30 there was a main rooster that was the boss....if you don't have a rooster then one hen will be dominant...expect some pecking as this is their hierarchy....when I added the second batch which there was two other roosters....of course at night nothing happened...when I let them out in the morning the roosters looked at each other like wait a minute theres new birds in here....and it took one confrontation to establish the pecking order for a bit they were even segregating themselves in the groups that I put them in and the original rooster was around his flock and the other two were with the other flock...I free range with one coop...at night they would all go in the coop....I have done this several times....yes sometimes the smaller ones will get pushed around but soon enough they will be the same size as the others and they will be forgotten as the little one....the days go by now with little fuss...as everyone knows who is the main rooster....and when one of the hens is pestered by another rooster the hen will call for help and the main rooster just has to run over there and not even fight...the other roosters just no there roll....I was told you cant have several roosters in one are but that is not true...as long as your area is big enough you can do whatever you want...cause if need be the bird will run away...hope this helps

 

[birdman55]

would like to add that I wouldn't put one week with one month either....my birds I added were already almost full grown fully feathered birds....

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Chicks usually are in a brooder until 6 weeks old anyways. I'm not sure where you live Greg...Warm or Cold Climate? At any rate those chicks will need to stay warm under a lamp or eco-glo until the feathers are in. Another factor is space. Are you free ranging so the younger pullets can get away from the older group? Also if you are getting 5 more birds that will split the beatings up anyways. Rearranging the roosts or adding an addition to the run...messes with the "territory" and everybody gets to sort out territory issues again. No doubt larger birds will have a leg up on the smaller ones. But within a few months and with opportunity to get away the small birds should be just fine. Make sure they have the space to have a chance at that, though. That is quite a few birds.

We had one RIR and she was a love. She was low hen though so she challenged any new comer in order to keep her spot in the pecking order and not go any lower. She would also give us a light peck when collecting her egg out from under her or when she was on the roost. Lots of character. you'll love your RIRs. Barred Rocks are sweeties too. Lots of sweet breeds you've picked out. With a mixed flock you will see them accept each other as brooder mates. you will see the "Bird of a Feather" in action as well, for instance I had a NH Roo and Hen and they always hung out together more than they did with other birds--kinda like best friends. As they get older (over a year old, I've noted) They are less tolerant of new comers...but after 2-3 months of roosting together still come around.

Giving them their space though is critical.

 

[Michael OShay]

you can add birds to your flock whenever I add twenty to thirty birds all the time...they will develop their pecking order...add the birds at night time as this will help the introduction and the picking to a minimum...when I added my first 30 there was a main rooster that was the boss....if you don't have a rooster then one hen will be dominant...expect some pecking as this is their hierarchy....when I added the second batch which there was two other roosters....of course at night nothing happened...when I let them out in the morning the roosters looked at each other like wait a minute theres new birds in here....and it took one confrontation to establish the pecking order for a bit they were even segregating themselves in the groups that I put them in and the original rooster was around his flock and the other two were with the other flock...I free range with one coop...at night they would all go in the coop....I have done this several times....yes sometimes the smaller ones will get pushed around but soon enough they will be the same size as the others and they will be forgotten as the little one....the days go by now with little fuss...as everyone knows who is the main rooster....and when one of the hens is pestered by another rooster the hen will call for help and the main rooster just has to run over there and not even fight...the other roosters just no there roll....I was told you cant have several roosters in one are but that is not true...as long as your area is big enough you can do whatever you want...cause if need be the bird will run away...hope this helps

The problem with too many roosters is not just fighting between the roosters (which may or may not happen), but the physical abuse the hens end up taking from the roosters. The recommended ratio of roosters to hens is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. As they mature, too many roosters will become very hard on the hens physically; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and potentially, seriously injuring. The more roosters per hen a flock has, the more the hens become stressed which affects both their overall health and causes a drop in their egg production. Sometimes with very gentle roosters you can push that ratio a bit, but keeping too many roosters is somewhat like playing Russian roulette. At some point you're likely to pay the price. There are other reasons why chicken owners choose to have roosters, but the only real reason you need a rooster is to fertilize eggs for hatching, and 1 rooster can easily handle 10 hens in this regard.

 

[donrae]

I heartily second the sentiment that it's space/overcrowding, not breed, that causes most pecking/bullying or other behavioral issues. A crowded flock is a stressed flock, and stressed birds are mentally and physically at risk for problems. A flock with plenty of space, room to get away from each other and spread out, is a much healthier flock and will have far fewer issues, both physical and mental. I've kept all the breeds you mentioned in mixed flocks at one time or another and have never had any specific breed have a problem either picking or being picked on. Someone's always going to be the boss, and someone's always going to be the Omega, but in my flock it's never been linked to breed ( as long as you're not dealing with ornamental breeds like Polish or silkies, which you didn't mention).

 

[birdman55]

The problem with too many roosters is not just fighting between the roosters (which may or may not happen), but the physical abuse the hens end up taking from the roosters. The recommended ratio of roosters to hens is 1 rooster for every 10 hens. As they mature, too many roosters will become very hard on the hens physically; over-breeding them, biting and plucking the feathers from their necks and backs, battering them, and potentially, seriously injuring. The more roosters per hen a flock has, the more the hens become stressed which affects both their overall health and causes a drop in their egg production. Sometimes with very gentle roosters you can push that ratio a bit, but keeping too many roosters is somewhat like playing Russian roulette. At some point you're likely to pay the price. There are other reasons why chicken owners choose to have roosters, but the only real reason you need a rooster is to fertilize eggs for hatching, and 1 rooster can easily handle 10 hens in this regard.

just on what I have experienced that even one to ten the hens still is not enough hens throughout the year the feathers on the back do start to come off...I have 3 roosters to 45 hens...and its still not enough hens and they free range
edited to add that I don't keep my chickens longer then a year and a half