Do all chicken breeds get along

[Ljorgie77]

Hi I’m in the process of building a coop. Are there any specific breed of chickens should not be together ? Thanks

 

[DobieLover]

Hi I’m in the process of building a coop. Are there any specific breed of chickens should not be together ? Thanks

Hi AGAIN, Laura!! I guess you were serious when you said you had questions!
I would avoid putting breeds like Polish with LF chickens. Those head feathers seem to be irresistible to the other chickens and they like to pluck them out.
Some of the tiny bantams may have a tough time of it too when combined with LF breeds.
Others like to keep breed class combinations together like just raising Mediterranean breeds and others still will stick with a single breed.
I have 26 chickens in my flock that consist of 18 different breeds. They all get along just fine. I have American, Continental, English, Mediterranean and Miscellaneous class breeds.
In order to determine what breed(s) will best fit your family, you need breeds that are cold tolerant because you are in NJ. And you want friendly breeds because you have children that will interact with them.
I'm going to again lean towards the Orpington (even though I've never owned one) as I've only heard great things about their personalities. Cochins are also supposed to be very sweet.
I personally like my PBRs (both of them, I have a near 11 week old and a 1 yr old hen... sitting on her very first clutch of eggs to hatch!)
I also recommend you purchase sexed pullets vs. straight run as you don't want to be dealing with a young cockerel. They are always possible even with sexed pullets but the odds are at least in your favor.

 

[50-45-1]

Because of my past experiences i dont get silkies anymore as they are picked on by the standard breeds. They also need lower roosting bars as they dont have the wing lift feathering to fly up very far.
Standard, leghorn and heavy breeds seem to get along fine. Mix in bantams however and sometimes they get picked on.
Also top knot chickens i avoid as they can not see preditors very well and they seem to get feather picked on the head.
Also your location may be a factor for breed choice. Some breeds do better in hot areas, others are bread to withstand cold better but suffer in the heat.
Also your coop and run. Some breeds do better in confinement than others. Are you going to free range?
Let us know some of the details on your particular situation and we can better advise you.

 

[starri33]

@Ljorgie77 , so glad to see you asking questions and gathering knowledge, so many don't.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

The Leghorns and Wynettes seem to really pick at the other birds. Barred Rocks can be aggressive to others as Rhode Island Reds. The birds that get picked on are the ones that don't fight back Silkie, Crested Polish, Faverolle, Orpington, Cochins.

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! I have only had Buff Orpingtons, Australorps, and Rhode Island Reds. Out of these three I find the RIR's to be a little aggressive.

 

[janiedoe]

I'm one of those people who root for the underdog...so I don't have any particularly meek girls (I would have to keep them in the house. Lol)
I have, in one coop langshan (big, hardy, and great with their own and other hens' chicks), orpingtons (dito), wyandottes (bossy but not bullies ), Easter Eggers (friendly but flighty), and one barred rock (most aggressive), and a cuckoo marans (gentle and friendly), a couple of mixed hens (CLB mix) with top notches (no pecking that I've seen)
The other coop has much the same except with a RIR instead of a barred rock. My RIR isn't gentle but she isn't a bully like my barred rock. I would Never have a barred rock without a rooster to keep her in line. Fortunately my rooster is very chick friendly and makes sure they get food, water, and treats. He keeps Rocky in line.
Disclaimer ; my barred rock may be slightly aggressive but others have very good personalities, so I've heard.
I had a Sussex who was so mean that I had to give her away. I hated her and Visa versa but she was great at her new home.
I wouldn't add meek breeds or bantams unless I added a group all at once and raised them with a broody. (I am thinking of adding dorkings or favorelle next spring when my hens go broody.
Conclusion: chickens have individual personalities and you never know until you try.

 

[aart]

Conclusion: chickens have individual personalities and you never know until you try.

Ditto Dat^^^
Can't go by breed alone, except maybe for the fluffy headed and the tiny.
Just make sure you have lots of space filled with 'diversions' and 'hiding' spots.

 

[sealer39]

What is the purpose of your future chickens; layers, meat birds, bantams, Silkies, Polish and so on? Pick one and only get birds in that one category. There will still be plenty of varieties to chose from if you want a mixed flock.
That way you don’t have to worry about what type of feed to give which type of chicken.

 

[AmyJane725]

I have a lot of different varieties, including bantams and a Rhode Island Red cockerel), and they all get along just fine. Banties don't really let their size bother them. I had a white cochin bantam cockerel that would run from bird to bird, challenging them, and then he'd run away because he couldn't win...