Do chickens prefer their own breed?

[vortec]

Mine get along fine together, but I do see certain things that suggest that the same breeds attract each other. I mixed in a new batch and like mentioned above, for like two weeks the big ones staid independent from the younger ones, but now the barred rocks flock with the barred rocks of the younger group and the buff orps are the same way. That is the only breeds that I have two different breeds of different ages though.

It is hilarious to watch as the black giants and the australorps flock to one end of the pen and the ligh brahmas and leghorns flock to another end. It looks so segregated and happens often. They do mix fine and the breeds mentioned in the OP work very well together. Good luck on getting them.

vortec

 

[TammyTX]

Mine all generally get along. But the different breeds of pullets, as a group, have pecking orders. One observation is that it seems the more of one breed I have the higher they are in pecking order.

My Maran pullets and Jersey Giant pullets are the top...the Jersey girls tend to flock together where the Marans will spread out. The EE'rs are the next highest with the EXCEPTION of the white EE'rs, they are outsiders, then come the Cochins and Welsummer pullets (but I'm pretty sure my Wellies are trying to all commit suicide before they start laying) and last is my one and only Buff Orpington that was my "rare" (

) chick from McMurray.

As far as roo's my Maran roo, Keeper, is the boss! But I don't notice a segregation between the breeds of roosters. I have the Marans, Welsummers and one Jersey Giant.

When they were chicks they slept all squished together but you could see where the different breeds tended to lay together. They still sleep that way at nearly 14 weeks, but I haven't noticed a pattern.

 

[augustmomx2]

I currently have 7 different breeds and they all get along fine. The only breed that sticks together is my SLW. Those two are always together!

 

[JennsPeeps]

A friend of mine deliberatly got 2 GLW and 2 BA so that she'd have two pairs. She does, alright: a GLW-BA pair and a GLW-BA pair. They're not even the same age (1 week between the GLW and the younger BAs).

 

[mom2chicksandpups]

I think it could depend on if they were mixed with other chickens at a young age. I tell my husband every day that his chickens are "prejudiced." He has 9 Australorps that have always had their own pen and weren't mixed with other types of chickens at a young age. He also has 2 Barred Rock hens that he just bought from a friend that were always with other Barred Rocks only. Both groups cannot be mixed with any other chickens or they start pecking and trying to fight them.

I am the type who wants ALL THE CHICKENS!

If I see a new kind, I think I have to have one of them. My flock is mixed and have been mixed from a very early age. They are sweeter than my husband's when we bring in new chicks or chickens. Mine seem to get along with everybody. Of course, they have their normal pecking order squabbles, but they are generally very accepting of chickens who are different than themselves.

I read somewhere in a book recently that it's good to have a mixed flock for this reason. It makes sense. I told him today that my chickens are "multi-cultural."

 

[melody123]

I find that most livestock will segregate when given a chance, based on coloring, species, and looks. That dosen't mean that they are mean or do not hang out with others, they just instinctively look for another creature that looks like them.

I love mixed flocks. I can't imagine only having one breed of chicken. Or for that matter only purebred chickens. (My dalmation hens are so cute -white with black spots.) Yes, the rhode island reds and orange aracuana will hang out together and the leghorns will hang out together, etc. But they all roost and lay in the same nest.

This discussion reminds me of what happened when I added a black calf to the pasture last summer. Most of the goats ignored him, just another calf. But the loan black goat ran to him and tried to hang out with him for awhile. Eventually she rejoined the goats once she realized that he was definately not a goat.