How intense is your pecking order?

[Rick589]

Wow, I feel truly blessed. Our flock of BO’s get along with each other really really well, with an occasional dust up here and there. We even had a broody hatch two chicks which have been left with the flock from day one and have been accepted with virtually no issues.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Wow, I feel truly blessed. Our flock of BO’s get along with each other really really well, with an occasional dust up here and there. We even had a broody hatch two chicks which have been left with the flock from day one and have been accepted with virtually no issues.

We almost, almost, almost went with a flock of straight Buff Orpingtons. But no. I just HAD to try the bantams!

It's been a good learning experience, and I do love my girls, but never again. Drama is off the charts. We'll do BO's next time. Do yours free range?

 

[DLA]

Sorry you're having to deal with all the chicken drama. That's got to be stressful. My older flock of RIR hens gets along great with each other and are very friendly. But they dislike my new mixed breed flock and the feeling is mutual. The new flock would probably have some serious pecking order issues because of the two gold laced and one silver laced wyandottes (they are the meanest chickens I've ever met except for white leghorns), however my easter egger rooster keeps them all behaving. If you can have a rooster that might solve your pecking order issues with the ladies if he's a good rooster.

 

[TOMTE]

Sorry you're having to deal with all the chicken drama. That's got to be stressful. My older flock of RIR hens gets along great with each other and are very friendly. But they dislike my new mixed breed flock and the feeling is mutual. The new flock would probably have some serious pecking order issues because of the two gold laced and one silver laced wyandottes (they are the meanest chickens I've ever met except for white leghorns), however my easter egger rooster keeps them all behaving. If you can have a rooster that might solve your pecking order issues with the ladies if he's a good rooster.

A good rooster can work wonders for an unruly flock but a good rooster is hard to find. Unless you're lucky there can be a lot of trial and error involved so for most people it isn't worth it unless a rooster is needed for making more chicks.

I'm always so shocked when people say their Wyandottes are aggressive— I know that Wyandottes are notorious for their (potential) aggression, but mine have been so sweet (mostly) that it's so hard for me to imagine!

 

[thecatumbrella]

I'm always so shocked when people say their Wyandottes are aggressive— I know that Wyandottes are notorious for their (potential) aggression, but mine have been so sweet (mostly) that it's so hard for me to imagine!

I hear the same things. Lots of bossy Wyandottes out there, but then once in a while, you see someone having the opposite experience.

 

[thecatumbrella]

If you can have a rooster that might solve your pecking order issues with the ladies if he's a good rooster.

If you ever see me talking about my rooster, you'll know things are going well. Need to carve out some more space first, but it's another aspect of chicken keeping I'd like to experiment with.

 

[C Siena]

I've read of the drama but ours was only a little in the beginning. A hatch of 2 followed by a hatch of 5, 2 weeks apart, they worked things out in the 8'x4.5' coop and small run 13'x4.5' (yes small). By the time they were 4 months, they were free ranging and all doing well, even with 2 cockerels. One cockerel culled, after I chose what I thought would be best for the flock, at 5 months old.

Spring '24, purchased 8 more for a second large coop (1 cockerel) and added 2 ISAs to the first. The ISAs were a bit picked on but the roo, now 1 yr, lightly pecked the hens who were picking on them. The 8 younger ones, would free range with the rest, little pecking but all worked out, as senior male wanted All the girls.

Maybe it was because I had many food/water stations all over, or because they free range all day every day, or maybe a good roo...I think it is all of these. With the addition of the 5 pullets (18.5 wks) and 9 pullets (14 wks), there is minimal pecking and it's usually around food...the older ones say Me First! and the younger wait and go to another food station. I have 14 food stations around the yard, close to the coops, with 33 birds. 2 have just begun to lay (Wed) and are hanging with the adults and mostly accepted.

Spring '23 Original 7: 4 Buckeyes 2 female, 2 male, 2 Marans mix, 1 SG
Spring '24 2 ISAs added
Spring '24 2nd flock of 8: 2 RIR 1 male 1 female, 2 BSL, 2 CQ, 2 BR
Spring '25 added 14 pullets (there were more but several cockerels gone) 1 BR, 1 BSL, 1 SG, 2 CQ and 9 BYM

I don't know if the breeds have anything to do with the peace.

I may separate the RIR roo next spring, to obtain eggs fertilized by the Buckeye as I would want another male like him. Keep a couple of the cockerels and watch. Hopefully they will work it out soon.

 

[Rick589]

We almost, almost, almost went with a flock of straight Buff Orpingtons. But no. I just HAD to try the bantams!

It's been a good learning experience, and I do love my girls, but never again. Drama is off the charts. We'll do BO's next time. Do yours free range?

Never know until you try, right. I have no idea about other breeds because these buffs are our very first chickens. They have a fenced yard of roughly 400-500 sq. ft. where they hang out most of the day ( currently have 4 hens and 1 rooster just over a year old plus our 2 newbies)but in the late afternoon we let them out to roam the property, eat their evening treat of grapes, and just hang out with us. They get about 2 hours of supervised free ranging in per day.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Never know until you try, right. I have no idea about other breeds because these buffs are our very first chickens. They have a fenced yard of roughly 400-500 sq. ft. where they hang out most of the day ( currently have 4 hens and 1 rooster just over a year old plus our 2 newbies)but in the late afternoon we let them out to roam the property, eat their evening treat of grapes, and just hang out with us. They get about 2 hours of supervised free ranging in per day.

That’s an amazing space for them! AND grapes! Lucky birds.

 

[Rick589]

That’s an amazing space for them! AND grapes! Lucky birds.

Seem to be pretty fortunate, and pampered chickens. We think of them as pets with benefits as opposed to simple egg machines.