Mixed flock feedback - will these ladies get along?

[savvythesavvy]

Hello!

We’re getting everything ready (Coop is in progress, all our chicken supplies are arriving) to welcome home some female chicks from Murray McMurray next April! I was wondering if I could get some feedback from all of you lovely more-experienced chicken keepers on whether you see any issues with the breeds we’re thinking of getting.

Some context: We’re within driving distance of McMurray (woohoo!) so we have a 6-chick minimum. We have a toddler who will be just turning 2 when we bring them home (and we plan to wait and very slowly and carefully introduce her to the chickens when they’re a little older). One of our goals in raising chickens is to teach her about animal stewardship and responsibility, so in our research we tried to choose breeds that are fairly docile and tolerant. We also have a 12-Chicken limit where we live, so we don’t plan to have a rooster or hatch chicks - so we also want to have hens that aren’t super broody.

These are the 6 breeds we’re thinking about- does anyone see any issues based on what we’re aiming for? Or see any issues with these breeds getting along?

• Ameraucana
• Barred Plymouth Rock
• Black Australorp
• Salmon Faverolle
• Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock
• Welsummer

Thank you so much for your feedback! This community is truly amazing

 

[igorsMistress]

Hi there. All of those breeds should get along fine, especially since they'll grow up together. Australorps have been very sweet birds in my experience, and Welsummers can be pretty independent and sometimes prefer to be alone. My only experience with a Faverolle was a rooster, he was very sweet if a little bit crazy. I've heard from others that they're generally very friendly.

Good luck with your new adventure! FWIW chickens are a gateway animal

 

[chrissynemetz]

I have most of those breeds currently, and they all get along fine. I agree with IM, it shouldn't be a problem

 

[savvythesavvy]

Hi there. All of those breeds should get along fine, especially since they'll grow up together. Australorps have been very sweet birds in my experience, and Welsummers can be pretty independent and sometimes prefer to be alone. My only experience with a Faverolle was a rooster, he was very sweet if a little bit crazy. I've heard from others that they're generally very friendly.

Good luck with your new adventure! FWIW chickens are a gateway animal

Thank you so much!! Haha I’m building our coop double the size required for 6 ladies because I know I’m going to be doing some “chicken math” soon

 

[savvythesavvy]

I have most of those breeds currently, and they all get along fine. I agree with IM, it shouldn't be a problem

Thank you!

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

My Barred Rocks tend to be a little more flighty, but in general the breed is friendly. My Barred Rocks are also higher in the pecking order.

 

[tielie135]

i have had Ameraucanas, Salmon Faverolles, Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks and Welsummers all together in my flock and have never had a problem. i highly doubt it would be any problem but every bird is different.

 

[savvythesavvy]

My Barred Rocks tend to be a little more flighty, but in general the breed is friendly. My Barred Rocks are also higher in the pecking order.

That’s good to know, thank you!!

 

[savvythesavvy]

i have had Ameraucanas, Salmon Faverolles, Silver Penciled Plymouth Rocks and Welsummers all together in my flock and have never had a problem. i highly doubt it would be any problem but every bird is different.

Thank you so much!

 

[black_cat]

They'll probably do fine if raised together. On my breed vote thread, I was told that some people had had issues with their rocks being aggressive to other chickens.