Mixed flock people - quick question about how your chickens roost.

[Blueeyez]

I have been noticing a very strange pattern with my chickens and i am curious if anyone else's chickens do the same..... I have a mixed breed flock of 39 chickens, 12 different breeds. More often than not, they roost next to a chicken of the same breed. Of course they may have a chicken of a different breed on the other side, but on one side there is almost always a chicken of the same kind. No way this is just a coincidence, they really seem to be pairing up by breed in the roost even though they all mix together during the day. So strange though.... Has anyone else noticed this with your chickens?!?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have been noticing a very strange pattern with my chickens and i am curious if anyone else's chickens do the same..... I have a mixed breed flock of 39 chickens, 12 different breeds. More often than not, they roost next to a chicken of the same breed. Of course they may have a chicken of a different breed on the other side, but on one side there is almost always a chicken of there kind. No way this is just a coincidence, they really seem to be sticking close by breed in the roost even though they all mix together during the day. So strange though.... Has anyone else noticed this with your chickens?!?

Now that you mention it I have seen that behavior. I hadn't thought nothing of it. Similar birds do seem to do similar things.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Mine all do that too.

Often I see small same breed groups moving about the yard too.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Mine do this! My husband laughs at me because I won't get just one of any kind. I don't want them to be lonely?

 

[Wolfsbane]

Mine all do that too.

Birds of a colour flock together, I think it's probably an attempt to blend in so nobody stands out and looks like a good target to a predator? just guessing but that seems like a logical thing to do. I've noticed the horses at the barn getting all colour coded like this as well.

 

[sawilliams]

I don't notice it as much any more as I have fewer pair of matched colors now. But even out and about my 2 bards flocked together, the 2 light EE, the 2 dark EE, all the cinnimon queens stay relatively together

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Have not really noticed this,and I have birds of the same color,but maybe that’s because mine are all different age groups and grew up in two totally different time frames.