Mixing Chicken Breeds

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I have 2 bantam rocks that live with my 6 standard rocks and orps. The two do just fine. I have two feed and water stations in the run, multiple perch options in the run. They roost on the lip of the poop tray at night rather than the roost but there are no problems at roost time.

They are at the bottom of the pecking order though. They are small and quick and can go where my fatties can't so have plenty of options should they need them. As they get old and not as quick I will keep my eye on them to make sure they aren't the object of bullying.

It helps that there are two of them. They are their own little sub-flock and hang together. When one dies, the other will probably go to my sister who has plenty of banties in her mixed free-range flock.

I think lots of space (coop, run, free-range) reduces the potential for conflict and gives best odds for success when mixing birds of different size and temperament.
 
Last edited:
TalkALittle said:
I have 2 bantam rocks that live with my 6 standard rocks and orps. The two do just fine. I have two feed and water stations in the run, multiple perch options in the run. They roost on the lip of the poop tray at night rather than the roost but there are no problems at roost time.

They are at the bottom of the pecking order though. They are small and quick and can go where my fatties can't so have plenty of options should they need them. As they get old and not as quick I will keep my eye on them to make sure they aren't the object of bullying.

It helps that there are two of them. They are their own little sub-flock and hang together. When one dies, the other will probably go to my sister who has plenty of banties in her mixed free-range flock.

I think lots of space (coop, run, free-range) reduces the potential for conflict and gives best odds for success when mixing birds of different size and temperament.
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True but I think this is also important when mixing chickens of the same breed.

Chicken breeds are manmade. Chickens don’t see each other as different breeds, they see each other as chickens so they will treat them like chickens. Does color, size, type of feathers, crests or head coverings, basically any differences in appearances make any difference in how they treat each other? From what I’ve seen usually not but occasionally it might. Each chicken is an individual with its own personality. Each flock has its own dynamics.

When chickens mate, the hen squats. That gets her body onto the ground so the rooster’s weight passes through her entire body to get to the ground which protects her legs. That way the hen can support a much larger heavier rooster. The more weight difference the larger the risk, but usually it’s not a problem.
 
sheetmetaltom said:
started off with 10 chicks and 5 different breeds, breed never was an issue. just the typical chicken pecking order. ordered 17 chicks for this week, 3 breeds, 2 new ones for my flock, when i mix them in in about 10 weeks +/- , i dont foresee any problems. they arent people
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You think there is different breeds of people???????
 
duluthralphie said:
Quote: lol........
wink.png




Cheers!
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