MJ's little flock

[Down Under]

Wow, that is the exact opposite of my experience with Mary the Australorp at my house. Very rarely has she pecked another hen she pecked another hen. Maybe three times in six years? I'm speaking from firsthand experience. That doesn't mean every Australorp is like her.

You are correct not every bird is the same for any given breed. Me and my friends also kept multiple Australorp's in mixed flocks so they may have developed a gang mentality, but the bullying was always one on one, sometimes tag teaming but still one on one.

 

[MaryJanet]

You are correct not every bird is the same for any given breed. Me and my friends also kept multiple Australorp's in mixed flocks so they may have developed a gang mentality, but the bullying was always one on one, sometimes tag teaming but still one on one.

I don't think there are many breed-behaviour rules that are always true. I've been told over and over and over that Rhode Island Reds and Wyandottes are unpleasant in mixed flocks. Today the man I visited told me he had never known his RIRs or his Wyandottes to be nasty towards other breeds.

I've noticed the next oldest hens do the most pecking regardless of their breed. And the ones who are older still rarely bother with pecking.

So I expect Melissa or Katie to handle most of the pecking when the new girls are out of quarantine.

But I don't think it would be the same in your flock, or anyone else's flock because every flock has its own dynamic.

As you've been saying, in your flock the Australorps are jealous and will pick on Brahmas if the Brahmas get more attention from humans. In my flock the senior Australorp doesn't bother with pecking.

 

[Down Under]

I don't think there are many breed-behaviour rules that are always true. I've been told over and over and over that Rhode Island Reds and Wyandottes are unpleasant in mixed flocks. Today the man I visited told me he had never known his RIRs or his Wyandottes to be nasty towards other breeds.

I've noticed the next oldest hens do the most pecking regardless of their breed. And the ones who are older still rarely bother with pecking.

So I expect Melissa or Katie to handle most of the pecking when the new girls are out of quarantine.

But I don't think it would be the same in your flock, or anyone else's flock because every flock has its own dynamic.

As you've been saying, in your flock the Australorps are jealous and will pick on Brahmas if the Brahmas get more attention from humans. In my flock the senior Australorp doesn't bother with pecking.

True not all breed behaviours are, a lot also has to do with how they were raised. Yours surprises me though as it is pretty well known that they are jealous.. back when I had them a friend off the family was trying to give me a frizzle until I told her that I had Australorp's, she immediately said "that is ok I will find another home for it, they will kill it".

RIRs and Wyandotte's I usually put in the mean category along with a few others so it would be interesting if the other breeds that he was talking about are in the assertive or docile categories.

 

[MaryJanet]

True not all breed behaviours are, a lot also has to do with how they were raised. Yours surprises me though as it is pretty well known that they are jealous.. back when I had them a friend off the family was trying to give me a frizzle until I told her that I had Australorp's, she immediately said "that is ok I will find another home for it, they will kill it".

RIRs and Wyandotte's I usually put in the mean category along with a few others so it would be interesting if the other breeds that he was talking about are in the assertive or docile categories.

Well, he had so many breeds there. Big, docile standards like Sussexes and Brahmas, agile little gamebirds like Cemanis and Shamos, zoomy bantams like Lakenvelders and Vorwerks, along with some Silkies and frizzles. I could not believe the diversity! They weren't all running around together, but most of them were. He had his breeding trios and quads in pens.

 

[Down Under]

Well, he had so many breeds there. Big, docile standards like Sussexes and Brahmas, agile little gamebirds like Cemanis and Shamos, zoomy bantams like Lakenvelders and Vorwerks, along with some Silkies and frizzles. I could not believe the diversity! They weren't all running around together, but most of them were. He had his breeding trios and quads in pens.

That's uncanny unless they had a huge area for them.

 

[MaryJanet]

That's uncanny unless they had a huge area for them.

Yes, it was in a rural setting and must have been a few acres. He had maremma flock guardian dogs. There were many many chicken runs, a paddock, and his backyard had loads of poultry and game birds running around.

 

[BY Bob]

Congratulations! They are adorable! I'm excited for them to join with such a caring person. It will be fun to watch them grow and eventually interact with your other ladies from a distance.

Enjoy the journey!

 

[RoyalChick]

Congratulations MJ. I am excited for you and looking forward to you sharing the journey.
Also keeping that all are healthy and that integration is a breeze. I think your new setup will be great during integration as there are lots of different areas and places to jump up on, go under, hide behind etc.

 

[MaryJanet]

Congratulations! They are adorable! I'm excited for them to join with such a caring person.

Thanks Bob! It's very find of you to say so.

It will be fun to watch them grow and eventually interact with your other ladies from a distance.

Enjoy the journey!

Hopefully they're healthy and will get through their quarantine without annoying each other too much.

I'm also hoping Dr Mark will find them healthy but if not, at least the other ladies are at a safe distance.

Congratulations MJ. I am excited for you and looking forward to you sharing the journey.

Thanks RC!

Also keeping that all are healthy and that integration is a breeze. I think your new setup will be great during integration as there are lots of different areas and places to jump up on, go under, hide behind etc.

It's working out really well with the extra coop for quarantine! I figure I'll do the chicken run first, then do the quarantine coop after dark with the headlamp. For me, a simple routine will be more likely to prevent contamination.

If they get all the way through to integration, they should be able to get away from pecks by hopping up on things or running around corners. By then, I should be able to trust them in hte backyard too.

A month's quarantine is being recommended by local authorities at present, given the bird flu risk.

 

[BDutch]

Myself and friends have had favourites killed by Australorps because of jealousy. They think that the favourite is getting more attention than them (which usually they are being a favourite) and as soon as you turn your back they will try to kill the one who is steeling their spotlight. Also Australorps don't like people or being touched but they want to be the one that is looked at and talked to the most and made to feel special by throwing treats in their direction first.

Chickens are individuals. Breed characteristics often don’t match individual behaviour.
Dont get me wrong, I don’t know the breed characteristics of Brahma’s or Australorps. Even if your Australorp chickens are bullies its possible MJ’s are superfriendly.