my chick flock has multiple breeds

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A-TeamMama

A-TeamMama

In the Brooder
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I just became a new chick mama last week. I looked up many different breeds with their qualitys and characteristics. I also visited a neighbour of our who has had chickens for several years. My focus was docile, sweet natured chickens that my kids and I would love as a pet, cold hearty,and good layers.
We decided on a RIR, a wyandotte, an Australorp, a baby an (unknown at this point) and three EEs. Today in church I visited a friend who explained what a mistake I made. She said that since I didn't pair up my breeds that they will most likely try to kill each other.
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I've had these chicks for over a week in my dinning room. Where I keep a close eye on them. And am able to give human contact once to four times daily. I wonder now if I should re-home two breeds and have two or more of only 3 breeds.if so, which ones live in harmony together? Or should I wait it out. Any suggestions?
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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Who ever told you this is incorrect. You can keep various breeds together with no issues as long as they are raised together as babies and you aren't mixing very large breed birds with smaller breeds or breeds with different characteristics like Silkies or Top Hats. The breeds you picked are very friendly and docile and should all get along just fine. Birds have no idea they are not of the same breed, they are all just chickens as far as they are concerned! LOL

Definitely get them out on the living room floor and sit with them. This gives them a nice break from the brooder, a field trip if you will. Of course lay a sheet down on the floor to catch any poop and keep all cats, dogs or small children at bay. After a week old, I like to get the chicks outside too for a nice field trip. Make sure to keep them in an enclosure outside so they don't run off or get eaten by anything.

Enjoy your babies! Have you stopped by our learning center yet? Lots of good articles to help you learn about your new babies and raise them to be happy and healthy adults...https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

If you have any questions about your babies, feel free to ask around the forums. Enjoy your new chicks and welcome to our flock!
 
Hi and welcome to BYC!
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Glad you could join us! TwoCrows has given you some good advice. Many people on here (including me) keep mixed flocks with no problems at all. I think that they will all live in harmony. My small flock of four contains three different breeds; Wyandottes, Rhode Island Red, and Easter Egger. I've had no problems at all.
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Good luck with your chicks! You have some very good breeds that I'd certainly recommend. My Wyandottes are my favorite breed of chicken, and I've enjoyed my Easter Egger, too.
 
Welcome to BYC!

I also have a mixed flock (Rhode Island Red, Black Australorp, Speckled Sussex, Easter Egger, Barred Rock and Red Sex Link). Other than the normal "sisterly squabbles", they get along just fine.

Glad you checked here before you rehomed any of your birds.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. Now that you have chickens, you'll hear all kinds of stories and comments (and a lot of them will be incorrect, lol).

Nice to have you here and congratulations on the start of a nice flock!
 
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Glad you have joined us.

Listen to TwoCrows advice, and keep all of your baby chicks.

As a flock owner, you are going to hear a lot of no-experience people give really odd opinions on chickens and eggs. And IMO those with strong, but wrong opinions talk the loudest..lol.

If you have any concerns, visit your friends here before you make drastic changes.

We are here to help, and the experience available from BYC folks is expansive.

Enjoy your new baby chicks.
 
Thank You for all the positive and helpful advice. We're grateful to keep our chicks.
And thanks for the advice on field trips. I plan also to start fermenting their food this week and am looking into drying and crushing our eggshells.
 
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