New to raising chickens with questions

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SarcasmPhD

SarcasmPhD

In the Brooder
5 Years
Jan 22, 2015
26
3
36
Somewhere in the Lone Star.
Typical guy new to raising chickens. I have TONS of questions. The first that has been on my mind: are there certain breeds that do well together? I will most likely be starting off with a flock of 6-10 birds. I'd like to mix the flock up. I know I would like a few Rhode Is. Reds. What breeds would do well with Reds? Let the replies begin!.....:D


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Hello there and welcome to BYC!
frow.gif


Some hatchery RIR's can be aggressive. I don't care to keep them but that shouldn't sway you from keeping them. Plenty of members will dispute this and claim they have the sweetest RIR's! I am a Black Australorp fan or Buff Orpington fan. Super friendly, docile, great layers and quite hardy over all. But this is just my preference.

If you raise a group of chicks together, no matter their breeds, they generally all get along just fine. Aside from the pecking order, there will be peace. Avoid mixing in Silkies or birds that are small with big head crests with larger breed birds. These different looking birds can get picked on.

Good luck and welcome to our flock!
 
Typical guy indeed, can tell by the heading (yuck)

To answer your question there are docile and not so docile breeds, it all runs more smoothly if you don't mix the extremes.
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

I've known RIRs to be somewhat aggressive especially the roosters. But they are excellent layers.
 
Thank you to you all for the info. I guess I may want to research breeds a bit more. When the word, aggressive, appears a few times, I may decide to reconsider my choice of bird. Although, they will be raised together as chicks.
 
Thanks TwoCrows. I've read about those breeds. And would definitely like both. I'm getting into raising my own chickens because we purchase ALOT of eggs. Even though they say, "cage free" that is part of the marketing. Between GMOs, and factory farms, I prefer my food to be as clean and natural as possible. Plus, having my own supply of eggs that know are legit is huge for my family.
I will learn more about the Buff and the Australorp. Thanks again.
 
What hatcheries sell as RIR are really pretty high strung, high production reds.

True bred, "heritage" Rhode Island Reds are only available through a quality breeder. You'd find them incredibly docile. The "RIR" that get that aggressive label are hatchery sourced birds. Two completely different things, just being honest.
 
Fred's Hens said:
What hatcheries sell as RIR are really pretty high strung, high production reds.

True bred, "heritage" Rhode Island Reds are only available through a quality breeder. You'd find them incredibly docile. The "RIR" that get that aggressive label are hatchery sourced birds. Two completely different things, just being honest.
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Thank you. That I did not know. And, greatly appreciate the info.
 

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