I'm not too sure if this post belongs here, so please forgive me if it doesn't. I posted awhile ago with questions on chicken breed dynamics on the "Breeds, Genetics, Showings" thread and didn't get any responses. Here are my questions: 1. I think I'd like faverolles, but read that they are so docile they tend to be picked on in mixed flocks. Is that true? 2. If so, would having bantams (like ameraucanas and/or brahmas) instead of LFs lessen the chance of the LF faverolles being bullied? 3. Are the personalities and egglaying habits of bantams the same as their LF counterparts? 4. Are faverolles heat hardy? We have more hot, humid days than cold ones here in central TX. Sorry for all the questions and TIA!
In general, chickens that brood together, hang out in the hood together. So if you want favorelles and other breeds, get/hatch them all at the same time. The bigger birds will protect the weaker ones. So long as you don't have any TRULY agressive breeds, you shouldn't have any problems. Or you could rely on "strength in numbers". A mini-flock of 6 birds will pretty much prevent any bullying that is above and beyond normal pecking-order establishment.
I found that they do get bullied if putting them into an existing flock. My boys and girls are so docile that the roos didn't fight with my old roo which made integration soooo much easier. And my grils just mixed in. The problem came when my bully BO mix hen started picking on them. They wouldn't fight back. The Faverolle temperment has made it easy to integrate juvies though. I only had one or two pecks at the chicks and the roosters took to the babies, showing them where all the good food is. I don't know how they do in the heat yet. I got mine in Dec. I do know that there are breeders in FL.
Mine didn't last long in my flock. I free range and the two I had were so docile they didn't leave the open pen for very long. They ended up getting killed by a predator first right before they started laying. I got them because they are cold hardy and great layers, don't know about the heat. I think they would be better off with bantams but I find the bantams don't lay as well as the larger breeds.
I have a Faverolle with a RIR & Polish. She is great with my kids but is actually the one that's dominant over the Polish. They were raised together to I'm sure that helps. It's been 90 degrees here in FL this week and all the hens are panting, but their coop/run are in the shade and I make sure that they have plenty of fresh water. I'm sure each situation is different, depending on what is mixed in the flock and the run set up.
Mine have done well raised with an assortment of fairly mellow heavyweight breeds. Partridge Rocks, Sussex, Dorkings, EEs and I can't remember what else. When I raised an assortment of more aggressive lightweight layers for a friend, they not only bullied the Faverolles, they bullied all the heavyweight layer breeds. Mine have been in summer temperatures and humidity in the upper 90s.
I am no expert by anymeans as this is my first time having them (they are 6 1/2 weeks old now) but they are 6 out of 87 standard sized chicks I have... they are in with RIR, BA,BR,Dark Cornish,ISA Brown,SS,P Rock, and a few others... they definately are laid back when it comes to confrontation but being the same age as the others I have they seem to hold their own. They don't pick a fight but they aren't afraid to make a fuss about someone else trying to start one either. They are by far as a group the sweetest of the bunch along with a select few of the dark cornish! I would't pass them up if I were you they are wonderful and very friendly/curious little chicks, if anyone is gonna go it's not gonna be them!
