Re-arranging the flock

[Erin80]

I currently have 5 barred rocks (9 months old), 1 Ameraucana (8 months old), one barnyard mix of some sort (8 months old) and 2 silkies (8 months old)....all are female. This is my first ever flock of chickens, and after some consideration, I've decided to re-home 3-4 of my barred rocks and I've placed an order for a new set of chicks this spring. The barred rocks are way too bossy - they are ok with the silkies but the other two are constantly bullied.
Would you recommend keeping 1 or 2 barred rocks?

The new set of chicks includes one buff orpington, one australorp, two EE's, one salmon faverolle and one light brahma.....all female.

 

[Welshies]

Generally speaking Silkies are actually special needs, so it's not so much your BRs that need replacing, it's your Silkies that should be seperated. Silkies are often picked on.

 

[Erin80]

So far they haven't been - they roost with the barred rocks at night and are never pecked during the day. Any spats I see are always the BR picking on my other two.

 

[Erin80]

My concern is that my BR's will pick on my new birds.....if the new birds picked on the silkies I would remove the silkies for sure.

 

[RUNuts]

If I was having issues with the Barred Rocks, I'd eliminate all 5. New flock dynamics may lead to others being picked on.
1. do you have enough space for all of them that allows them to spread out? I have a big run, but don't have obvious bullying issues and everyone has their feathers.
2. With 2 different ages, one of the older girls will be new head hen. What will you do if the bullying changes?
3. Is your coop large enough for the final size?

Have you considered reducing the flock size and seeing if the remaining hens get along?

 

[Erin80]

Yes....reducing the flock size is what I'm thinking. Either by eliminating all 5 barred rocks or just 4 of them. Not sure.
Yes, I have a very large coop, huge run and they mostly free range in all seasons but winter Lots of room for everyone, lots of perches at all different heights to hop up onto. It's definitely not over crowded, but I feel I have too many BR's and they gang up on two of the other little hens.

 

[RUNuts]

Funny. I have 8 leghorns that rule over 4 Barred Rocks and 6 reds. Was warned that RIR would be the most aggressive. Not in this flock. These are hatchery birds.

Everyone here says they are all individuals. Since you have plenty of space, could it be an individual problem? Sounds like you have a solution.

 

[Erin80]

I might just keep a close eye on them and find out who is at the bottom of the BR's and keep that one. Whoever is least aggressive towards the others.