Ribh's D'Coopage

[MaryJanet]

I believe (on not a lot of first hand evidence but lots of anecdotal evidence from experienced keepers here where I live) that these types of problems occur more often in mixed breed flocks. Many people report that if they have pairs of triples of a particular breed in a large mixed flock the breeds bond by breed.
Here it should work even better and generally does. Not only do they have breed genetics, they also have family genes.
The most problematical with regard to in tribe disputes and bickering are the Marans/bantam crosses. Gedit and Myth, completely different sizes and generations will stick together. They are very similar in physiology apart from a very pronounced size difference.
It's not a very popular line of research. Any conclusions would be open to misinterpretation by various groups, much like Darwin's Survival of the Fittest.

So @Shadrach in my situation where there's a trio with mixed backgrounds, what would you recommend for the next two pullets? Same breeds/hatch or different? I was thinking same hatch but perhaps that would disintegrate the flock over time? Whereas two pullets from different backgrounds might be more likely to lead to a cohered flock over time?

 

[Shadrach]

So @Shadrach in my situation where there's a trio with mixed backgrounds, what would you recommend for the next two pullets? Same breeds/hatch or different? I was thinking same hatch but perhaps that would disintegrate the flock over time? Whereas two pullets from different backgrounds might be more likely to lead to a cohered flock over time?

There is a great Irish saying. When asking an Irishman for directions to a place the response is ' I wouldn't start from here if I wanted to go there.
I would be tempted to enjoy what I have until they die and then start from scratch with a breeding pair and close the flock. I would be extremely careful about where I got the breeding pair from.
But, my goals and keeping arrangements are different.

 

[MaryJanet]

Ok thanks for your advice.

 

[Shadrach]

Ok thanks for your advice.

I'm sorry I can't do better. I really don't know. I would need to know the flock and that's obviously impractical.
I have had rescue chickens here and while they haven't mixed with the tribes the tribes have not bothered them. They end up in their own group or on occasions just as a single hen.
You could try getting pullets to match the breed you would like to keep most and see how that goes while you let the other breeds die out.

 

[Ribh]

You could try getting pullets to match the breed you would like to keep most and see how that goes while you let the other breeds die out.

This has been one of my problems. The most common chicken round here is ISA Browns ~ which I'm not keen on. They were one of my very first chickens. Thus I've been experimenting to see what actually works well with my personality. I was warned of Campines for inexperienced chicken keepers ~ which I am ~ but they are a really good fit for me & as my girls age & die out I will rebuild with these as my base group. I also know how much work I am in for with these girls ~ all things I couldn't have predicted.

 

[BY Bob]

In my experiences with my small mixed flocks, pairs of like hens work well. Also keeping even numbers of hens has aided in the pairing off while free ranging. From now on I will be adding matched pairs of hens.

Providing nature will cooperate of course. Like I'm in charge.

Certainly if Maleficent goes broody in the spring, all bets are off.

 

[MaryJanet]

Thanks @BY Bob

 

[Kris5902]

We've been remiss... We've been taking photos to post, but with crazy work I've never gotten them posted. So here goes. Sorry for so many at once. I'll load them as thumbnails.
View attachment 1955108 View attachment 1955109 View attachment 1955110 View attachment 1955111 View attachment 1955112 View attachment 1955113 View attachment 1955114 View attachment 1955115 View attachment 1955116 View attachment 1955117 View attachment 1955118 View attachment 1955119 View attachment 1955120 View attachment 1955121

All beautiful Bob! I especially like the one with the fog/mist/low cloud? And the tree. You have a gorgeous view!

 

[Kris5902]

I’ve not had many issues with my mixed flocks, but do seem to be developing a bit of one in Mr Marans pen. I left Tiny my Isbar in with him, hoping to be able to isolate her eggs and not breed her, thinking it would be less of a disruption to the pecking order. I may relocate her in with the other Isbars and take my chances, as Mr. Maran has taken too much of an interest in her lately. With his first two ladies molting and being less receptive to his mating, his 2 daughters not yet quite in lay, Tiny being much smaller and the only whiteish chicken in the pen she seems to be getting bullied and overly persued.

I think @BY Bob is right in the “pairs at least”, and agree that a single breed flock is probably less likely to have as many issues. I do think a lot has to do with the individual personalities of the chickens as well. The nice thing about a mixed flock is you can get a good idea of the different breeds general personality traits and which ones fit best with your keeping situation and environment. I’m also looking to move towards more of a closed flock model, once I get enough headway on the Meat Bird breeding program, but really all you can do is start where you are and work from there (and I have enough land and the roosters to make it manageable)

Hopefully the leadership will settle down, and the feather picking will cease soon. I agree on staying away from the ISA’s... they can be downright nasty and very dominant, especially in groups. Not to mention all the reproductive problems they develop.

 

[Ribh]

Sunset through the smoke haze.
They are shutting the schools now.​