Species differences

[City Farmer Jim]

I'm a newbie and have what my be a silly question...inquiring minds need to know.
Our flock is 5 at this time but was 6(another story). Here's the question....the flock is 2 silver laced Wyandottes 1 barred Rock and 2 Buff Orpingtons....it is PROBABLY a coincidence BUT the Wyandottes and barred Rock seem to spend A LOT of time together and the 2 Orpingtons seem to hang together A LOT and this is REALLY going to sound SILLY is it a species thing or a feather color difference?

 

[hysop]

It may be a coincidence honestly. I’ve had the same thing happen but then randomly it changed. Were they raised together?

I think the word you were looking for was breed since all chickens are the same species.

 

[City Farmer Jim]

Yes and I thought about breed 30 seconds after hitting post. Yes they have been flock mates since birth well at least 3 days after birth lol. We had 2 Barred Rocks. 1 gave her life saving her flock mates. Her breed sister almost immediately assumed her place as HEAD HEN and her and the 2 Wyandottes have been inseparable ever since, the 3 darkest color pullets spend nearly all their time together. The 2 Buff Orpingtons do the same. The only thing that differs is when it's time for a HEAD Hen meeting then its 1 of each breed. After their cabal they go back to being groups of 3 and 2.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Birds of a feather, flock together. I think chickens may have some preference for others that look similar to themselves.

 

[City Farmer Jim]

Seems to be true with my flock of awesome girls. Our new flock of 5 is an attempt to balance things a bit and not sure if it is gonna work lol. 1 Barred Rock, 2 gold laced Wyandottes, 2 blue laced Wyandottes....the thinking was the gold laced would bridge the gap between the brunettes and blondes and the blue laced are just to cute and eye candy for US lol.