Spring Chicks - adding to flock

[Sunni_Chick]

We just started our Chicken adventure last spring and have worked out much of the kinks. We built our coop/run to comfortably house up to 24 birds. Still trying to keep our numbers at or below that.

Current birds:

• 1 Lavender Orpington hen
• 1 Lavender Orpington Roo (going to a friend's farm in the spring with his 12 girls)
• 3 Silver laced Wyandottes
• 2 Gold laced Wyandottes
• 1 Blue Copper Marans
• 1 Easter Egger
• 1 Olive Egger
• 1 Opal Legbar
• 2 Rhode Island Blue

Adding:

• 1 Mottled Cochin Bantam
• 1 Calico Cochin Bantam
• 1 Cookies and Cream
• 1 Wheaten Olive Egger
• 1 Lavender Amarucana
• 1 Salmon Faverolles Roo

I really love the Salmon Faverolles Rooster so that was the primary reason for my order along with the two Cochin Bantams. I would love to add a hen as well but I am unable to add a Salmon Faverolles hen because Meyer doesn't have any hens for the date I have picked. The next date is September and it would be getting cold by the time they would be going outside plus shipping in the heat of the summer so changing my date isn't an option.

So this brings me to my question - I was reading that it is best to bring in similar birds to your existing flock when bringing in a Faverolles or to add 2 Faverolles...should I just add another Faverolle Rooster or I have considered a Jubilee Orpington hen (no Buffs available for my hatch date) as I have only 1 Orpington hen. I had read that the Faverolles Roos tend to get along well with each other in a mixed flock and I don't have low numbers...I am just not sure what to do.

Thoughts/opinions for me to consider???
Heather

 

[Ridgerunner]

You can read about anything. Sometimes there is some truth to it and sometimes, well you can read about anything. Another popular one is to not add bantams to a flock of full sized fowl.

Personally I never worry about adding different breeds, colors, or patterns together, especially as chicks. Usually they get along great, but sometimes they can kill each other even if they are all of the same breed and color. You do not get guarantees with animals and their behaviors. Anything can happen. I think it depends on individual personality differences, not breeds.

If that is what you ant I'd try it and expect it to work. But I cannot give you any guarantees it will work.

 

[Sunni_Chick]

You can read about anything. Sometimes there is some truth to it and sometimes, well you can read about anything. Another popular one is to not add bantams to a flock of full sized fowl.

Personally I never worry about adding different breeds, colors, or patterns together, especially as chicks. Usually they get along great, but sometimes they can kill each other even if they are all of the same breed and color. You do not get guarantees with animals and their behaviors. Anything can happen. I think it depends on individual personality differences, not breeds.

If that is what you ant I'd try it and expect it to work. But I cannot give you any guarantees it will work.

That is so very true and I appreciate the honesty!! Hopefully with a slow integration it will be ok. Hubby is building me an "Integration Station" in the run this year and I will be using a kennel in the coop to allow them to roost together but not "together" when the time comes. Rather do this while the weather is easier which is another reason to just hold onto my ship date. Looking at other options for Faverolles as well