- May 22, 2013
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I have raised Barred Rocks, Wyandottes, Buff Orpingtons, Isa Brown, Black Australorp, Black Sex Link, and a Rhode Island Red Rooster. I have just adopted 2 RIR hens....I raise them in a large confined area and one on one from a couple days old. The Rhode Island Red hens I just adopted were the first to adopt at 1 year old and had to be integrated into one of the flocks...
The hens are really great!!Very nice personality and very gentle!!. We knew the former owners and they were very close to their flock for RIR hens and socialized them from babies very closely as I did with my flocks. The hens proved very adaptable in the integration especially having to deal with a tempermental Barred Rock who has earned her name as Pecky Pebbles as she is aggressive and pecky and does not appreciate being on the bottom of the pecking order. Around her human companions she is completely different when interacting with us. She wants a career change up the ladder put the other hens are not about to let that happen. The RIR hens on the other hand just came into the flock, adapted, did not put up with Pebbles career wishes and made themselves at home. The hens are always the first to greet us now and show -0- aggression towards other flock members but they have a way about them which I would call confidence that they have shown no need to be aggressive or pecky with other hens. Very easy to integrate and the easiest of all the breeds I have had to integrate together in a mixed flock....No pecking or pickering. Again, it is that confidence factor. I have them in a flock of Barred Rock, Black Sex Link. These for me tend to be more aggressive breeds. My other flock is Wyandottes (mine are really aggressive and fought the rooster) and had to be mixed with Buff Orpington and Isa Brown as babies. They are the gentler breed as my Wyandottes will never let any hen forget that they 1) Do not like roosters 2) Always will carry the top of pecking order so a gentler breed had to be mixed with them.
The RIR rooster is just plain cool. Yes, he is very vigilant about his flock and will defend. He is aggressive towards those humans he does not know but since I raised him basically in my lap from a couple days old, he has -0- aggression towards me. Also, both myself and boyfriend have had fed him treats since he was little so he is gentle towards us. When we have had others take care of him we do have to tell them NEVER turn your back on him as he is doing what he does so well, protect the flock. He is big and has spurs to match so NO not a good option for small children. When children do come over, I will pick him up to show them but would not let them in the run with him. RIR roosters would make excellent watch dogs!!!!!!!!!If Patches hears anything come in the yard and he cannot see them, he goes nuts crowing! If you understand why he does this and their personality, than you will understand the why behind the behavior. He loves getting hand fed his greens and will allow myself and boyfriend to work with him without any problems. Most likely, because we socialize all birds very closely from a couple days old and we go to great lengths to treat them as pets not just chickens. RIR roosters are also loud when they crow and they do like to do that.
At the end of the day RIR now rank as my favorite in terms of: adaptability to integrate in a mixed flock, personality, friendliness, pecking and pickering. beauty. The RIR rooster can be tamed with treats, a lot of socialization, showing of the foot (has effectively backed him down with boyfriend - do not use foot show foot). My boyfriend represented a threat to the RIR flock but after taking a better approach with him Patches and my boyfriend have made peace.
Rose Cottage
Andrea
The hens are really great!!Very nice personality and very gentle!!. We knew the former owners and they were very close to their flock for RIR hens and socialized them from babies very closely as I did with my flocks. The hens proved very adaptable in the integration especially having to deal with a tempermental Barred Rock who has earned her name as Pecky Pebbles as she is aggressive and pecky and does not appreciate being on the bottom of the pecking order. Around her human companions she is completely different when interacting with us. She wants a career change up the ladder put the other hens are not about to let that happen. The RIR hens on the other hand just came into the flock, adapted, did not put up with Pebbles career wishes and made themselves at home. The hens are always the first to greet us now and show -0- aggression towards other flock members but they have a way about them which I would call confidence that they have shown no need to be aggressive or pecky with other hens. Very easy to integrate and the easiest of all the breeds I have had to integrate together in a mixed flock....No pecking or pickering. Again, it is that confidence factor. I have them in a flock of Barred Rock, Black Sex Link. These for me tend to be more aggressive breeds. My other flock is Wyandottes (mine are really aggressive and fought the rooster) and had to be mixed with Buff Orpington and Isa Brown as babies. They are the gentler breed as my Wyandottes will never let any hen forget that they 1) Do not like roosters 2) Always will carry the top of pecking order so a gentler breed had to be mixed with them.
The RIR rooster is just plain cool. Yes, he is very vigilant about his flock and will defend. He is aggressive towards those humans he does not know but since I raised him basically in my lap from a couple days old, he has -0- aggression towards me. Also, both myself and boyfriend have had fed him treats since he was little so he is gentle towards us. When we have had others take care of him we do have to tell them NEVER turn your back on him as he is doing what he does so well, protect the flock. He is big and has spurs to match so NO not a good option for small children. When children do come over, I will pick him up to show them but would not let them in the run with him. RIR roosters would make excellent watch dogs!!!!!!!!!If Patches hears anything come in the yard and he cannot see them, he goes nuts crowing! If you understand why he does this and their personality, than you will understand the why behind the behavior. He loves getting hand fed his greens and will allow myself and boyfriend to work with him without any problems. Most likely, because we socialize all birds very closely from a couple days old and we go to great lengths to treat them as pets not just chickens. RIR roosters are also loud when they crow and they do like to do that.
At the end of the day RIR now rank as my favorite in terms of: adaptability to integrate in a mixed flock, personality, friendliness, pecking and pickering. beauty. The RIR rooster can be tamed with treats, a lot of socialization, showing of the foot (has effectively backed him down with boyfriend - do not use foot show foot). My boyfriend represented a threat to the RIR flock but after taking a better approach with him Patches and my boyfriend have made peace.
Rose Cottage
Andrea
