What chicken breeds are least likely to have pecking order issues?

[amartinlb]

I posted about my pecking issues.

My two major peckers starting off are 2 Americauna dark color hens 11 wks old, followed by rir hen. The Delaware and marans join in when it gets going. I have not noted the buff orpingtons or barred rocks doing this. I received my peepers and put them on the major offenders.

The one they messed up was the smallest Americauna (black) then the other Americauna's grey, tan and black and white. They did not bother all the slightly smaller ones (by 2 weeks) buff orps, delaware, cuckoo marans or barred rocks.

Is it a breed issue? Is it because the Ameracuanas are the oldest/biggest? Is it Ameracauna? Is it because I have a big mix?

I have all ready figured the baby polish chicks & appenzellers (mohawk crest) are probably have to be kept seperate instead of mixing in when they get older.

Can you keep polish with silkies and appenzellers? Or how about with buff orpingtons? Or will buffs gang up on a different breed?


A small peck here and there is one thing but pecking till bloody then having to seperate is a bit much. I have the two pecked Amer. in a dog cage together-they don't bother each other (yet). Is this ok?

I'm trying to decide if I sh/give up on certain breeds. I wanted a lot of different chickens not all the same.

ADVICE or OPINIONS PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Zoomom]

I'm also interested in knowing this, as I am getting 3 Polish, but if one is a cockerel I will be trading for a pullet of another breed, most likely RIR cross/EE. I really want 4 hens...so would 2 Polish be ok with 2 RIR crosses? I would try to get the most submissive RIRs.
Thanks!

 

[Brindlebtch]

I had dominance issues with my chickens and ended up using the peepers you can get from eggcartons.com on my peckers. They calmed down the situation A LOT and I no longer have screaming chickens!

 

[Zoomom]

Peepers are a good idea...I wonder how silly a Polish will look wearing Peepers.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

I'm glad you posted this topic.....I'm just wonder if there are anything besides "peepers" to stop the pecking order? Is this the only way?

 

[Hillbilly Rooster]

I have adult Buff Orpingtons and I have never had a pecking order problem. I just introduced some 3 EE and 2 cochin hens and there has been no problem. The Buffs let the EE go to the top roost in the coop and there is no fighting at all.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Quote:
You are very lucky.....I have some barred rocks that seem to be terrible with this, I have loved them besides that problem.

 

[amartinlb]

We applied the peepers, not too hard. You need one person to do it and one to hold the chicken. Don't buy the applicator $20.00 pliers- we couldn't figure out how to use it and it was easy enough without it.

THE PEEPERS WORK well in discouraging them!!!!

They got used to them in a few minutes - eating, drinking and free ranging.

We were recommended to use pine tar[/i] instead of bag balm or vicks which didn't work. We put in on with a paint brush. The others came to see them even with peepers on , they got within 6 inchs, smelled it and never even tried to peck. It also has the healing properties. I still put the two in the dog cage to be sure overnight. I hope this works

I got a quart of pine tar in the horse area of the feed store for $9.99 it's used for horse hooves. I know old timers know this but for everyone new like me it is good info. When people say to use the search one spot leads to another.

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

Oh my!!! I think the peeps are so cruel. I watched one used on a pheasant. It was the thinnest one you can buy. The nose started bleeding and it was scared and had a very hard time breathing. The peep was removed and the bag of peeps were thrown away. Never to be used for any reason, again!! I believe your chickens...within a few days would stop with the pecking without the peepers!! I'm glad they adapted so quickly to them. Do you plan to leave them in? DJ

 

[CityFarm]

I have periodically borrowed my neighbor's rooster (every couple of weeks) and had great luck with my biggest offender.