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

[TreeHugger]

I have 3 Wyandottes, 20 Silkies, 10 Pigeons & 3 Peafowl mixed together. I don't have any issues. These are all adult birds. I have to be careful when introductiong young birds. Right now I have 7 young silkies (about 6 weeks old) in a cage in the chicken house. I have started to let them out a little every day to get everyone use to them. My biggest issue is a few of my broody silkie hens that will get off the nest to attack them. I don't keep any roos in my chicken house, it is much calmer since I starting keeping the roos in a seperate pen.

 

[debilorrah]

My flock is a mix of several breeds, and my EE's got picked on for about a week. Then all was fine. Of all the breeds I have, I have to say that my Silver Spangled Hamburg has THE biggest mouth!!!

 

[CTChickenMom]

I think you have a few things going on:

One is certainly breed as some are more aggressive than others. My 2 EEs have always been the largest in the bunch of 14 I have (6 breeds) but my Dark Brahma puts them in their place regularly.

Another is age. Your older girls will have an established pecking order, as will your younger girls. By adding them together, both have orders have been upset and a new one will be formed.

A third factor is that there is no roo. A roo wouldn't usually tolerate this behavior, especially if he is the only roo. Do you know someone with a roo you can borrow? (Love that idea!)

Here is some info I found that may help you...
This one is on aggressive poultry

This one is on the causes of pecking and cannibalism.

 

[amartinlb]

Regarding the peepers: I have never seen a pheasant up close so I can't comment. If someone used something a pin type? that caused bleeding in the nose then the blood would cause breathing difficulty.

I was nervous about putting it on. I held the chicken and especially the head still and my son carefully put them on - it took several tries as the chicken kept moving and we were afraid of hurting it.

However, the peepers I purchased are the pinless type that kind of clip on the hard nostril opening on the beak. They did not cause any pain or bleeding. The chicken had a "what's this" kind of reaction that lasted a short while. All is calm in my coop now. Also, the other chickens did not even notice the blue sunglasses on them which was another worry I had.

I would not consider them cruel at all. I am glad I got them as the pecking has stopped. The other ones don't peck unless these 3 started it.