Will they Fight?

[chik magnet]

I am a newbie here and to chickens and I want to add to my flock of 5 RIRs.What I want to know is if I add a couple of different breeds to my existing flock would they fight.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Integrating birds is usually a challenge but it can be done and many
of us do it all the time.

It's best to merge flocks, not add 1 or 2 birds to your RIR's. Pick the birds
you want, get them as chicks, and then integrate them all together.

 

[cmom]

Some integrations go better than others. I had a couple of hens that were real bullies so I put them in jail for a week where they could see the other birds and the other birds could see them. I understand they have to establish their pecking order, but one hen was after blood. When I let them out one was ok but one was still a bully so I would squirt her with a hose when I saw her pouncing on one of the younger birds. After a few squirts she settled down. Maybe she just got tired of being squirted. Wait awhile until your little ones get a bit bigger before you put them together. The older chicks can really hurt or kill the younger ones. As long as they can see each other the integration should go smoother. There will still be some pecking when you do put them together as they establish their pecking order. I put mine together in the yard so the little ones can escape and get away from the older ones. Also I put out some treat so the older birds will fixate more on the treats than the younger birds. I integrated 1½ yr old hens with 3 to 4 month old pullets.

 

[kathyinmo]

What age are your chickens? What age are the ones you want to add? Someone has a BYC page full of information on integration, but I can't find it right now. I will look for it, and get back to ya.

 

[chik magnet]

Cool thanks for the info a really appreciate it . Was worried that would get hurt or killed.Thank you again.

 

[chik magnet]

My flock is 5 months old . I wanted to get a couple of different breeds that am going to get as chicks and when their old enough I have a little cage tha I put in so they can see each other but not touch one another and eventualy them free range together.What age should I put the little ones in the big girls run?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd guess this is the site Kathy was looking for.

Buff Hooligan’s Adding to your flock
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-adding-to-your-flock

What I want to know is if I add a couple of different breeds to my existing flock would they fight.

The difference in breeds is not a factor to be concerned about, although it might help a bit if the younger chickens were at least as big as the older ones. The difference in age is the big concern. Read what Buff says. He does a better job than I can.

When you merge flocks, they will fight to establish a pecking order. A pack of wolves, a herd of cattle, and a flock of chickens all establish a pecking order. It is nature's way of allowing groups of animals to peacefully coexist. Sometimes that is a vicious process to get to the end result. It is also nature's way of weeding out the weaklings to improve the wild flock, pack or herd. Your goal is for them to establish the pecking order without it turning bloody.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the other posts. Every situation and integration is unique. Here is my page on how I did it. Be prepared for the unexpected.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=4942-integrating-flocks