Would this be wrong? My Orpington dilemma

[Yellow Snow]

I'm just finishing my coop (8' x 8') and I'm ready to finally start my flock. I don't have an incubator so I need to buy baby chicks. Ideally I'd like to have a flock of mixed Orpington breeds (Buff, Black, White, Blue). However it didn't take me long to find out that it's unrealistic to order chicks of all four of these Orpington breeds, at least this time of year and from the same breeder/hatchery. So I've reluctantly decided to just start my flock with chicks from a local feed store. Since I'm in an isolated rural area this is my only alternative. So that said, here's my dilemma:

I'd like to have a mixed flock, and the feed store only has the following breeds: Ameraucana, Buff Orpington, Barred Rock, Golden Sexlink, and Rhode Island Red. The breed I MOST want is Buff Orpington. But I know that the BO has a gentle nature and can often be picked on by other breeds in the flock. So my question is, would it be wrong for me to purchase 2 or 3 BO's and mix them in with some of the other breeds available? Would mixing them with Ameraucanas, RIRs, BR's, or Sexlinks just be setting them up for a miserable situation at the bottom of the pecking order?

 

[LoupGarou]

Easter Eggers and RIRs seem to get along all right (from what I've seen in a neighbor's flock), but I can't say how they'd be with Orps. I have two-month-old Buff Orpington pullets and some EEs that are about a month younger, but I'm not sure if I'll be putting them in the same pen or not.

 

[KimberlyJ]

Not at all. I have a mixed flock of 12--each a different breed. Buffy, the Buff Orpington is not picked on at all. Actually Bunny, the Easter Egger, is the bottom of the pecking order I believe.

 

[punky rooster]

Yeah chickens don't care, as long as they have friends lol!

 

[CityClucks]

Yellow Snow - I don't know how many chicks you're planning on, but if you want a mixed flock, I suggest you get five or six Buff Orpingtons and only a couple each of the other breeds. If there are more BOs than other clucks, they'll tend to stick together and that will work out better for them. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[cindy99]

My Golden Comet is bossy but she gets along ok with our Buff Orpingtons. She does keep herself kind of separate (she thinks that she is better than they are

) LOL That is her in the back left corner.

 

[donrae]

I have three BO and basically all the other breeds you mentioned, 2-4 of each breed. The orps aren't picked on. I keep hearing that on the boards, folks asking the same question. Answers here are, they hold their own quite nicely

 

[N. Virginia]

I have 1 or 2 of bo, auracana, brown leghorns lace wyandot, Rhode island red, and barred rock. They get along fine. Also had 3 guineas which I ate as they were picking on the hens. The BO Sam barred rock are at the top and the leghorn is at the bottom of the pecking order. Since the BO is the largest, she should be fine.

Just eat the roosters and you'll have peace and quiet!

 

[Mrs. K]

My BO IS the top girl in a flock of 7 and she is the ONLY BO. A mixed flock is a great flock to start with! I think I will always have a mixed flock!