Mixing Chicken Breeds

[BantamBanter]

Is it alright to mix different chicken breeds or is it advised against? Silkies for example.
Regards,
Chris

 

[rooster58]

From all the research I have read I've come to the conclusion that yes it's just fine to mix breeds. The one thing though with silkies is they will prolly always be at the bottom of the pecking order in a mixed flock because of their temperament. I don't think it bothers them much though.

Edited to add
I have a totally mixed flock but no silkies.

 

[chickens really]

It depends on the Breeds.....Docile breeds do better with other docile breeds...Some can be rather aggressive and can be very hard on small docile Silkies......Also certain Birds will peck and eat the feathers from Silkies....A lady I know with Silkies keeps them in their own pen.....It might be fine? Always have another plan in place in case it does not work.....



Cheers!

 

[GC-Raptor]

All of my five pullets are the same type and age. But I may get more chicks next spring if I can build a larger coop. I will get chickens that are the same size and type. I would not get bantams or Giant size chickens to mix with my mid size birds. But many do. If you have a large coop and multiple feeders, waterers and can free range. Go for it. This is my opinion. GC
Oh yeah Happy New Year.

 

[Wyatt0224]

Different breeds of chickens are perfectly fine to have. Even large fowl and bantams. My flock consists of a RIR roo, BA roo, five RIR hens, 1 BA hen and 2 Silkie hens. If you have a rooster who is LF you probably don't want to have your whole flock bantams because he will hurt them as he is to big for them, I see it with my silkies. Yes silkies tend to be more docile however mine both asserted themselves high in the pecking order and are quite mean sometimes. Each chicken has its own personality.

 

[chickens really]

Very true......I have a little Banty Hen Alice who lives with Orpingtons, Brown Leghorns, EEs, Speckled Sussex, Ameruacana, and My Brahma/Ameruacana Rooster...He Breeds Alice....She gets flattened to the floor but he is not aggressive so it is over in seconds and she follows him around as he tidbits and coos to her..lol........

I just depends on all the birds and how they get along.......


Cheers!

 

[BantamBanter]

Happy New Year!

 

[BantamBanter]

Thanks all great help!

 

[duluthralphie]

Thanks all great help!

Welcome to BYC...\
I see you got your answer. I have a mixed breed flock, I have about a dozen breeds and they do fine., I even have guineas and turkeys in the coop with my layers.

 

[sheetmetaltom]

started off with 10 chicks and 5 different breeds, breed never was an issue. just the typical chicken pecking order. ordered 17 chicks for this week, 3 breeds, 2 new ones for my flock, when i mix them in in about 10 weeks +/- , i dont foresee any problems. they arent people