4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[NClaire]

What would you say in your experience is the most docile breed as far as getting on with the other hens. I have a very bullied bird who I'm putting in her own run, but I want to get a young hen to keep her company - wondering about a bluebelle. The bullied bird is a goldline.

 

Any thoughts?

[chelsea]

we have cochins, they are very submissive hens who do not mind being bottom of the pecking order. If you read up on cochins and brahmas (similar breed) it says that even some cockerels of those breeds can learn to live together. They are very tame and friendly bundles of fluff but they are very big hens.

[Bondinho]

It kind of depends on the hen I think, they do say Cochins and Brahmas are docile - but yet my friend's brahma is top of the pecking order - against 4 other hens. My Pekin is pretty happy to just wander around being bottom of the pecking order but yet others say pekins stand up for themselves well.

 

You might find that the bullied hen will now become a bully if you put her in with a new, young hen. So perhaps a young brahma/cochin might be a good idea due to their sheer size might put the goldline off trying to bully them

 

Hope it turns out ok.

[Gallina]

Cochins are docile, but my big old Cochin literally sat on top of one of my new pullets when I let her out with them to see what would happen. She is so enormous that maybe she thought they were chicks that needed to be kept warm: I really don't know what was going through her mind. But she never fights or pecks the others.

 

Cochins are like old ladies who walk on the other side of the road if they see trouble.

 

But they are very poor layers, which may affect your decision. They live longer than most hens as a result. And you don't say where you will be keeping the new hen: an Eglu is too small for a Cochin (or Brahma).

[Helen&Lee]

I think it really depends on the chicken, I have 4 Brahma's, 2 of them (the dark and blue) are really lovely, friendly chooks and were almost protective of Tallulah, who being the smallest when we got them was definately the bottom of the pecking order.

 

Attila the buff brahme is definately the anti-social madam, and Bertha is noisy, forever complaining and given to dealing out the odd peck here and there.

 

Helen

[chelsea]

 

Cochins are like old ladies who walk on the other side of the road if they see trouble.

 

But they are very poor layers,

 

I agree with the above, what a great way of summing cochins up Gallina!

[Bootscooter Nell]

I've been told that Amber Stars are quite docile. I know mine is, she's an absolute sweetie and is bullied by the Goldline. She's a good layer too but I don't have any experience of other Ambers but the place we got them from said they were a docile hybrid.