libby22 Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 I am doing some winter research, looking at possibly getting some new birds in the spring. I had terrible trouble with the pecking order last time I tried to integrate a flock, with two girls trying to kill a little ex-battery hen, even though they had been kept close together for some time. I hasten to add that I have a new additional pen and no newcomers would be intergrated with these two! Therefore, would anyone be able to give me pointers as to the breeds that are not as aggressive towards each other during this time? Or is it simply the case that all breeds have to sort out their pecking order and until it is settled that is that? I don't mind which breed I have, I do like the look of the Frizzles though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Yes, all breeds need to sort out their pecking order but from my experience...I started off with 3 Bantam Australorps and I now have 20 Bantams of various breeds and have never had any trouble with introductions My Belgian Bantams (Barbu D'Anvers and Barbu de Watermael) are the stroppiest with newbies (though its just posturing which is funny to watch ) and the Australorps are the most laid back. They really are a wonderful breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Agree with Cheeky Chooky, I started with 3 and now have nine, all silkies except for a bantam orp and intros were really easy, certainly no actual contact, just a bit of posturing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlphaChickens Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Hello, I've only had hens for 10 weeks, but my silver grey dorking and barnevelder are both soooo placid - especially the dorking, she's the biggest and has been beaten up lots by the sussexes, but she just seems to deal with it all so gracefully, no aggression whatsoever. Very docile for handling too. That said, I'm going to be introducing a new hen to the flock soon, so I hope I don't have to eat my words! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Faverolles are said to be nice and placid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Thank you all so much. I am writing all these breeds down with glee - so glad it is possible to reduce the fighting! So, is this the case with all bantams or just the breeds mentioned. I have very little knowledge of them unfortunately but really like the sound of them. Would someone mind explaining Silkies please, is this one type of bantam or do you get groups under this heading too? Really appreciate your help in this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Silkies are a breed and large fowl but are quite small so many are mistaken for bantams. You can get minature silkies but these are harder to find. A lot of large fowl silkies tend to be too small but this isn't a problem unless you are wanting to show. You can get breeds such as serama with fluffy silkie type feathers but these are rare. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Silkies come in LF, bantam and miniature. Lots of colours to pick from. Need to be kept dry, don't fly, cute, go broody a lot, lay a pinky coloured egg, 6 feathery toes so pretty none destructive scratching wise. Dear lttle characters. I've only got mini ones as they live with modern and old English games but they've never been bottom bird. Nook is my newest at 8ish weeks and still in the kitchen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Thanks for the clarification on Silkies, they sound like ideal girls to have. However, the write ups I have managed to read so far are for the Australorps and Faverolles and their temperaments sound just wonderful. It would be nice to be able to introduce new girls when you wanted to, without the worry of the pecking order attacks and sounds like I could do this with these breeds. However, will keep reading up on the recommended breeds - thank you all so much - much easier to speak to people who have kept these girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Each bird is different and they don't always conform to their descriptions My Silkies are lovely but I wouldn't say they're the friendliest of my girls but others say they are. I had 2 Faverolles who were noisy and boisterous but others say they're not. My Frizzles are generally a bit grumpy and others say they're not. My Pekins are not feisty as some say they can be...they're just obsessed with food My Barbu D'Anvers and Barbu de Watermael are friendly and are busy little things and my Silkied Seramas really are adorable (they're my OH's favourite ). My one remaining Orpington Bantam is a sweetie (and a bit daft ) and as I said earlier, my Australorps are extremely friendly I've seen them be caring to the others as well as head off any possible trouble They lay good sized eggs too Having had various Hybrids in the past, Bantams are definitely nicer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 I've got Silkies, Frizzles and Polands and have always just popped any newbies straight into the house when the others are going to bed in the evening and then let them out with the others next day to FR round the garden. Mind, you do have to be certain that there are no health issues with your new girls if you do this. Silkies - I have what Redwing rightly calls 'in betweenies' i.e. not miniatures but quite small all the same. They seem to like their own kind and keep themselves to themselves pretty much. I find it a little trying that they so want to go broody. On the other hand they are very pretty. One to tempt you Frizzles - I just love these dumpy little beings and find them very friendly. They don't go broody and don't fly either. However they are a bit hit and miss on the laying front and are also rather rare (true frizzles that is as opposed to frizzled pekins). Here's one to tempt you Polands - friendly, talkative and very easy to pick up but as mad as a box of frogs - even with a clipped wing mine seem to be good flyers which the frizzles and silkies are not. Only this evening OH found one of our Polands (Dee Dee) perching on one of the beams inside the kitchen - right up near the ceiling He'd only left the door open for a few minutes while he put our two ducks to bed. One to tempt you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 no 2 intros are they same I've done 3 this year 2 into the same group the first one took best part of 3 months before the new girls became part of the group the second took about 3 hrs. the other 1 is 3 girls with a young cockerel and that's been a nightmare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suebee Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 I've got Silkies, Frizzles and Polands....................... One to tempt you Here's one to tempt you One to tempt you Shabby Chic........ You're tempting me too!! And probably everyone else.... Could start an outbreak of morehens, with all this tempting, if you're not careful... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Thank you for the descriptions - I suppose it would be odd if every hen fitted the temperament description but, daft as it sounds, that hadn't dawned on me until I read your responses! Makes perfect sense now. I have a battery hen - who I have read are supposed to be thugs and fighters and she is scared of her own shadow bless her. The photos! How beautiful - really helps to see the photo and get a descripion too. And yes, I want them all! I love the sound of the frizzles, since I read about Hob "Ooops, word censored!", the little famous girl who had been on the forum for quite some time and was just lovely but that is the first time I had heard of them and,as you say, really rare to actually find them. I don't mind if the breed doesn't lay very much, just want the good temperament with each other, that is my main aim and it is good to see I have some choice. I love my girls dearly, they are Gingernut Rangers and an ex-battery hen and their personalities are wonderful but they are not gentle in any respect! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 There are a few pics of some of my gang here http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=91344 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottyJ1 Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 My Plymouth rock and French marans are very chilled out. When I introduced to my little ex batt she chased them round for a few weeks but no real harm (they took refuge on top of the house) and they are now twice the size and weight of her and she is still in charge but all friends. They seem to have a lot of respect for her. I do love all the silkies, frizzles and polands though too and my brother has had slikies who were very gentle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 I have to say my buff Sussex is a perfect ratbag! She squares up to me and will peck my shoes (leg if I didn't block it by putting my foot up) and she'll go for us when we put them to bed - it's her cube run and protect it she will, hands laden with food are easy prey. So now when I see her about to pounce I lean over and twiddle her tail - whoosh, she whips round, twiddle tail again, whoosh back again. Do this a few times and then pick her up and keep her head low, almost upside down. Give her a good talking to and then let her down again. Usually the fire has gone, but if she tries again she gets the same treatment until she realises that she does not under any circumstances chomp the hand that feeds her!!!! The orpies were/are wonderful. Pekins are great. Cuckoo maran is . . . cuckoo, and our silkie was a loner - but boy could she dig for Britain! She also loved the hair dryer, lifting her wings up and stretching out for the warm blast until she was dry as a bone. So I now have one big fat featherball, 2 normal sized girls and 3 pekins all running around happily together. Actually the top pekin is now 2nd in command to replace the other big fat orpie. The remaining big fat orpie is still queen bee. The maran is the lowest of the pecking order and tries to be invisible by lowering her head near the pekins. Daft bird. I'm going to have Croad Langshans next as they are supposed to be chilled out - and apparently their gene pool was used to produce orpies. I'd like a faverolle too, but no more silkies for me, much as I loved our one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 Forgot to say Brahmas are on my list too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 I love the sound of the frizzles, since I read about Hob "Ooops, word censored!", the little famous girl who had been on the forum for quite some time and was just lovely but that is the first time I had heard of them and,as you say, really rare to actually find them. I'm not sure where you live but I have had reliable information that a breeder near me will be hatching buff / gold Frizzles this spring. I've asked for one as I so want a buff one Her details are on Mrs Frugal's 'Where to buy chickens' sticky, and are as follows: Diane Webber Near Henley 01491 682034 diana@whippets.plus.com - breeder of show quality Frizzle and Dutch bantams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted December 13, 2012 Author Share Posted December 13, 2012 Cheeky Chooky - I can't decide which are the sweetest between your Silkies and your Seramas is it? They are just lovely, would really like to keep those, especially if they are as placid as they seem to be. LottyJ1 - I do love the sound of the Frizzles as well, I hadn't considered the Plymouth Rocks but they have been added firmly to my list! Valkyrie - I love the opening line of your post! I laughed so hard. I shall be steering clear of the Buff Sussex but you have my full admiration on coping with such a handful! I have seen the very large orpingtons at a show and they took my breath away. I have had a few recommendations regarding them, are they very sweet natured? I have read how gentle the Brahmas are, but this is where I have trouble, is this just with people or with each other too? My two Gingernut Rangers are angels with me but horrors with other hens. They jump on them, flatten them to the floor and take it in turns to pull their feathers out and try to peck their eyes! Hence they live on their own Shabby Chic - thank you very much for those details. I live in the West Midlands however, appreciate these little girls are pretty rare to find so would need to travel to them. I have printed off the details and shall look into that further. Was just laughing that one of my words had been censored on my post about the Frizzle! Comes to something when you can't name a biscuit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 Oh I loved my orpies - it upset me when our buff, Cheyenne, died so young, even worse when Piggy Sioux died in my arms this summer. Apache is nearly 5 now - seems we've had her forever. The only downside is they whine - oh boy do they whinge! Louder and louder if you are heard in the kitchen and somebody wants a treat! Holding them is an art and I'm always admiring the judges ease of flipping them round - when I have only just perfected the halfchook Nelson hold. Although I had to snigger this year when I saw one big bird (can't remember what it was) giving the judge a bit of a test. Most of the time Sioux and Patch went round together. Very docile, lovely huge feather dusters that they are. They used to keep the others in line, but they were never vicious with the other birds - just a timely reminder peck - whereas Squirt the ratbag can pull out the feathers when she is in an anti chicken mode. She was after a magpie the other day - that moment when you know if the magpie stays tempting fate it might just learn a lesson with her! Early novice days of holding orpies incorrectly can leave you with a very sore nose that feels like it's broken when the wings clout you. But there are bantam versions. Can't tell you how easy the pekins are after the orpies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 Clootie has Brahmas - she loves them and yes, daft as brushes and gentle. Orpies and Brahmas - both have Croad Langshan in the gene pool - so I guess the chilled out gene comes from them too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 Cheeky Chooky - I can't decide which are the sweetest between your Silkies and your Seramas is it? They are just lovely, would really like to keep those, especially if they are as placid as they seem to be. Definitely the Seramas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
libby22 Posted December 14, 2012 Author Share Posted December 14, 2012 Definitely loving the sound of the Brahmas, Orpingtons, Frizzles and Australorps as my main choices so far but that can easily change as I see and read about the other lovely chickens that I had never even heard about Talk about spoiled for choice. Thank you all so much, this has been far more informative then just reading up about them on google Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Shabby Chic - thank you very much for those details. I live in the West Midlands however, appreciate these little girls are pretty rare to find so would need to travel to them. I have printed off the details and shall look into that further. The breeder Di and her friend Jenny travel to a lot of shows up and down the country so you could probably arrange to meet them somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
