You know, I almost didn't get the barred rocks. I wasn't exactly shopping for that breed, and to me they had a 'mean eye'. I thought that I was being ridiculous. Now, 2 days later, I realize I should have gone with intuition (but when do we ever listen to ourselves?)
What I'm hoping for is the buffs and the Ameraucanas will form some sort of bonding flock together and the 'intruders' later on will be the rocks. I'll have to keep them caged for a week and then try it again. (All but my poor pecked hen, who seems perfectly content roosting on top of the carrier in the kitchen, surrounded by cats.) If she lives, she's going to have socialization problems when she's reintroduced again. My roosters are half red leghorn and half ameraucana and all boy! I have a little banty rooster who was the old harem-master until the teenagers came on the scene. I don't think it's the males who are discrimating, I think it's probably the hens. My Red Leghorn hangs out with the young guys and I have one big yellow hen that does too. The rest (mottled black hens) live with the banty who is also a slate gray. When the teenagers try to corner a black one, she runs screaming back to her husband. Chickens are generally fun to have around until they start murdering each other.
