Hello Janet:
Yes, they can and do recognize differences in size, conformation, coloration and the recognition has a direct effect on flock social dynamics.
This is one of the major reasons for not mixing breeds in production flocks.
Of course the motivation for many is not production - and certainly mixing breeds adds a lot of enjoyment to one's flock.
Prof
--- In CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com, Janet Texas <janetex.drycreek@...> wrote:
>
> We have a flock of 200+ hens - 3 roosters. A couple of years ago we ordered
> day-old-checks - a combination of 5 or 6 different breeds. In the batch
> were 5 white brahmas. They have always hung out together and of the 125+
> hens occupying our barn/coop, they always roost next to each other.
>
> About 4 months ago we ordered 75 day-old-checks - 25 white Leghorns and 25
> black sex-links, 25 gold sex-links. They are in their own separate
> coop/travel trailer.. The white Leghorns roost on one side of the coop -
> the sex-links roost on the other side.
>
> My question is - what's up with that? How do these Brahmas know they are
> all alike. It's not like they can look in a mirror and see what they look
> like - same with the Leghorns. All the 75 chicks were raised together,
> never separated from one another. Do they somehow know they are different
> from the sex-links?
>
> This fascinates me - any theories?
>
> Janet
> Healdsbuurg CA
>
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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