[300AJC]

I keep Road Island Reds, good old ex battery hens. I currently have 7. Every now and then I need to replace ones that die and I have been doing so for about 3 years. I am interested in keeping some Light Sussex and maybe replacing all my battery hens in time. Can I keep the two breeds together? I have heard that it shouldn't be a problem. I always replace my hens with 2 or 3 new ones and after the first couple of weeks establishing the "pecking order" they always settle down very well together.

[joyfull]

I have all mine living together - they are different breeds, colours, bantams, true bantams and large fowl. I have only once had a problem of a trio of white girls who hated a trio of black coloured ones.
They do say not to mix vaccinated birds with none vaccinated birds but I have never had a problem. I dont think they know how long vaccinations will last for because commercial birds are generally only expected to live for 72 weeks so any ex commercial birds may no longer be covered by their vaccines anyway.

[pepsi100]

I have various breeds in my run, but just the one cockerel, a Buff Orpington

They have sorted themselves out, there is the occaisional spat, but nothing major (and the cockerel treats them all the same)

When I get new birds, they are kept seperate for a couple of weeks, then the feathers fly until they sort out the pecking order again

I could never keep different breeds seperate, my garden isnt big ebough, so they are all in there together

[Sassy]

Shouldn't be any more of a problem than introducing new birds ever is.

[300AJC]

Thanks for your replies. I'll give it a go. The Light Sussex is a lovely looking hen.

[barley]

I have tiny Dutch bantams mixed with bigger bantams

the only problem I have had is the Dutch bantam cockerel 

he is very small but has big man syndrome    he's fine with his own kind but hates any thing bigger than himself 
other wise they all live in harmony 

[CattinJ]

I have a light sussex bantam, a wynadotte bantam and a barnvelder bantam alongside a normal sized buff orp and a normal sized barnvelder....they all get on famously together - most of the time!  I always introduce newbies in 2/3s as well...

[grinling]

light sussex is a dual bird. quarantine for a few weeks first.

[kopperdrake]

We've run light sussex with warren type hybrids before with no problem - it's all down to each chicken's individual temperament. Having said that, our pure light sussex flock is definitely calmer in general - they were quicker to sort out who was boss, and they hardly ever bicker. When we've mixed them, we tend to find the birds of similar colour hang around together. The only exception to this is Spotty the little random bantam, and Daisy the massive Light Sussex. They're best buds, and Spotty either uses Daisy as her own feathery umbrella, or lies under her wing when the sleep! The other day I found Spotty sat on top of Daisy, both asleep in the coop, keeping herself warm no doubt!