A bit of a pickle | Mixed Flock Advise

[BrieRae]

A year ago we got our first chickens, 5 in total and only one rooster. We have a healthy and thriving flock. This year we tried to prioritize sex-linked chicks to avoid having multiple roosters. But tragedy struck, the baby chicks arrived unwell. After 2/3 died, I went to my local chicken lady and she suggested we take a couple bantam chicks to avoid the single chick from getting lonely. Now, we only have the bantams left (Normal sized replacement chicks on the way) and it is very evident that one of bantams is a rooster.

My worries:
-Flock proportions [1 Bantam Rooster & 1 Bantam Hen] vs [ 1 Established Rooster & 4 Established Hens] vs [3 Newly Arriving Female Sex-Linked Chicks)
-Can this ratio of roosters and hens work?
-If we try to get rid of the bantam rooster, will the bantam hen go depressed with no litter mates?
-Will the bantam hen be okay to introduce to other birds alone?

Originally, we thought that introducing multiple bantams with a regular size pullet would be reasonable but this bantam being a roo has really thrown a monkey wrench in our plan. Any advice appreciated!

 

[GodLovesU]

A standard roo can’t be kept with any bantams. He’ll fight (and potentially hurt) the male and mate (and potentially hurt) the female.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well, until you have a problem, you don't have one. From what I have read, some flocks can have both full size and bantam size birds in it and do fine, and other flocks it does not work.

Personally, I would give the bantam pair away. The more roosters you have, the greater the chance you have of it going wrong. You could wait and see if you have the flock it will work in, but you asked for advice, and I would give them away.

Basically you are adding 6 birds to 5 birds - so more than doubling your flock - do you have room? As in a coop with 44 square feet? Not just big, but big enough.

Thing is, if you are the least bit tight on space, drastically increases the chance of it not gong well. 2 Roosters increase the chance of it not going well. Removing birds solves both problems.

Mrs K