Adding 10 bantams to my regular flock

[MTaylor830]

I'm a somewhat new to this and have received 6 bantam hens with 3 roosters. 2 of the roosters are very docile and are brothers. I am wanting to combine them with my regular flock. How should I go about doing so?

 

[sourland]

Is there a rooster in your present flock?

 

[MTaylor830]

Is there a rooster in your present flock?

Yes, there is. It's a small backyard flock, only 3 hens and a rooster.

 

[Chicken Heel]

Having a larger rooster is problematical with bantams, either roosters or hens. The larger one can injure or kill the bantam roosters while fighting and injure the bantam hens trying to mate with them. And many bantam roosters will even pick a fight with the larger roosters, usually to their detriment. Now bantam roosters with larger hens works better and it is entertaining trying to see the little fellows mate with the larger hens.

 

[MTaylor830]

Having a larger rooster is problematical with bantams, either roosters or hens. The larger one can injure or kill the bantam roosters while fighting and injure the bantam hens trying to mate with them. And many bantam roosters will even pick a fight with the larger roosters, usually to their detriment. Now bantam roosters with larger hens works better and it is entertaining trying to see the little fellows mate with the larger hens.

Thank you so much!

 

[Mrs. K]

"Roosters are where the romance of keeping chickens meets reality" AArt.

No matter how they act now, mixing them up in a new flock, with an established rooster, - well they don't call it cock fighting for nothing. You are more than likely going to have a wreck.

9 hens and 4 roosters is pretty much a recipe for a disaster. I would only keep one of the roosters, and if you are new to chickens I would recommend not keeping any of the roosters.

When you say "Rooster and Hen - how old is your original flock? Because that makes a difference. Be that as it may, I would not recommend more than 1 rooster with 9 hens - as in full grown and laying hens. Cockerels can be very, very hard on non-laying pullets.

ps. You are more than doubling you your flock. Space is critical with chicken behavior. What are the measurements of your run/coop?

Mrs K