anyone have trouble with bantams and standards getting along?

[birdbrain5]

I started out with 3 bantams, one of which is a roo. They were relatively young, not laying yet. I got 2 standard pullets, and 3 guinea keets, those 5 all grew up together until big enough to introduce to the 3 bantams. Everything went well at first, they did stay in thier seperate groups when free ranging, but in the coop things were fine. Now months later, the pullets are huge and of course the bantams are still tiny! I notice one of the bantam hens getting picked on, and when I let them out she stays in the coop somtimes. She sticks by the other bantam hen and my roo, but many times I look and see her across the yard by herself. Is this a bad situation? I know shes not being kept from her food, and I dont see any marks on her as if shes been beat up. At night they all roost together tho. I just wonder how things are when they are in the coop all day. I plan to get more standards in the spring, should I split my flock so the bantams are seperate? Or should I add a few more bantams so she has more her size that may accept her and she wont range alone? Im affraid shes going to get killed by something since shes singled out. Also, can a bantam roo keep order of a flock with standard hens? They are double his size!
Thanks!

 

[Teach97]

I run lots of bantams and a few standards...only problems I had was with guineas...them dudes is rough...then i got a really cool game roo...they stopped...of course I almost had a dead guinea but I broke it up...stupid guinea laid there like it had been knocked-out...it might have been...

Not sure about anything else but...that is what happened with me

 

[NarleevilleClucks]

I started with 5 standards, lost one, and then added two more standards and three bantams (two were slikies). The Silkies got picked on so bad I rehomed them. I still have the one bantam, and she's too fast to get picked on, but it was definitely stressful. I think it's chicken racism.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

im running OEGB with my layer flock. and dont have too many problems occasionally the RIR rooster will take a run at the bantam roos. but ive only seen that on a rare occasion. and most all the time they are hanging in close proximity to one another.

yrs back i had some rough guinea roosters. they were rough on the chicken hens. i turned a game rooster out and he whupped that guinea rooster. and had no more problem outa them.

 

[MissJenny]

I have a bantam who is mean as sin to my Easter Egger (she's kind of a cry baby). The bantam is part of a gang of three -- 1 Barred rock, 1 Light Brahma and one 1 Bantam Cochin. Right this minute they are almost all separated. The Easter Egger and the barred rock are in the coop, the Brahma is in a crate in the kitchen and the bantam cochin is sitting on a nest of eggs. We'd all be happier if they got along better.

Jenny

 

[AccioSarah]

I'm having a very hard time integrating. We have three standards and one lonely bantam who is having a rough time. They are currently separated by wire, but the bantam needs a friend. We're looking to either adopt a fully grown bantam (hen) or we will get a chick or two in the Spring. But for now, our little bantam is on her own.

 

[teach1rusl]

I have one bantam - a d'uccle rooster - with six standard girls. A few of my girls are probably three times as big as Earl (roo), as he MAY weight 2 lbs. Trust me, he has NO problems with authority in my little flock; he's in charge. However, he is older than the girls by more than a year, so that may make a difference. I plan on adding a few bantam pullets in the spring, but they will have a separate coop/run - although they will eventually free range together. Earl will stay with the big girls if I can help it

 

[Carrie Lynn]

My Banty Leghorn (28 weeks) rules the roost...literally.
She lives with 2 standards, (16 weeks old) and she can terrify them when she wants to.
They are huge compared to her, but her size doesn't matter, it's all in the attitude!
Just last night the BA grabbed the raisin she (Banty) was going for, so she let out angry curse word, bit her wing and held on, just so
the startled BA learned her lesson.

 

[kyrose]

i have 45 mixed sizes living together.they all get along fine.in fact my bantams rule over my standards.its really funny to see my d'uccle chasing my buff orps...lol

 

[cmitchell]

I have a OEGB roo that is in quarantine right now. My hubby mentioned putting "Little Joe" in with my 15 standard Light Brahma laying hens but I don't want them beating up on him. I wonder if they will get along, also, will the larger LB hens let the OEGB roo mate with them? Is a bantam roo big enough to "do the deed" with the standard hens?