This may be a totally off-the wall question, but here goes. I have both bantams and heavy breed egg layers (EE, White Rock, Australorp, one old grandma Buff Rock). I also have some OEG Bantams. They have always been kept in separate coop/runs -- we got our original flock from our neighbors and that's how they did it. It's handy to have a covered run for the banties, because otherwise they'll just fly off and roost in the trees and hide their eggs. They hide their eggs in the coop anyhow, and one still got out this spring to set on her eggs while we were on vacation. So now our banties had babies, and two of them are roosters. We've tried to find a home for the new boys, but that's a tough order (no one wants a banty roo, too bad because they are amusing and gorgeous guys). Anyhow, I was wondering what would happen if I put one of the bantam roos in with the big girls. Maybe not right now (they are all 9 weeks old) but in a few weeks. Would they beat him up? And what will happen once he grows up. Will he accept the big girls as his flock? I guess it might not work because he'll be able to see mom and the other banty girls right there, so it might stress him out. But has anyone ever tried this? Can you combine birds of different sizes like this? And if so, what's the best age to do so? Any thoughts welcome, and feel free to tell me I'm nuts and to just plan on having a (very small) supper of the new little guys.
