Bantams and Standard chickens...can they co-exist?

[ellieroo]

I have 2 large roos and one very small banty roo.Everyday, All day the banty roo runs both big roos all over the pasture! Everyone is getting in great shape but it looks so funny!

The hens both large and small sit on the sidelines and cheer!

 

[spiritdance]

I have a mixed flock with roosters and hens of both sizes and have never had a problem ... well, I guess that depends on what you call a problem! I worried about the big roos trying to breed my banty hens, but that was never an issue. I have plenty of big hens and the big roos find it more comfortable to mount them. However, I set and hatched about 30 eggs last month - 10 banty eggs and 20 or so eggs from my BR hens - and of the 16 "large" chicks that hatched, all but 4 are undersized and have feathered legs! Well, my big roos are RIR (smooth legs). My most amorous little roo is a red cochin banty named "Lil Red" (keep in mind here that feathered leg genes are incompletely dominant). Well, these chicks have sexlinked color characteristics (males with white dots on the head, females without), so obviously dad was red in color, but as they grow it's becoming increasingly evident that they are not standards! Lil Red has been a busy boy! And yes, he will face down any of my big boys and walk away the winner. He's just plain meaner and more determined than they are!

 

[inezbouley]

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Hennyhandler]

I was wondering about this as well. But I was more interested in if you have standard hens and then want to get bantams to go with them. Is this still not a good idea? I know with roosters the idea is kinda iffy but with just what do ya'll think?

 

[kimb]

Quote:
I too have a mixed flock of banty's and a LF Roo - (plenty of LF ladies though!) ... and the banty roos are THE problem (especially a particular D'uccle that I need to separate (again!) - he's proving that he cannot co-exist well with the flock of Roos: 1 silkie Roo, 2 Bantam Cochins, 1 LF Cochin, 1 bantam Frizzle (mixed with 6 LF Cochin ladies, 7 bantam ladies & 2 EE ladies) ... ... everyone else gets along SUPER ! (free range - although there is not much free ranging in 3' of snow) ...

I was wondering what would be if I were to hatch the eggs ... I am going to separate out my LF Cochins for some eggs this summer to hatch - was thinking about separating my Bantam Lavender Cochins ... and didn't know if I could put them in the same coop and expect the LF to be LF and the Bantams to be Bantams ... ... but I guess not

 

[gryeyes]

Banty roosters will mount anything they can get to squat. LF roosters tend to go for the larger ladies, just for comfort, maybe. I haven't seen my LF roosters try to cover bantam girls... Or maybe they just give up after a speedy and agile little gal gets away.

There are plenty of big girls for the big boys.

 

[my3chickens]

I recently rescued 2 Bantam Roos & already had 2 other Black Australorp Roos, one is extremely aggressive. I keep them in separate enclosures but was wondering if it would be okay to put regular size hens in with the Bantams, as you can see I'm new to this. Started with what I thought were 3 female chicks, turned out to be roos, so again very inexperienced.

My next question; anything that can be done to teach my nasty roo to be nice? I'm an animal loving vegetarian so eating him isn't an option. FInal question; I know there are an overabundance of roosters but does anyone know of anyone in Maryland or close to that takes "misunderstood" roos and gives them a safe forever home?

Thanks in advance!

 

[bkwurth]

I have a full size rooster and a bantam rooster. I thought I would have to worry about the bantam being hurt. I was mistaken. The bantam is more aggressive than the full size. They have been together for a long time and they are both fine. Good luck.

 

[gmendoza]

Thats not entirely true.Here is two of my bantams with my bigger hens,plus some of my coturnix quail in the enclosed run with all the chickens:


Barred Rock Hen, Guinea, and oeg bantam hen living in peace.

A crowd of chickens,guinea,game hens,and oeg bantam hen at the feed troth:

Coturnix Quail Roo living with Chickens:

 

[angidee]

I am wondering about just hens of both sizes too. I have LF egg layers and bantam silkies & cochins. There is only a handful of the bantams and a couple dozen of the LF. They free range during the day together...which is why I am now considering housing them together.
Thoughts?