Bantams or Large Fowl?? And what breeds go well together...

[Basel]

Hi,
I'm a newbie and am looking to get some chicks soon!

I am torn however on which ones!

I was first leaning towards silkies and olny silkies. I adore them. Still do. Then I thought I'd add in some bantam sized EE's. Maybe another bantam breed. Nice mix.

Pros: Smaller therefore smaller coop, smaller runs, and smaller messes!! Plus I love silkies.
Cons: Will always be an easy meal for a hawk to fly off with [even tho I do not plan to free range, I will let them out supervised]. Small eggs.

My neighbor has large breeds, and they're so sweet. I was thinking alternately, instead of the bantams, of of a BO, EE, Ameraucana [if I can find any], Silver laced Wyandotte, and Light Brahma.

Pros: Less likely to be flown off with by a hawk once full grown, tho they still can be killed by them. I'd get a nice mix of sweet breeds and eggs. Large eggs.
Cons: Larger coop and messes, and no silkies.

Thoughts on my mixes?
And could possibly silkies live with large fowl?

THANK YOU!

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

I guess that would be a good mix, as long as it's not Large to small. Make sure when you get them they were hatched around the same day. You could keep the Silkies in a covered run and you could give them leafy greens when they're older.

 

[Basel]

I guess that would be a good mix, as long as it's not Large to small. Make sure when you get them they were hatched around the same day. You could keep the Silkies in a covered run and you could give them leafy greens when they're older.

Hi! So you think I could mix the silkies and/or other bantams with the large breeds? If they were babies together of course. Are any of the large breeds I am considering know for being rough on little ones like silkies? I tried to choose large breeds that are supposed to be docile and sweet.
Thanks!!

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Actually, larger breeds sometimes grow quicker than bantams, just stick with Bantams Silkies and Bantam Ameraucana's. And the large docile breeds, well, I had the bantams roost on them. Thank you for asking a good question!

 

[MomsGoneMild]

Great question! I asked and am wondering the same thing. I would really LOVE to have a bantam Silkie, but am concerned for who I put with her. I wonder if it matters that she will be hatching the big ones. Perhaps they will leave her alone if they see her as their Mom. Will that feeling last them a lifetime, though?

I don't plan on adding any other birds after the first hatching. I will just start fresh again when they all live to the end of their natural lives. So, in essence I wont be introducing any birds to her other than the first batch of the big ones she hatches for me.

Anyone with experience have any thoughts to help make this more clear?

I appreciate it!

xoxo Annmarie

 

[Basel]

Actually, larger breeds sometimes grow quicker than bantams, just stick with Bantams Silkies and Bantam Ameraucana's. And the large docile breeds, well, I had the bantams roost on them. Thank you for asking a good question!

Thank you for your advice! I just want everyone to be safe and get along!

 

[Basel]

Great question! I asked and am wondering the same thing. I would really LOVE to have a bantam Silkie, but am concerned for who I put with her. I wonder if it matters that she will be hatching the big ones. Perhaps they will leave her alone if they see her as their Mom. Will that feeling last them a lifetime, though?

I don't plan on adding any other birds after the first hatching. I will just start fresh again when they all live to the end of their natural lives. So, in essence I wont be introducing any birds to her other than the first batch of the big ones she hatches for me.

Anyone with experience have any thoughts to help make this more clear?

I appreciate it!

xoxo Annmarie

Yes, I wonder the same thing. If I start my silkies and/or bantams first, so that they're a little older, then get a couple large breeds, would the large breeds grow up "respecting" the smaller bantams and help make sure they are picked on?

???

 

[Basel]

Yes, I wonder the same thing. If I start my silkies and/or bantams first, so that they're a little older, then get a couple large breeds, would the large breeds grow up "respecting" the smaller bantams and help make sure they are picked on?

???

Any thoughts or experiences on this? I'd really like to know if I got silkie chicks now and some large breeds in a few months... Would really love some great advice!

Thanks!

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

I separated a mean chick (turned out to be a roo) with a clear glass slab (with holes at the middle) and if the brooder is big enough you could have like let's say, 5 Silkies on one half and 4 large ones at the other. (I've done this with grown up chickens, it just takes a while)

They'll get used to each other, and when it's time to send them out to the big coop, you can release them together. Most of the time they will jump on each other, but they're just establishing dominance. If it gets very violent separate them again. It takes a few weeks, and some will still be grumpy at others, but it's one of the only ways to put them out together. Good luck!

Any thoughts or experiences on this? I'd really like to know if I got silkie chicks now and some large breeds in a few months... Would really love some great advice!

Thanks!

 

[Basel]

I separated a mean chick (turned out to be a roo) with a clear glass slab (with holes at the middle) and if the brooder is big enough you could have like let's say, 5 Silkies on one half and 4 large ones at the other. (I've done this with grown up chickens, it just takes a while)

They'll get used to each other, and when it's time to send them out to the big coop, you can release them together. Most of the time they will jump on each other, but they're just establishing dominance. If it gets very violent separate them again. It takes a few weeks, and some will still be grumpy at others, but it's one of the only ways to put them out together. Good luck!

Oh great! Sounds like it should work. Appreciate your wisdom!