Hey All! I have 5 Bantams (3 cochin, a Sebright (super small!) and a Sultan). I want to add 3 BOs next Spring as my little girls aren't much for producing eggs. They're cute as heck but too small. So, my question is: Can I have 3 standard hens with my 5 bantams? I plan on getting babies, keeping them inside until the weather breaks and integrating them slowly. 2 of my cochins are only 6 weeks old, the rest are 6 months old and so far, the flock is very bonded. I am hoping to do the same with the BOs next spring. My coop is 4dx8wx6h. The girls tend to roost together on the far right of the roost, all 5 fill up a 3 ft. space. I plan on adding more roosts. Oh, and I am also thinking of getting another coop off EBay so that they can spread out to a new coop if they want and have it as a "bad chicken" coop as well. So, what do you think?
Mine do fine together. As a matter of fact I have a Serama/OEGB Roo who torments my Buff Orpington Roo all day long The only problem that I have is that the same little roo has selected one Standard Wyandotte hen that he likes to share his...er... affection with and because of the size difference, it can be a little rough on her back and feathers. I just watch and make sure that she never gets too bald in those spots. Otherwise...no problems.
I have 3 bantam cochins in with 7 standards (asstd). The highest on the pecking order is the smallest little bantam cochin hen! She pushes the largest hen around all day long!! lol
Ok, great! I can't have a roo because we aren't even supposed to have chickens so I have to stay under the radar. I do adore the BOs and thought they'd make a great addition to our flock. We did have a bantam SLW pair but I rehomed them together. He was so handsome and such a great guardian. I miss his antics and his handsome strut. Oh well, the girls will do fine until we move out to the country and can actually have a roo!
It's funny - I have some standard size chickens that won't get along with my bantams (they immediately start the bullying), and I have some standards that have integrated perfectly. So I have two flocks.
they should be fine but you MUST introduce them early when their about the same size put them together and let them sort out the pecking order
