bantams with the rest of the flock ok?

[bethandjoeync]

I have mostly large breed chickens(JG, BR, BO, and reds) that are nearly a year old and others(that will go to the freezer within the next 2 weeks) that are nearly 2 years old and I have some bantam cochins and seabrights sharing the same coop as the others just in their own enclosed area. I am really to the point where I think it would be ok to integrate them with the rest of the flock and open back up the coop without the enclosure. I am really just wondering what other's thoughts are?

 

[Judy]

I've read a number of times about people who keep them together. The only problem I can recall is a LF cock mating a bantam pullet, that he might have been too heavy for her and injured her. I've never owned a bantam; this is just from reading.

 

[clairabean]

I have mixed. They have been together since forever, so I doubt they even notice the size dif. BUT I gave my friend some banties to add to her RIR, and the RIR bullied the banties mercilessly. I took them back.

So, yeah, not much help, but it can be done.

 

[bethandjoeync]

I think RIR will bully any chicken they get the chance! thanks for the input! I am thinking it might not be a big deal, the only thing is, because I got these bantams at TSC last year I of course got more roos than I needed. but the balance of roos to hens would probably take some of the pressure of my main Roo.

 

[jmjoffrion]

I have a small flock of four New Hampshire Reds (1 hen, 2 pullets and one MASSIVE 8 month old rooster) along with a mate pair of bantam cochins. The NHR has mounted the bantam hen fine. Yesterday he has started to alpha up to the bantam rooster, ripping his comb and waddle. He's listed on Craigslist.

 

[gryeyes]

Mine are all together. The LF Roos aren't all that interested in the little ladies, but the bantam Roos will try to mount anything. My dominant roo is a really big LF EE and he keeps things in line. Now and then a banty roo will flare his neck feathers at Carl and Carl fluffs his up just a tad and takes a step towards the little upstart(s). Game over. The batty roosters find somewhere else to be.

That's the extent of the "bothering" between sizes. Yeah, the banty Roos grab LF ladies and they either squat for 'em or they shake 'em off and dash away.

I thin, with a good dominant roo, there won't be much of a problem. But if you've got an immature rooster ruling the roost and yard, there might be a rooster fracas now and then, or a big rooster trying to mount a little hen.

I wouldn't say no to trying it.

 

[BooBear]

It depends on the chickens really. Some have great success with all sizes some don't.
Right now I am slowly working on intergrating the silkies into the flock of LF wyandottes. This is the 3rd week of them being in the temp pen inside the main coop where everyone can see each other. I just started letting the Silkies out in controlled outings in the main coop where I am there to monitor the interactions. Most of the big flock seem to ignore them. There are a few bullish individuals who make a go at them whenever they can. One rooster, Long Tail, and one hen, Miss Grumpy, like to bully the silkies and even get others to join them.

This morning 4 of the 5 big wyandotte roosters decided to hang out while I was watching the Silkies. Big Boy decided he really liked Rita and attempted to grab her for mating. I broke that up real quick and gave Rita a safe getaway. I made extra sure that the boys could not get close. Ofcourse the silly Silkies were not much help as they would run over to where the big roosters where for the scattered seeds.

Eventually the boys got bored and went out to join the rest of the flock foraging. Long Tail kept coming back to try to stir up trouble. Miss Grumpy kept checking in to see if she could stir up trouble. She even got Little One and Mischief to join her.

It is the trouble makers that make integrating new members hard. But patience can pay off as even the trouble makers can get bored or go to freezer camp.
(March I will have all my butcher equipment gathered and ready to process my first bird.) Long Tail keeps volunteering himself up for first spot to freezer camp. 4 of the 5 roosters will be going actually. Dad is determined to give one of them to a friend that likes to butch his own meat. If Miss Grumpy don't change her ways she may get to tag along with these boys to freezer camp. The Silkies are pets, Blueberry being my favorite, so any of the egg n meat birds messing with Blueberry won't be kept around.

 

[ginormous chicken]

I have only girls. It is OK for the most part. As Linda has reminded me before, pecking order has to do with age. I have a couple bantams constantly trying to assert themselves against larger standards and they are older. Everyone gets along for the most part. Even my OEGB bantam hangs out and even though is little, is tuff and hangs in there. I might separate after my next delivery though. I haven't decided. Sometimes, I feel like the bantams don't get an even break. But I like that they are all together. So it is taking the good with the bad.

 

[sourland]

Maybe, and maybe not. You'll have to try to to know for sure. I would not permanently remove the divider in case it becomes necessary ro reseperate them.

 

[bethandjoeync]

well they are all together and really there isn't much of a problem. mostly because the bantams are the same color varieties as the big girls so they only have the size difference. I think that is the biggest problem. but when everyone goes outside the little ones hit the feeder with force! thanks for the replies