Banties and regular sized chickens?

[WannabeFarmer5]

Next year we are planning to get some banties. We had Olde English Game Fowl for a short period but the rooster died saving the hens from a raccoon we were too late to save him sadly after that the hens refused to enter the the coop (he died outside it) and simply disappeared (we believe the local eagle was involved). They would have had a longer life but we were not prepared for banties as our Chantaclairs would have torn them apart. ( we were given the Olde English as their owner couldn't keep them do to a too many chickens, but does that exist too many chickens?) After that experience we have finally decided to get banties as chicks instead as adults (it's been a year). And were wondering if we could have banties and our other chickens together or do we need to redesign our coop? Our chantaclaires habe found a new home and we now have gentle girls. So, do you think it would work or should we Reno the coop and run?
Thanks!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Totally depends on the flock dynamics and the personalities of both banties and large fowl....but I have kept banties and large fowl together.

I have had times it worked just fine; I have had times when I had too many cranky large fowl girls that picked on the banties and made life somewhat miserable for the banties.

If you've got gentle girls, it should work out fine after proper introduction.

Be aware, my banties seem to be hawk bait. My large fowl seem to be left alone for the majority part, but the banties are small enough and slower of foot (I've had Silkies and Cochins) such that they are merely drive by chicken meals.

So I now keep my banties solely in a separate coop and run under hawk netting...which works well as I use them solely for brooding the next generation.

I would warn also that Silkies often don't do well in large fowl...that head crest is simply too tempting to peck, and many Silkies have vulnerable skulls due to a vaulted skull.

But with the right banty and the right large fowl...some banties rise to rule the flock.

LofMc

 

[WannabeFarmer5]

Totally depends on the flock dynamics and the personalities of both banties and large fowl....but I have kept banties and large fowl together.

I have had times it worked just fine; I have had times when I had too many cranky large fowl girls that picked on the banties and made life somewhat miserable for the banties.

If you've got gentle girls, it should work out fine after proper introduction.

Be aware, my banties seem to be hawk bait. My large fowl seem to be left alone for the majority part, but the banties are small enough and slower of foot (I've had Silkies and Cochins) such that they are merely drive by chicken meals.

So I now keep my banties solely in a separate coop and run under hawk netting...which works well as I use them solely for brooding the next generation.

I would warn also that Silkies often don't do well in large fowl...that head crest is simply too tempting to peck, and many Silkies have vulnerable skulls due to a vaulted skull.

But with the right banty and the right large fowl...some banties rise to rule the flock.

LofMc

Thank you!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, hope you are enjoying your adventures here on BYC!

I have a large flock... between 30 and 60 ish at any given time. I keep my Silkies with the rest of the flock. They even brood babies right inside the coop. Don't dare make them open up a can of crazy mama! And they free range with everybody else. Surprising how good they are at foraging when they have babies! I had a few other bantam breeds, who also were just fine. I do not have a very heavy hawk load.

I am considering keeping a separate pen for the Silkies, but that is SOLELY for breeding purposes.

Flock dynamics do play a big role, as well as your set up. I have lots of space and plenty of feeders. Flock dynamics often dictate who stays or goes. But for me, NOT who comes. No room for cranky bullies here! Of course if they basically mind their own business and don't go out of their way to harass anyone, no big deal. My silkies *seem* more confident than some other breeds. But everything can vary by the individual!

Note, most chicks are free ranging and integrated with my flock by 6-8 weeks old. My hens don't see the bantams as any different.. they all have their place in the pecking order. And my EE are often lower than my bantams. And yes my LF roosters will mate my bantams if I let them (also not a problem so far). But I keep a stag pen and only allow the boys to mate when I want them to.

So no problems for me. But flock dynamics are very fluid and I change it up as needed. My biggest problem is broodiness.

I would recommend getting your new bantams from a place that can sex them instead of ending up with way too many small boys. Not Tractor Supply who often mixes their birds up, are always straight run (that I've seen), and rarely know what breed bantams they have.

It can be done, best wishes!