Can bantams and large fowl live together in the same coop and run?

[Sorin]

I have 6 bantams mixed in with 14 standard hens and I have no problems

Actually, my bantam Cochin is the number 2 hen in the flock!

 

[jtbrown]

We raised ours together, but have 8 bantams in with 11 standards including 5 production reds and 5 light brahmas. They do fine, our d'uccle is timid but her bestie is the smaller light brahma. They don't know they are different!

Also our old English game bantams have a devil of a time trying to mate the production reds and brahmas. They are not big enough to "make it" and really, it is most comical. They pretty much get along great, no feeder issues, although I have watched for it. They are only 6 months+ old and maybe that develops later. Good luck!

 

[mjuenem]

I have two bantams (1 Salmon Faverolles and 1 Blue Cochin) and two standards (1 standard Faverolles and 1 White leghorn). They all get along in the run, free ranging and also in the henhouse fine.

 

[Nitrostreak]

I have five bantams in the coop and run with my Buff Orpingtons, Black Copper Marans, Rhode Island Reds, and an Easter Egger...

My Dutch Bantam roo is the boss of the pen!

His girls (One Dutch Bantam and two OEGB) hold their own pretty well too, only the timid one (Dutch) ever has problems, and she's light and fast enough to get away when she needs to.

They were also introduced to the standards after the flock was established, though there was some small stress on my part while they established pecking order.

I'd say as long as you keep an eye out for overly aggressive behavior, and a perch or two for the banties to escape to if needed, they should be fine.

Good luck!

 

[MyShunshyn]

We have 16 standards and 3 bantams that have been raised together and were fine until the EE Roo and the "accidental" Bantam Roo reached the teenage hormones and the bigger roo started picking on the little guy, he is terrified of him now. So we added a small coop with a little run to the larger run so the bantams have their own space and the little roo is safe. When they freerange he has the entire acre to avoid the bigger guy and pretty much stays clear of him. They only freerange when I am home to police them so if anything happens my lil guy comes a runnin, hollerin for "MOM!" LOL i just go out and tell the bigger guy to go back to his own side of the yard and things are fine. Our lil Bantam is just the sweetest thing and he deserves the extra time I spend making sure he is safe. The bigger EE boy is nice and respectful with us so he gets a pass on freezer camp for now

 

[gmachicken]

I'll just add that it has been my observation that it is in the introductions that help in their integration. No time to tell the whole tale but we lost all but 4 2 standard ( 1 BO 1EE) and 2 bantam cochins. Then as the flock increased this year we got 5 more bantam hens and then added full sized breeds to the make up we have now. The bantams raised all but the 2 older hens. They free range and except that two of the bantams seem to be getting the 'brunt' of the one roos attention (an Americana) they seem to do well. They put themselves to bed and except for the pecking and roost claiming I have not seen any particular problem with having them in the same coop.

Our coop is 10' X 10' so they have plenty of room to roam even when they are not allowed to free range.

Good luck. I recommend bringing the little ones in after the big ones have roosted and it is dark. I hear they cannot count! LOL

Oh Hi there neighbor in Jackson County!

 

[Hinotori]

My little blue silkie girl is top hen and my little white girl is in a comfortable middle spot. The 12 EE girls are a month older than them but they all get along great. I have two silkie cockerels and they like all the girls, even the big ones. I have 6 rocks and 2 brahma that are twelve weeks old now and also get along fine. I lucked out and got a very accepting flock.