Can bantams safely be added to a flock of standard breed?

[conodoguinet]

I know bantams are much smaller. Are they likely to get picked on? Should they be kept separately or can they be mixed in to a flock of standards?

 

[The Angry Hen]

Hello,

First: Do you have a standard sized rooster?
Second: Do you have bantam hens?

If you are putting bantam hens with a standard sized rooster,
I don't think that'll work.

Good luck 'n I hope I helped!

-The Angry Hen

 

[SueT]

I have six chicks, now a month old ..2 are bantams, 4 are standard Leghorns. They have been getting along just fine, the littles keep up with the bigs, no one bullies anyone. Now if you add any new members to an existing flock, there woukd probably be an adjustment period as the newcomers would be seen as a threat.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think the success of it has a lot to do with temperaments of both the large and the small.

I have bantam cochins in with large and giant breeds. The little black cochin is the boss of everyone. I keep very docile breeds and no roosters so that plays a huge roll.

If adding to an existing flock you should add several so no one bird is overly targeted.

 

[conodoguinet]

No roosters involved. I'm a townie, and our ordinances allow only hens

 

[The Angry Hen]

Okay!

 

[melton13]

I have seen them in with sta dard but usually they will fight.

 

[21hens-incharge]

There are 2 bantams in this pic. One is black one is silver laced. Other birds in pic include a SS, BA, BSL and a dark Brahma. There are more in the flock. Large birds that is. Mine do not nor have they ever fought.

A BA with the silver laced cochin.

This is not the only flock I have kept bantams with large.

Again I think mine succeeds largely because my birds are docile breeds. If I had old english game bantams I would separate but not for fear of harm to the small but harm to the large.

 

[dekel18042]

I know bantams are much smaller. Are they likely to get picked on? Should they be kept separately or can they be mixed in to a flock of standards?

I have bantams, both sexes and large fowl, both sexes together and the bantams are much smaller. Don't think any of the adults go over a pound and a half and I have some pretty big large fowl and the bantams don't get picked on. They're small birds with big attitudes. I know others who have flocks of large fowl and bantams mixed and others with a large fowl flock will keep a few bantam hens for their broodies.
When we introduced the bantams they were in a grow out coop next to the main coop and the runs adjoined. Once the bantams were over half grown I let them out to free range with the bigger birds. After a bit they were into each other's coops and runs and by the time the weather started cooling in the fall they got along to the point some moved themselves into the main coop and we moved the rest so they would be warmer over the winter.

 

[dekel18042]

There are 2 bantams in this pic. One is black one is silver laced. Other birds in pic include a SS, BA, BSL and a dark Brahma. There are more in the flock. Large birds that is. Mine do not nor have they ever fought.


A BA with the silver laced cochin.

This is not the only flock I have kept bantams with large.

Again I think mine succeeds largely because my birds are docile breeds. If I had old english game bantams I would separate but not for fear of harm to the small but harm to the large.

Just wanted to mention my bantams are Old English Game Bantams (my favorite) and D'uccles and I've kept multiple OEGB roosters together within the flock and with large fowl roosters (Ameraucanas and Easter eggers) with no problem. It depends, but I don't think you can always think there will be a problem.