Giant rooster, Banty hens

[KalisCoop]

Hi all! I have a dilemma of sorts. My Giant Cochin "pullet", Big Mamma, wound up being Mister Big instead. He is a very beautiful bird and was the first one I picked out for my chicken coop. However, believing he was a she and not a he, I have a mixed flock that is half Banty hens. I am now concerned that Mister Big will somehow hurt these small hens when he does his breeding bit.

Someone in another thread mentioned a HEN SADDLE, but I have never heard of this.

When I have seen him do his thing, it has been with the standard size hens.

I also am wondering about what the size of the chicks would be?

Any and all feed back is helpful! Thanks in advance

 

[KalisCoop]

Nobody?

 

[aggiemae]

Our 9 pound Maran hens and our 4-5 pound RIR hens where all the same size when they first hatched. The size of the roo doesn't effect the size of the eggs and chicks can't be any larger than the eggs they hatch from but with mixed genetic what happens to the chicks later as thy grow is anyone guess.

I large roo can be hard on a small hen but a small one can do the same amount of damage, it really depends on the individual roo. I would have a saddle (or three) on hand so you can use it at the first very first sign of feather loss.

I like these: http://crazykfarm.mybigcommerce.com/categories/CHICKEN-PRODUCTS/Hen-Saver®--Hen-Aprons-{47}-Saddles/ but you can find them (both plain and fancy) all over the internet. If you can sew you can probably even find a pattern.

 

[KalisCoop]

I have been looking at some saddles. Is there a reason to get snaps vs just elastic? My husband thinks they are ridiculous, but he will get over it.
Also bigger rooster will not affect egg size correct? The hens will lay whatever their normal size is, the chick will just doubtfully not be a banty size, correct?

 

[aggiemae]

The hens genetic determines egg size, However with a mix breeding even if the chicks start off small but the chicks could just as likely grow to become large chickens. as they are to being small ones.

Since our hens roam around a large area I liked the snaps because they will release if the hen gets caught on a branch or something.