Hello from Oklahoma

[Okiechickie]

Hi everyone! I joined because I may need some advice. I went crazy and ordered 51 bantam chickies!!!!! I live in the country and have plenty of room but I'm wondering what problems I may encounter. I ordered about 3 to 5 of several different breeds. Silkies, cochins, houdan, buff brahma, frizzle cochin, modern bantam, phoenix, polish, black tailed japanese, easter egger, sebright, and then I got a few standard hybrids for eggs. They will be arriving in three shipments in the next month. I have had a few chickens in the past and have the housing set up. I'm just wondering what kind of problems I will encounter mixing that many breeds. Will they fight? Will they mix breed? Will a chicken hawk get them if I let them out?

 

[sourland]

First thing you can count on is at least half of that lot will be cockerels. All will get along fine for a while, but eventually all heck will break out with that many bantam roosters - be prepared and have a game plan for dealing with them. They will cross breed - no prejudice when it comes to 'chicken love'. All chickens are vulnerable to hawk attacks - bantams due to their smaller size are particularly vulnerable. Good luck. You will have a colorful and exciting flock.

 

[Okiechickie]

About how long does it take to know if it is a rooster? And what do I do with the roosters? Can I sell them or even give them away at a poultry auction?

 

[BrendaJ]

You will have your hands full & up to your eye balls in eggs lol. I'm sure you will get a few Roo's out of the bunch too. Pretty common with chick orders. They will cross breed & there will be a pecking order eventually.
Post lots of pics & best of luck with your new chickens.

 

[Okiechickie]

Thanks Brenda. I think I do have my hands full!! What do people do with unwanted roosters? Can sell them or even give them away? And how long does it take to tell if it is a rooster?

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, okiechickie, and

! Pleased to have you here! I agree with all that sourland said. As to what to do with the excess cockerels....re-homing is an option. As is eating them. Good luck to you!

 

[Okiechickie]

Thanks redsoxs. I wonder if there is any meat on a bantam!! lol

 

[drumstick diva]

yes roosters will cross breed - they aren't particular. If you want pure bred you have to have hens in a penned area with the rooster - if all are the same breed and you have no trespassing roosters - you will have eggs that produce that breed.

If you have roosters loose amid the flock of different breed hens, you will end up with mixed breed babies.

 

[Okiechickie]

Thanks Drumstick. I'm going to have my hands full. I wonder how long I would have to have a hen and a rooster in a separate pen to have pure chickies.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!

Glad to have you aboard!!