I want more chickens, but...

[bawkbawkbawk]

Since I lost one of my girls on Christmas Day

the remaining flock of three (all standard size) seems just a little small. I really can't ever have more than eight - we just aren't set up for anything beyond that - but I would really like to add a few new ones.

Ideally I should probably wait until 2011 to stagger egg-laying, but chicken fever is eating away at me! And there are so many different breeds that I like and want!

If I DID go ahead and get a couple this spring, I'm trying to decide how best to do it. I really, really, really would like to have a Silkie, but would it be unfair to have just one bantam amid all standards? My current three are a Buff Orpington, an EE and a Light Brahma. In addition to a Silkie, my top choices would be a Polish (for looks) a Cuckoo or Black Copper Marans (for the dark eggs) and/or maybe another EE (again, the colorful eggs and I love my EE's temperament and size). Could one Silkie survive and thrive in such a group? Or would it be better to get another bantam (I also really admire the D'Uccles) with the Silkie and then just one other standard-size bird?

Is flying a serious issue with bantams? Anything other red flags? Are bantam eggs really tiny? And do people really eat them? (What I don't know about chickens would fill books so forgive the dumb questions...)

 

[nsanywhere]

Oh for sure get more!! I add a few each year and can't help myself.

I've got BO, Light Brahama and EEs, plus silkies, polish and 2 TINY bantam old english hens (plus a bunch of other breeds). They all get along very well and I don't know any reason for not mixing breeds (except for breeding - not a great idea). I just adore my silkie and she does just fine with all the larger birds.

My bantams do lay very small eggs. No reason why you can't eat them, there just isn't much to them. They also do a bit more flying, but I clip the wings (you cut the flight feathers on one side only) to stop this. Silkies don't fly, so no problems there.

Oh go on.....what's a few more chickens....?! ;-)

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

2 Bantams eggs = 1 Standard egg - That is how we use them in recipes.
I think you can mix the chickens up, just keep an eye on them when you first put them together.
Silkies don't fly. Other bantams, depending on the breed will be more flighty.

 

[mom2jedi]

I've read on a few threads that having at least two bantams is better when you have a mixed flock. Good luck! I'm with you, gotta have a silkie and a d'uccle! (I'm also drooling over the salmon favorelles and blue laced red wyandottes.)

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well, I'm no help. I'm building another coop, so I can have more chickens.

Cuz you know, a coop that holds 12 chickens is not big enough.

I say get some more!!!

 

[Keri78]

YOU'RE REALLY ASKING US!!!!

for permission to get more chickens!!!

Come one you KNOW what we're all going to say!!! You have 3 chickens for goodness sakes!!! Get whatever your little heart desires!!!

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Hahaha! Remind me not to come to you guys when my coop is bursting at the seams and I'm still trying to justify getting more chickens!!!

I'd forgotten that Silkies don't fly - that's a good thing to know. I just want one of EVERYTHING!!!! I don't think a second coop is in my future - DH has come to LOVE my chickens (he walks around the yard carrying them and talking to them, which is an instant tip-off) but a second coop would definitely be stretching it.

So maybe I should get a Silkie, a D'Uccle and a Polish OR a Marans but HOW TO DECIDE?

And I really can't have a rooster. Are the bantam roosters as loud as a standard size?

 

[LeBlackbird]

you'll have to get the Maran from a breeder (hatchery birds rarely lay dark eggs) From my expirience= Cochin bantams crow more than standards, Silkies crow a ton too. My WPRB are my Quietest. Most crested bantams are loud too. As for flying, Polish bantams are a little flighty, and noisy, but are sweet, and entertaining. My Bantie BR is a laying MACHINE. She lays a large bantie egg in the middle of Jan. every day!

The Bantie BR, My sweetie

The White Plymouth Rock Bantams (WPRB)

Birchen Cochin Bantam

Buff Silkie

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

ooooh that Cochin bantam is GORGEOUS!!!!

Is mypetchicken.com considered a breeder or hatchery stock? I was thinking of trying to find someone to go in with me on an order from them as they offer sexed Silkies and D'Uccles...

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mypetchicken is considered hatchery stock. I don't know how close she is to you, but onthespot is in Southern CA. I know she has marans, if that's what you're looking for.



You know how I got my husband to agree to more chickens? First off, he wants to try raising roosters for meat. (so that supports my hatching addiction) Secondly, I told him that the cost of feed is cheaper than buying fertilizer for the garden.

It worked.

He agreed to an 8X12 coop (divided in half) with 2 runs AND he bought me a composter.