Integrating bantams into a flock of sussex & orps

[MegsAndFeatheredFriends]

I'm considering getting pekin bantams but I'm concerned that it may be a bad idea due to their size compared to the size of my current 3 pullets: 1 orpington, 2 sussex.

Let me know if this is a doable feat or if I need to abandon ship. I don't want them to get picked on

I am also ordering easter eggers and a commercial breed mix of hyline/Rhode Island reds.

If it won't work well then I'll get a different type of sussex.

 

[ChickenChick46]

All birds will have their own personalities and will decide what they will or won't tolerate. I don't know anyone who has had good luck with RIRs. Everyone I know with them wishes they hadn't gotten them because they're aggressive. I'm sure there are plenty out there that are friendly, and I've seen people on here who love theirs. In contrast, I tend to hear great things about Orpingtons. I think most EEs are pretty docile as well.

As for integrating the bantams, I've heard it's easier if the bantams are the older ones, but in this case, obviously they won't be. My recommendation would be to get as many as you can comfortably add to your coop. If they outnumber the larger birds, they may feel more at ease. Again, just things I've read, but birds will vary in his they react to things. And you don't want to overcrowd the coop just to have enough bantams either. That'll for sure lead to fighting.

Overall, I believe it would be doable. Good luck!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know anyone who has had good luck with RIRs.

Then you don't know enough people. No matter the breed, whether RIR, Orpington, Silkies, Barred Rock, Polish, or any other you can find stories on here where they are either sweethearts or devils. What has been your direct experiences with RIR's or are you just copying something someone else said?

I'm considering getting pekin bantams but I'm concerned that it may be a bad idea due to their size compared to the size of my current 3 pullets: 1 orpington, 2 sussex.

To me, there are two parts to this. Each chicken has its own personality. Some tolerate other chickens better than others. Some people have flocks with bantam mixed with full sized fowl and it works great. Others have flocks of bantams with the same breed of bantam, Orpington with Orpington, RIR with RIR, or any other combo or similarity that are horrible to each other. Usually that is one or two chickens acting bad or one specific chicken they are picking on but you can see about anything. Some flocks of any breed can have bad personalities or great personalities but that is more to do with selective breeding for personality or ignoring personalities when selecting the breeders.

The other part is room. If you have a lot of room you usually have a lot fewer problems integrating. But you still have to work with your birds. How old will the new ones be? How old are your current chickens? I usually start with newly hatched chicks. Until the new pullets start laying I generally have two separate flocks. Actually, since I often have different aged groups I'm integrating I may have 3 or 4 separate flocks. The more mature birds can peck the less mature so the younger quickly learn to avoid the older. I have enough room that they can do that during the day. At night my coop is big enough that they can sleep separately, plus I have a separate coop where some can sleep if I need to use it.

There is a lot I don't know about your facilities or your birds so I can't get much more specific than this. But in general I do "see no touch" for a while, have widely separated feeding and watering stations so they can all eat without being bullied, and try to not put them in tight quarters where they cannot get away if they need to. And I observe. I watch to see if there are issues and deal with them if I need to. But I hardly ever have issues.

Let me know if this is a doable feat or if I need to abandon ship. I don't want them to get picked on

You are dealing with living animals. You do not get guarantees with their behavior. It is possible any of them can be picked on. It is possible none will be.

They will determine a pecking order, that is a natural part of a chicken flock. That might involve bullying, fighting, or intimidation. I don't see that as being picked on, it is a natural step so they know their place in the flock and they can live peacefully together. My goal in integration, determining the pecking order, and just in having a flock is that no one gets injured. I'm OK with them occasionally having a small squabble as long as no one is injured.

I am also ordering easter eggers and a commercial breed mix of hyline/Rhode Island reds.

If they are all baby chicks the same age I'd try integrating these with the bantams right from the start. Do not squeeze them into a teeny tiny brooder, give them room, but I think you have a decent shot at success this way.

Good luck!

 

[thecatumbrella]

I personally would not, only because it will require time, effort, and supervision. After all that, it could still fail. If you're up for that, then by all means, give it a shot.

What got you interested in the Pekins? Perhaps we can come up with an alternative that meets your needs.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Then you don't know enough people. No matter the breed, whether RIR, Orpington, Silkies, Barred Rock, Polish, or any other you can find stories on here where they are either sweethearts or devils. What has been your direct experiences with RIR's or are you just copying something someone else said?


To me, there are two parts to this. Each chicken has its own personality. Some tolerate other chickens better than others. Some people have flocks with bantam mixed with full sized fowl and it works great. Others have flocks of bantams with the same breed of bantam, Orpington with Orpington, RIR with RIR, or any other combo or similarity that are horrible to each other. Usually that is one or two chickens acting bad or one specific chicken they are picking on but you can see about anything. Some flocks of any breed can have bad personalities or great personalities but that is more to do with selective breeding for personality or ignoring personalities when selecting the breeders.

The other part is room. If you have a lot of room you usually have a lot fewer problems integrating. But you still have to work with your birds. How old will the new ones be? How old are your current chickens? I usually start with newly hatched chicks. Until the new pullets start laying I generally have two separate flocks. Actually, since I often have different aged groups I'm integrating I may have 3 or 4 separate flocks. The more mature birds can peck the less mature so the younger quickly learn to avoid the older. I have enough room that they can do that during the day. At night my coop is big enough that they can sleep separately, plus I have a separate coop where some can sleep if I need to use it.

There is a lot I don't know about your facilities or your birds so I can't get much more specific than this. But in general I do "see no touch" for a while, have widely separated feeding and watering stations so they can all eat without being bullied, and try to not put them in tight quarters where they cannot get away if they need to. And I observe. I watch to see if there are issues and deal with them if I need to. But I hardly ever have issues.


You are dealing with living animals. You do not get guarantees with their behavior. It is possible any of them can be picked on. It is possible none will be.



If they are all baby chicks the same age I'd try integrating these with the bantams right from the start. Do not squeeze them into a teeny tiny brooder, give them room, but I think you have a decent shot at success this way.

Good luck!

I didn't mean any offense, that's why I said that I'm sure there are plenty of good ones out there right after I said that. I openly admit to being brand new to chickens and preface many of the things I say here with those words. I'll never pretend to know it all because I never will. In every species in the world, there are good and bad. I'm very aware of this and I thought I'd made that clear. I never claim that my experience matters above anyone else's, so sorry if I offended you.

The people I know with RIRs have dealt with a lot of aggression, both towards their other birds and people. To the point that they latch onto my friend's arm and hold on when she reaches down to grab feeders, etc. Another had them ganging up on her other hens to the point they were pinning then down and drawing blood. Not good experiences, hence my comment. But I'm sure there are just as many success stories, I was merely sharing what I know from my friends.

 

[MegsAndFeatheredFriends]

I personally would not, only because it will require time, effort, and supervision. After all that, it could still fail. If you're up for that, then by all means, give it a shot.

What got you interested in the Pekins? Perhaps we can come up with an alternative that meets your needs.

The place I'm ordering these eggs from has them. All the breeds I'm choosing are because she has them. However, pekins are cute balls of chicken lol. I do love little chickens but I've already started with the bigger ones so I'm thinking that ship has sailed...

She has;
sussex: Lavender, light, speckled
Pekins
RIR
Commercial breed of RIR mixed with Hyline
Plymouth rock
Easter eggers
Copper marans
Wyandottes

I have read about wyandottes and everything attitude wise was BAD.

I did want to get plymouth rock (instead of the bantams), but the timing of my order may not work out with someone else's big order for them. That's why i was looking into the pekins.

Marans could be another option i guess? What are your thoughts on this breed?

I will also mention that I have a little bit of a fear of birds so I'm really trying to get friendly chickens and also ones that aren't TOO big. Eg. Orpington hen is borderline... orpington rooster size = nope.

Hyline × RIR could work nicely with raising from chicks with the other breeds and the hyline's general temperament seems good from what I've read.

I could get more sussex too, but I guess I wanted to get a variety of breeds to see which is my preferred. This is my first time owning chickens as an adult.

 

[MegsAndFeatheredFriends]

Replying to ChickenChick46:

It's good to consider all experiences.

I'm happy to have the information. Thanks for sharing!

 

[thecatumbrella]

I did want to get plymouth rock (instead of the bantams), but the timing of my order may not work out with someone else's big order for them. That's why i was looking into the pekins.

Marans could be another option i guess? What are your thoughts on this breed?

I don't know too much about Marans, other than they lay those beautiful chocolate eggs! Pretty sure most are feather-footed, except for maybe the Cuckoo. Not sure if that matters to you or not?

 

[MegsAndFeatheredFriends]

I don't know too much about Marans, other than they lay those beautiful chocolate eggs! Pretty sure most are feather-footed, except for maybe the Cuckoo. Not sure if that matters to you or not?

I'm not sure... we have them in a dirt run (which we may or may not choose to add material too later). It flood's where we are sometimes but i'm not sure how bad it got at the chicken area since we didny have chickens last yr so I didnt pay much attention to any water over that corner of the yard.

Im kind of assuming they'll be fine with feathery feet anyway since the breeder I got them from has dirt practically everywhere and her chickens are always healthy. Note: she's a friend, so i guess I have more insight into their care from our convos?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I don't know too much about Marans, other than they lay those beautiful chocolate eggs! Pretty sure most are feather-footed, except for maybe the Cuckoo. Not sure if that matters to you or not?

In the UK, the SOP is bare legs (no feathers) while in the US and France, they're feathered. Australia recognizes both.

I love the look of BCMs, and especially their eggs, but I have to admit that I prefer clean-legged birds.