Integrating solitary bantam hen into a flock of only standard size chickens?

[aleubanks]

I recently acquired an 18 week old frizzled cochin banty. The month quarantine I imposed is up and I have started putting her in a run in the yard during the day and in a large, covered brooder box in the coop in the evening. We are still in the looky no touchy faze. My flock consists of 3 9 month old buff orp hens, a 9 week old wyandotte pullet, a 9 week old wyandotte cockerel, and a 9 week old ameracauna pullet.
All is going well so far. My question is has anyone had any luck integrating a solitary bantam into the flock? Is it safe to do so? Thanks in advance!

 

[five is my dog]

sneak her in at night.and she should be fine

 

[troy4]

well i wouldn't big chickens will still be very mean now it might be a different story if you had them together as little girls well maybe because she would have been the smallest and my chicks fought pretty bad so they might beat up the banty if they were little together because i had hatched my chicks and of course ever since they were little they knew eachother then one day they just fought eachother so i would not try that unless they were together when they were little .like i said they could've not liked her even if they were together when they were little.and of course my chick were not banties.

 

[five is my dog]

well i wouldn't big chickens will still be very mean now it might be a different story if you had them together as little girls well maybe because she would have been the smallest and my chicks fought pretty bad so they might beat up the banty if they were little together because i had hatched my chicks and of course ever since they were little they knew eachother then one day they just fought eachother so i would not try that unless they were together when they were little .like i said they could've not liked her even if they were together when they were little.and of course my chick were not banties.

well you could put her in a separate part of the pen to get used to the others before putting her in but chickens will be chickens. pecking will happen. it might make the pecking not as bad that i know but. my chicks were absaloutely fine put in with fully grown hens and roo. so i think she will be ok.

 

[cafarmgirl]

double post, sorry

 

[cafarmgirl]

It might work since some of your birds are pretty young, otherwise I wouldn't advise it. Keep penning her alongside them for a week or so and then maybe try letting them free range together. I would think the younger birds will be ok but keep a close eye on the older ones.

 

[Shawneegyrl]

I have had good results with waiting until everyone was asleep in the coop and then taking the newbies into coop. When the others wake up the don't seem to realize that the new girls were new - since they all slept together.

She may still be picked at, so just keep an eye out. Get a spray bottle and spray the "bad girls" when they act out!