Introducing bantams, help!

[ericafae]

Can I have tips on introducing three bantams in with my regular sized chickens? Today I put them in a tiny coop in the run with a fence in between and when I had gone out to check on everyone, the bantams had broken into the run! Luckily the full sized ladies had already put themselves into the coop for the night but I’m afraid it will happen again.
Is this the best way to do it? So they can see one another for a while before I pull the trigger and remove the barrier. And how soon should I attempt it? I’m scared!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How big is your set up? And how many standard sized chickens? I would be hesitant too. I personally keep my bantams separate from the standard, though they do occasionally mingle.

 

[ericafae]

The run is 10x10, I only have 6 hens and I am introducing 3 bantams. And that’s all I plan to have. Is it the norm to keep them separate? Maybe bantams are not for us then. I’d hoped they could all mingle in the run.

 

[redranger209]

I keep my bantam and standards together. She’s a little Cochin at the bottom of the pecking order. I was inexperienced at the time, so I just set her on the roost one night. After a couple weeks, she was accepted. Though every time she raises chicks, she moves up a place or two because of her horamonal aggression.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The run is 10x10, I only have 6 hens and I am introducing 3 bantams. And that’s all I plan to have. Is it the norm to keep them separate? Maybe bantams are not for us then. I’d hoped they could all mingle in the run.

Depends on you birds personality, and breeds. Sometimes it works, and sometimes the bantams get chased and harassed. How big is the coop? I'm always more cautious than other keepers, I've seen what chickens can do to each other if conditions aren't right.

 

[ericafae]

Big coop is 4x6 and little coop is 3x3. The little coop is where I have the bantams, and larger coop is where the hens are. Run is 10x10 which I had hoped they’d share.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Big coop is 4x6 and little coop is 3x3. The little coop is where I have the bantams, and larger coop is where the hens are. Run is 10x10 which I had hoped they’d share.

I'd just make a smaller temporary run within your run for a while, and you could possibly let them mingle down the road since they have their own coops. Doesn't have to be fancy.

 

[Shawna_scott]

I have my regular sized and bantams in together and they do great. Actually had to rehome some of my bantam roosters recently because they kept beating up my big Cochin rooster that I took from a neighbor. They are like little ninjas lol. Anyways if your 6 hens are sweet and calm it might take a few days but they will do fine together. Atleast that’s been our experience with the exception of the roosters but I realize every flock is different.

 

[ericafae]

I have my regular sized and bantams in together and they do great. Actually had to rehome some of my bantam roosters recently because they kept beating up my big Cochin rooster that I took from a neighbor. They are like little ninjas lol. Anyways if your 6 hens are sweet and calm it might take a few days but they will do fine together. Atleast that’s been our experience with the exception of the roosters but I realize every flock is different.

And did you just sneak them in at night or introduce them
Slowly with a fence in between?

 

[Shawna_scott]

And did you just sneak them in at night or introduce them
Slowly with a fence in between?[/

we just put them in and at first the bantams stayed together and the big ones stayed together. We free range though so they had space and slept together at night. After a few months they all just hang together. However we have about 70 chickens of many breeds and sizes and each time I introduce new chickens in they will stay together at first and them one day just hang with the whole flock. Hope this helps!