My Orps are, or course, much larger than my young bantams, so I have given the bantams very little time out in the backyard. However, as long as they have room to roam, the orps don't bother the bantams so far. Trouble is, they need to share the coop soon. The bantams are quickly outgrowing their brooder, and are feathering up nicely. I've read that orps are calm and will accept smaller birds. How can I go about introducing them to one another without harassment from the larger hens?
I've never raised bantams before, but I have a lot with BO's and I'd say they're about the sweetest birds ever. I also, have no experience integrating like this, but I'm hoping someone more experienced will read your post and help you out here. I have heard that many people integrate at night, in the dark, so the birds wake up together. I also have read that some give the smaller birds a place to go for cover if the big birds harass them (someplace the big birds cannot fit into. Other than that, you have to keep a real close eye on them in the beginning as they work it all out. Good Luck!
