Keeping Bantams With Standards

[ksacres]

Though now I only have bantams (less space and food required) I used to have both, and I never had a problem other than initial squabbles. Yes, in my experience raising them together is MUCH better, they sort out their issues before anyone is big enough to hurt anyone else. Growing up with the same pecking order is better than making them figure out a new one by introducing other adult birds. Some bantam breeds are mild by nature and might not be such a good choice for mixing though. Examples of bantams from personal experience are listed below.

Feisty:
Old English
Seabrights
Ameraucanas
Rosecombs
Hamburgs

Timid/Calm:
Cochins
Silkies
Sultans
Faverolles
Polish that can't see

 

[Crazy4Chicks]

I have a banty roo with a banty hen and they live with my 15 big girls - they all get along fine but I also got them all as babies at the same time.
This spring they are getting thier own banty yard and I plan on adding a few more banty hens.

Julie

 

[Poison Ivy]

I have 3 bantams in with my standards and Zaxby leaves them alone. The bantams are at the head of the pecking order and they give the big girls a peck when they get out of line it's funny to watch. They don't know they are smaller. My white jap bantam is broody right now and she just walks around all fluffed up and chases everyone off.

 

[ole-crone]

The title made me smile - It's so hard to raise children today with standards - now I find people are having problems with their chickens, too.

We raised our one silkie with regular sized chickens. They have always treated her more 'lady-like' than the silkie roos we have now. I just went outside to feed them and noticed the silkie roos passing her around. She ran to me and jumped in my arms - she's NEVER done that before! I put her back in with the larger chickens since they treat her with more respect.

 

[mtnchicks]

I agree that raising them together from chicks to adulthood really helps. The pecking order is established and maybe ingrained a bit by the time adult behavior starts. I can sure tell a difference between the ones raised together and the ones put together later. And that includes a mix of standards and bantams. They still squabble, but not nearly as much.

 

[peepkeeper]

With roosters, it doesn't matter whether or not they've been raised together, once those manly hormones kick in they only have one thing on their mind. I wouldn't keep standard roosters with bantam hens for this reason, the little hens can't fend them off and roosters can be rough.

 

[paganfish]

I usually separate my Bantys from my Standards but when it's cold (like now) I put ALL the birds together.

It's tricky, at first bu,t they do work it out. The roos together thing is worrisome to me too. I have 3 roos and, for the most part, they don't argue too much. I have one that is the big cock of the walk but even he tends to settle down in cold weather. I think they rather conserve their energy and use it to stay warm than to fight. (Who can blame them.)

OR maybe it's hormonal. No need to mate, it's too cold, no one is broody!

I don't know?

Come Spring, I will have to separate them again. What a chore!

When they are out ranging though, they get along just fine (Bantys & Standards)...the roos? Well, boys will BE boys!

Good luck

Peace-

Pedro

 

[eggzettera]

The title made me smile - It's so hard to raise children today with standards - now I find people are having problems with their chickens, too.

Too true ole_crone
I am in SLC must be a regional thing.....​