Kindergarten Dropouts need ID's!

[Peppercorngal]

It doesn't really matter if she's a giant or an aussie. She has a home for life, either with me or my sister. My only concern is that I have very small bantams. A couple of my Nankin hens are only about 20 ounces. I don't want anyone hurt, even accidentally. Still, I have to admit that I'm curious as to what a Nankin/Jersey cross might look like. Black, I'm sure, but size and proportions could be, shall we say ... interesting?

She should be fine with your bantams if you integrate them NOW! They will grow up with the smaller birds and not think a thing about it. If you provide space so they can run off (bantams or chicks) they will be fine. I put my 2 week old chicks with the flock without incident. I have a mixed flock of 3 month old, 6 week old and 4 week old with the adult chickens and they get along fine! Think about it!

 

[danceswithronin]

I wouldn't be super worried about integration with a Jersey Giant OR an Australorp, they are both pretty laid back breeds. My Jersey Giant chick that I've since rehomed was a huge wuss and second-to-last in the pecking order under some much smaller birds.

 

[MROO]

Funny y'all should say "integrate them now," 'cause DD has just been instructed to pull the big dog kennel out of the garage. We're setting it up in the main coop tonight. As soon as this cold snap breaks (should be by Friday,) they'll be out with the Nankins. The timing is perfect, because we've got eggs going into lockdown in two days. We'll have just enough time - barely - to disinfect the brooder before we need it for new babies!

 

[MrsFewtreezy]

I have Langshan chicks with my Nankin Chicks (same exact age). Langshans are huge, lol. I had them all in a brooder / run until they were about 4 weeks? Then it was the Nankins that started picking on the Langshans! My poor Langshan Cockerel’s chest was totally plucked (I think it was the stress of a couple hot days and we hit the point of overcrowding...). They get along fine together now that I’ve moved them out to our large courtyard. They sleep separately (the Nankins and Langshans) in their own kennels while we are getting our coop set up, and they get along well together with more space. Nankins, I’ve discovered, are really smart and socially engaged... my Langshans are very laid back and not quite as “with it.” I think it’ll be fun for you to see some of the differences, having done just Bantams! I don’t know about your specific breeds, but I think it’s fun to see the different dynamics in personality. Enjoy!

 

[AmyJane725]

It could still be an Australorp (barring the foot skin thing). I have one, and from day one her nickname has been "Biggest Girl". She's HUGE compared to all my other chickens. She's bigger than all my cockerels, bigger than everyone. Her legs are super thick.

 

[MROO]

UPDATE ... Siri is definitely a Jersey Giant, not an Australorp as I originally thought (hoped?) Apparently, she's a really NICE Jersey Giant, 'cause at barely three months old, she won the (very large) American Pullet class at the Cecil County Fair, yesterday! The judge forewarned DD that our "little" Jersey Moose is gonna get MUCH bigger ... more than double her current size. Ouch! We're gonna need a bigger coop! And a bigger transport kennel ... and a dog leash!

 

[AmyJane725]

UPDATE ... Siri is definitely a Jersey Giant, not an Australorp as I originally thought (hoped?) Apparently, she's a really NICE Jersey Giant, 'cause at barely three months old, she won the (very large) American Pullet class at the Cecil County Fair, yesterday! The judge forewarned DD that our "little" Jersey Moose is gonna get MUCH bigger ... more than double her current size. Ouch! We're gonna need a bigger coop! And a bigger transport kennel ... and a dog leash!

Yay. Glad she turned out to be what you were hoping for.

 

[MROO]

We're doing the Happy Dance! Both of the Kindergarten Dropouts laid their first eggs today! Siri is a Jersey Giant and GinnyRon is a New Hampshire Red, but next to our tiny bantam eggs, even these "firsties" are HUGE ... I can't wait to see what they grow into.

Now, if I was REALLY brave, I'd incubate 'em. If by some chance they'd survive, then the blue splash Silkie cross might be interesting ... but with my luck, they'd both be cockerels!

 

[MROO]

We're doing the Happy Dance! Both of the Kindergarten Dropouts laid their first eggs today! Siri is a Jersey Giant and GinnyRon is a New Hampshire Red, but next to our tiny bantam eggs, even these "firsties" are HUGE ... I can't wait to see what they grow into.

Egg #2 from the JG was a double yolker! DD was floored when she cracked it open for lunch. I wish I'd had a camera on her ... that face was priceless!