Mixing bantams to standards

[TravisE]

I have four red sex link chickens that will be 6 months old on the 24th. I also have 5 mixed bantams that are 5 months old. Any advice on combining them together would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Travis

 

[Kevin565]

Are any of the standard chickens roos?

 

[iFairyx]

I think the trick is to go very slowly, perhaps place them side by side for a little while... then add one of the standards (the top bird) to the bantams and see how it goes, then add another and so on.

I haven't heard of very many success stories with bantams and standards living happily together as the bigger birds tend to bully
the smaller ones. I think if any of them are cockerels you may have more of a problem (especially if one of the standards is a cockerel), if you do have a few roos in there it may become difficult - you may need more hens to keep the boys happy.

Fingers crossed for you.

iFairy x

 

[TXchickmum]

I have 3 Golden Comets (same as Red Sex Links) and 4 bantams (Belgian d'Anver cockerel, Gray Japanese bantam pullet, OEGB cockerel, and OEGB pullet). My 3 standard pullets are several weeks older than my bantams. I kept each group in separate brooders but took them out to scratch around together, daily. Next, I constructed two separate coops for each little flock - but allowed them to come out and roam the lawn together each day. Initially, the standard pullets pecked at/chased the bantams incessantly (if they encroached on their space). Given time, they've become quite integrated as one flock. They frequently roam about (standards and bantams, side by side). On the occasion, a standard pullet will still peck at a bantam pullet that is attempting to get food/water (but I usually just place 2 feeders/waterers on the lawn and this helps eliminate the issue). They are all laying eggs now except the OEGB pullet (which I'm expecting any day). -am planning to build one large coop in which to house the entire flock in the spring. (recently acquired 4 more standard chicks - pullets - and am slowly getting them out with all the others...)

Advice: [assuming that you've been housing them separately, and that your standards are all pullets given that they're sex-linked] Let them roam/range together as much as possible. With time, they'll do just fine and establish their own order of things. Scratch is a miraculous thing! Any time scratch grain is thrown out, everyone runs to it!! They usually will mix together without issue in the presence of scratch. Two feeders and waterers make things simple, as they may likely still separate when feeding/drinking. Also, are any of your bantams roos? My li'l bantam roo duo is priceless! They are very protective of the entire flock and do seem to keep order.

 

[TravisE]

They are all hens. The bantams are being housed in a new run. I added on. So they are side by side. With wire between them. Since i havent opean the add on to the red sex links yet. And Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Stewzoo]

I have a "mixed" flock that was introduced this weekend. The big flock consisted of 1 rooster that is 1 1/2 years old and 12 hens of various ages. I started by putting 3 of my 5 month old Lavender Orpingtons with the flock. That went well. I then added 5 bantam cockerels to the mix. No problems. The Orps and Cockerels were housed together previously so they all group together in the new flock. The flock is free ranged during the day and they have seen each other as the cockerels and Orps were penned up and in plain sight. Maybe that was the reason for the success. My hardest challenge is teaching the newbies where the new house is.

 

[ChickenCrazy25]

I have a mixed flock. I started with 9 standards (of varying breeds). At about 3 months after hatching I lost one to illness. I replaced her with a golden comet and a pair of sebright bantams. They are all older than my original flock. So when I integrated, the newbies bullied my orginals. As my orginals grew the bullying stopped. But there is definitely a pecking order in place and believe it or not my banty hen is right at the top. The first few days are a little tough for us, watching the pecking order be re-established. I just today integrated 4 silkies. And most of my original girls (standards) don't bother them. It's just the golden comet (who is also near the top of the order), and the roo who seem particularly concerned with them. But there isn't any serious fighting happening, so I just sit back and observe. I tend to be present more than normal when integrating. I like to keep a close eye until the pecking order is established. I'm still pretty new to this whole thing myself. I hope this helps! Mixing standards and bantams can be done, I see it on a daily basis!

 

[ChickenCrazy25]

I might also add that before adding the silkies to the enclosure with the rest of my flock (I keep my birds enclosed in a run attatched to the coop. My neighbors dog free ranges the neighborhood and I don't feel like sacrificing my birds to her...) we put the silkies in a temporary enclosure built onto the side of the run. They were able to be "with" my other flock but still be separate while they acclimate. I did integrate prematurely today because heavy rain caused the tarp room of the temporary run to collapse. But they spent 2 days like that. I would have preferred 3 or 4 but they seem to be doing ok.