Mixing breeds - will they get on?

[mariac]

I currently have a flock of 5 standard laying hens. Having recently lost my lovely cockerel "Brian" I was talking to a friend about how I miss having him around and she has offered me a pair of ornamental bantam breeds (a silkie hen and a cochin cockerel). I would love to add them to my flock, however, I have a few worries and hope that someone maybe able to help:
- how will the cochin cockerel interact with the standard laying hens (they are about twice his size!)?
- is it likely that the smaller birds will be bullied?
- there is sufficient space in the existing coop but I also have a separate coop which I envisaged I could use to overnight the little ones..would this be a sensible option?
Thanks in advance for any help.
Maria

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

First how old are your hens and what breed are they. Also how old are the roosters? If you only have 5 hens you only need 1 rooster. The general rule is 10 to 12 hens to each roo. 2 rooster will with that few hens are likely to fight and breed your hens excessively.... especially if they are young. In my experience the older the roo the less likely he will over breed. But I wouldn't put a roo in with only 5 hens if hes less than 2.5 years old. Mine seem to calm down some at that age and can focus on things other than breeding.

 

[mariac]

Thanks so much for your reply. The hens are all hybrid breeds ranging in age from 9 months to 4 years. I will only have the one cochin bantam cockerel the other ornamental I am being offered is a hen. Both ornamentals are only a few months old. I was hoping that as the rooster is so little (being a bantam) in comparison to the existing hens he shouldn't bother them too much...

 

[chuckachucka]

It is very likely that a young silkie pullet would be bullied if introduced to a standard sized hen flock. Silkies are very gentle by nature and often have limited vision because of their crests which an make them timid. Of course it depends on the personalities of your larger hens and how much space they have during the day as to how bad the bullying is. Eventually the Silkie might get on OK with the flock but the advised way to introduced them would be to keep the Silkie in a look but no touch set up with the other hens. However this could lead to the Silkie getting lonely and/or over bred by the cockerel if you also kept him with her.

Now the cockerel could do with a bit of time in a look but no touch arrangement also but not as much as time as the pullet will need, since the hens are likely to bully him less and he will hopefully win them over. I have a large hen and a bantam cockerel and they get on fine except sometimes he physically struggles to get things in the right places when mating.

My advice would be to just get the cockerel if possible and don't get the Silkie. Unless you could get more than one silkie/bantam female to keep each other company while they are adjusting.

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

I would wait until they are a little older. I have a huge mixed breed flock. Mine are all larger breeds but then theres cupcake. Shes a ee hen that we hatched ourselves in a incubator. She has scissors beak which restricted her food intake when she was little making her much smaller than the other birds. She is #2 hen in charge of 31 hens. It's not about size its about confidence. Sure there will be a transition period where they will bicker and not get along but if you do it right it wont be bad for long. I would suggest putting then in small pens with your coop and or run for a few days with the hen maybe longer with the roo. This way your existing flock can kind of get to know the new birds. Then after that time wait till they are good and asleep and sneak in and put them on the roost with the others. Ideally they will wake up with the new birds and not even realize they weren't part of the flock yesterday. I have has great success with this integration technique. Now my flock is so large they dont even notice new birds. We can let moms with day old chicks right out with the group with no issues. It's an amazing feeling to not have to chase terrified chicks from angry hens.

 

[mariac]

Thank you so much to you both for your advice. I think I will wait until the two newbies are a little older and take a couple more silkies as well, they are perfectly fine in their current home with their own breed at my friends place for the time being. I think I knew that it wouldn't be straightforward, it's painful enough trying to integrate newbies of the same size. Thank you for the tip on the integration technique - will definitely give this a go. I am even thinking now that I may create a second coop and run to keep the ornamentals separately - this chicken thing is addictive! Thanks again for your help.

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

Addictive doesn't even describe it. I'm so grateful for this site. I know my friends family and coworkers get that glazed over look when I start talking chickens.... oh God I cant listen to her talk about those damn birds again. Its nice to have a place to go where other people understand the close bond you have with you chickens. Much to my surprise (I got them thinking I was going to be more of an employer than a caretaker) they are an amazing creature and I'd walk through hell and back to ensure they are safe, happy, and healthy. Non chicken people just dont get that. If I ever win the lottery watch out cuz I will have ALL the chickens of the world lol

 

[aart]

Both ornamentals are only a few months old. I was hoping that as the rooster is so little (being a bantam) in comparison to the existing hens he shouldn't bother them too much...

The older hens will likely kick his little immature butt.

I am even thinking now that I may create a second coop and run to keep the ornamentals separately

That might be best, unless you have LOTS of space.

 

[mariac]

Thanks again for all your help!
Yes, truly addicted now and you're right some others just don't get it! One of my girls managed to block her crop (learners mistake she ate long grass...won't happen again). I tried everything to clear it but in the end the vet had to surgically empty it. Here in France, especially in the countryside, chickens are not an animal you take to the vet! Our neighbours were astonished that I should go to such lengths to save my chicken. To me they are as important as every other member of our animal family (7 cats and 4 goats). You are right they are the most amazing creatures...such personalities. My lottery win would be for an animal/bird sanctuary and take in all the waifs and strays that nobody else wants! As you say, this site is great to be able to share with like-minded people - thank you all again for the advice.