Question on Banty Roos and Standard Hens

[Redhead Hen]

I have 5 Gold Comet hens and 1 RIR hen. I have 2 Silkie Roos - brothers. I have never seen any hanky panky going on in the run and I thought that since Spring is starting that there would be some attempts.

But .... nothing. I don't really want to breed Silkies to standards mind you , but I always thought that boys would be boys if you catch my drift. My two boys also don't fight much at all. Minor squabbles here and there ... nothing to write home about. I can say that I don't mind the apparent abstinence happening in my run ... the girls feathers are all real nice (when not covered in mud) and not pulled out.

The boys are about a year old ... along with the RIR. My Comets are all about 10 months old. Not sure if age has anything to do with it or not. Is this common with standards mixed with banties? This is new to me since I had RIR Roo before and there was NEVER a question about his interest. He was not too easy on the girls ... one reason we no longer have him! Like I said earlier, I don't really want to breed them, so I'd never try to hatch any eggs I get out of there! I just enjoy my little roos. They are sweet and find all sorts of treats for the girls. I was just wondering if this lack of action was common.

Thanks!

 

[Camelot Farms]

Good morning!

I have 4 free range Serama roos and all standard hens. While boys will be boys, it just aint gonna happen

The roos cover the hens and make every effort but all of the girls fluff and feathers are in the way and they are just wasting their time.

I also have a BO roo so the job is getting done but not by those little guys.

Hope this helps...

 

[Redhead Hen]

Good Morning!

Thanks! I was thinking the same thing ... the girls would just fluff the boys away. Haha! Looks as though I need to get some little girls for the boys then!

And maybe add a coop and run for the standards and get them a boyfriend!

Oh my husband will love that! Haha! Two coops and runs?! Haha!

Thanks for your help and answer! I had read last year that even little banty roos could mate the standards ... but I just was not seeing that actually happening.

Glad I was on the right path.

 

[kindir]

My bantam Barred Rock roo manages to handle the Sultans fairly well, but my Sultans are on the small side of standard, in fact they are in the coop that I refer to as my bantam coop even though technically they aren't

 

[Redhead Hen]

Yeah, I can see what you are saying there Kindir. But my girls are bigger than my boys and my boys are NOT in charge of the flock. My flock is a Hen headed flock! Which is fine with me ... like I said I was not trying to breed them. But eventually I'd like to get a flock going that can procreate. I'm in no rush at the moment though!

 

[Rin]

Awww that's a shame. I was wondering if my D'uccle roo would... err... pollinate.. my standard-sized Easter Eggers whenever they got old enough. Would have made some nice chicks but I guess it wasn't meant to be.