Raising Bantams Chicks with Standards

[Lelilamom]

My very aged flock has slowly been decreasing the past few years and I've decided to raise a few chicks. I'm looking at 6 bantams and 6 standards. Any risk in raising them in the same brooder? It will be my first year raising bantams.

Funny Story -
After we decided to go ahead and get chicks, I went out into the coop and found that Lightning, our 7 yr old Buff Orpington had decided to start sitting on the egg she laid this morning. What a coincidence. I grabbed three still warm eggs from the nesting boxes and placed them next to her. She stood up, took a look at them, rolled them next to her own and settled down on them. If these hatch, they'll be her third brood. Lightning was one of the original six chickens I bought 7 years ago on Feb 28, 2012. Her coop mate, Heidi, a Red Sex Link, is also one of the original 6 from 7 years ago. Happy Birthday Heidi and Lightning.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have brooded bantam and standard together without problems. I usually have to grind up the feed for the bantams during the first week or two.

Do you plan to house them together? That can work or be tricky depending on breeds and coop.

 

[2 many chickens]

I keep my bantam and standards apart. My standard roos are huge and would crush the bantam hens and probably knock the roo's around. The size difference is just too much.

 

[Rlmp817]

I have 2 standard hens & 2 bantam pullets with a bantam cockerel, the integration took a while (not raised together & the bantam were introduced after major flock upheaval) but one they integrated thy are quite happy living together. (& I think the bantam cockerel is copulating with atleast one of the standard hens!)