Single bantam penned with 2 RIR?

[NewGeeseMom]

Hi, I have two 9 week old rhode island red hens in an 8x8x8 round pen with coop inside it.

I really want to add a bantam silkie hen, but was wondering if a single bantam silkie could safely/happily live with large breeds?
Would the RIR pick on the silkie?
Would the silkie be confused/unhappy because the other chickens look so different from her, or is that a silly question?
Would I need to get 2 silkies?

I had chickens growing up, but this is my first time having chickens at my own house. We are only allowed 6 hens here by law, and I only wanted to start out with 3 to get back in the swing of things, and because of the size of my pen only being 50 square feet. I move the pen around the yard every couple days, but they are only allowed out to free roam maybe an hour tops each day.

Would a bantam silkie be a good match?

Also, if anyone has any suggestions on how to get 2 week old imprinted female goslings to stop being mean to chickens, please let me know!

 

[aart]

Probably not a good idea.
Adding a single bird is difficult even with a lot of space.
How big is your coop?
....and are the goslings in there too?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/lots-of-feeding-questions-for-new-goslings.1248899/

Silkies are prone to being picked on, RIR's are prone to being bullies.
Bantams and large fowl may not do well together,
some folks keep them together others keep them separate.
.

 

[NewGeeseMom]

Probably not a good idea.
Adding a single bird is difficult even with a lot of space.
How big is your coop?
....and are the goslings in there too?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/lots-of-feeding-questions-for-new-goslings.1248899/

Silkies are prone to being picked on, RIR's are prone to being bullies.
Bantams and large fowl may not do well together,
some folks keep them together others keep them separate.
.

I was really hoping to keep the goslings with the chickens when the goslings are older, at least during night times, but the goslings aren't having it and run after the chickens trying to pluck out their feathers. They're still inside in the brooder. Any tips on getting the geese to behave and play nice?

My coop is homemade from a little tykes kids playhouse, but unsure of the exact size. Inside the coop is just a nesting box and one 40 inch 2x4 roost.

The RIR's are so sweet with my kids, follows them around and let's the kids hold them, so I had no idea they are known bullies! Are there any breeds that are compatible with RIR's?

 

[aart]

Any tips on getting the geese to behave and play nice?

Not sure about geese and chickens living together, might ask here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/geese.47/

Most chicks are nice to people especially if they are handled a lot,
it's other chickens. Not all RIR are aggressive, any chicken/bird can be aggressive when 'strange' birds are added to their territory.

That's a pretty small space for more than a few birds, especially if 2 of them are geese, they get pretty dram big....and integration takes 'extra' space. So I would not recommend adding more birds, but this integration blurb will give you some tips on behaviors.

Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock