Tiny hens large rooster. Bad combo right?

[ChelseysChicken]

So I have small flock of 10. 5 Banty hens,1banty roo,and what Iv recently learned 2 EE cockerels and 2 EE pullets. I really want to keep my EE cocks because they are beautiful and docile but I'm concerned with the little bittys. I know I would have to increase hen count for all them boys and would do so,with big hens. What do y'all think?

 

[Tabbyhusky]

Hi Chelsey. I think it depends on your roos. I have a handful of small hens -- wee little mixed breed red bantams, some Porcelain d'Uccles, and banty silkies. My big roos (EE and a RIR) DO breed the bantams, but they aren't overly vicious about it (they are nice, docile boys) and no one has been injured. IMO if you keep an eye on them and make sure the roos aren't picking on the wee hens, then you should be just fine.

 

[ChelseysChicken]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I'm hoping mine can be as well. So far what I'm seeing is, my little hens are 1 yr older and are in a current state of hate towards the big guys as they are still the new unwanted house mates. 4 times smaller already but still top of the pecking order!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

You've gotten the good side, now here's the ugly:

I, personally, do not house my bantams and large fowl together. Lots of terrible things can come from it. And, its not just your hens you should be worried about. How will your little bantam rooster fair when those 2 much larger EE roosters decide they're ready to take over all of his hens? I've had to put down bantam hens that were bred by standard sized roosters, one had an egg break inside her after some amorous attention from a large guy, another was just squished to the point that she couldn't recover from it. It was heart breaking.

LOTS of folks mix their bantams and LF, I've just never been able to pull it off without someone getting the short end of the stick.

Good luck to you, I hope it works out!!!!