Single hen

[meezers]

O.K, I know this has been asked loads of times before, and I know bantams can mix OK with their larger relatives, but I'm wondering if breed would make a difference ?

I'm mentally making a list of breeds I'd like in my new coop ( that is barely started ) and so far I've got for large breeds ;

Araucana

Australop

Faverolle

Welsummer

and something that lays white eggs - maybe

a leghorn or minorca

 

I'm thinking of maybe a mini Orpington and youngest son would love a mini silkie, would these mix ok with the breeds I've listed ? it would obviously be 5 to 2 , would that be a problem ? it's all theorretical at the moment and the list could change at any time , but if there's an obvious clash of personalities we'll think again .

[westleigh]

Hi i have 2 orp bantams in with my other 8 girls and they get on ok,hope this helps you decide what breed you would like

[ted]

I have two leghorn bantams mixed in... it is fair to say they are the bullys of the gang. Also they like to get out and about and dont like being stuck in the run as much as the others...

[moomin]

I wouldn't get a Minorca they are supposed to be really flighty

[meezers]

I wouldn't get a Minorca they are supposed to be really flighty

 

 

Hmm! well that was my first choice because I thought the leghorn may be flighty ! Think I'm more concerned with how they'll all get on together, I've tried to go for the placid temperaments, but got stuck on the white egg layers . How about a hybrid , maybe White star ? has anyone got one of those? what are they like for mixing with others ?

[ted]

I have had a bit of a look at this and it seems that most white egg layers have "flighty" or "active" in their description. The white star appears to have leghorn in it and have been described as "skittish".

 

http://www.cotswoldchickens.com/breeds.htm have white star

 

Even the more rare white layers as far as I can see have one or more of the above descriptions.

 

It may be worth doing a new post specifically under white egg layers that are placid!!

 

good luck

[tom123]

Dorkings lay eggs and are quite a large breed, they are a dual purpose breed.

 

mini silkies are tiny however silkie large fowl aren't that big either so you would be better off going for large fowl one.

 

Tom

[Daphne]

Dorkings sound like a good idea. Polands also lay white eggs and are active and can be skittish as they can't see upwards too well and can therefore be startled. I wouldn't class them as flighty - obviously they can fly tho! Mine are daft but friendly. BUT having pom-poms means that they aren't the best for mixing with other breeds - they can get picked on.

 

I have a bantam orp mixed with a large orp and with bantam polands; she used to be in with her sister and large orps - but the large girls used to chase them about (and still do if they're free ranging) so I took them out.....Now she's in lay she is an accepted part of the orp/poland gang.

 

As I'm sure you've read, mixing sizes can be done, but you need to take time/care. Favs are meant to be placid, and what I've read of australorps I would hope they are pretty good too; not sure of the others.

[Patricia W]

Daphne

 

As you've got Polands and have experience of mixing them could you give me some advice? I've got a trio in an eglu and am getting a second eglu next week, with the intention of expanding the flock with another 3 - possibly 4- bantams. I would like a mini buff orpington, maybe one that lays a blue/green egg, and maybe a brown egg layer. I don't want my lovely Polands bullied though! Any suggestions as to which breed would be best?

 

Tricia

[Daphne]

Hi Tricia - what are you going to do with the 2 flocks - merge them into one after a bit? I think your polands free range (?)

 

Anyway, my banty orp was a bit of a madam, but she had a rough start in life being chased by big girls and then her sister died so she was on her own - which is why she's ended up where she is (ie not planned!) At the start (she was about 4 months old and everybody else was about 2 years old) she was at the bottom of the pecking order (below the polands, but my 3 do have a clearly defined social bond). Then she did a bit of mild pecking, but the big orp put a stop to that. In Jan she came into lay and is now big orps chum. One of the polands occasionally chase her away from corn but its all very harmless. They live and sunbathe and dustbathe very well together.

 

So, I would introduce a bant orp, but I'd keep an eye on the dynamics. I do think, however, that you definitely need docile breeds (not pekins from what I've read - fiesty seems to be a word, tho obviously individuals vary). My polands (originally 5) came from a totally mixed home (about 40 birds!) and spent their lives running away from everybody. They seemed quite happy but they weren't very people friendly - they are now.

 

HTH

[Patricia W]

Thanks Daphne,

 

yes, I'll merge them eventually, but introduce them slowly. With two eglus I should be able to do that - I hope. These 3 came originally from a mixed flock with LF and lots of other bantams but they were only 8 weeks old when we got them ( hence one was not a girl!) so have literally ruled the roost since. So I think introductions could be slooow...

 

It's so interesting, they terrify the cat and I've seen them chase her, but today a blackbird hopped into their run when they were outside scratching around - and they were much alarmed and backed off looking aghast at the intruder in the run. Teddie hopped up on a log almost holding her skirts up. There was a lot of bok-bokking which the blackbird ignored helping himself to layers pellets!