4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[gaynorharris]

Hi - this is my first time on here

Please can somebody give me some advice - we currently have 4 Miss Pepperpots (have had them for over a year now) and we now feel the need to get some more and have been looking at Bantams and similar smaller breeds but are a bit concerned that they all won't get on due to the size difference - any advice please

[Redwing]

You will need separate housing anyway for a while and integrating bantams could take muchy longer than standard sized hens, it can be done but a lot does depend on the personalities involved too, I have one Pekin that lives with my large hens but she is a tough cookie, the rest of my bantams would struggle I think

 

If you do go for it just be prepared to keep them separate permenantly if it comes to it then you wont be disapointed if it doesnt go to plan

 

and finally welcome to the forum

[gaynorharris]

Thank you for your advice

I knew that you have to introduce them gradually but it is good to know that it can be done.

 

Our chickens free range in the garden and I don't know if that would affect it at all

 

My kids can't wait to get some more chickens, we went to The Domestic Fowl Trust today and they were desperate to take one home.

 

[Woodcat]

Thank you for your advice

I knew that you have to introduce them gradually but it is good to know that it can be done.

 

Our chickens free range in the garden and I don't know if that would affect it at all

 

 

hey

 

That made my life 20 times easier. As you can see from my sig i currently have two houses but they all free range together quite happily. I got my pekins when they were about 9 weeks old so they stayed in the eglu and run till they were about 17 weeks old they then excaped their netted area and got on with the others without a single fight so i just left them too it and now the Dorking has moved in with them. I let them really set the pace about what they were ready for and tbh i think thats the reason it was so easy

 

Most intros probably aren't that easy but you might get lucky.

 

Beth

[woffle]

I think it also depends on how much space they have to roam around. We've just introduced a pair of Silkies, not bantams but still small especially compared to our existing Welsummers, Maran and Light Sussex (all over a year old) - they're about 18 weeks old and were in an adjoining run for 8 weeks so they're all used to each other.

 

To begin with Maisy, our very big Maran liked to have a peck at Sally the girl Silkie but luckily they have enough room that she can usually scoot around and avoid being in close proximity. The Silkie cockerel is also starting to sort the girls out and get them into some sort of order so that is definitely help things calm down.

 

Sally will also go and hide behind George and he'll puff himself up and face Maisy down - it's very funny and quite touching. It's also amusing watching this pocket-sized boy trying to boss the big birds about.

 

I think if they all had less room it would be much harder on the littler ones.

[Redwing]

 

My kids can't wait to get some more chickens, we went to The Domestic Fowl Trust today and they were desperate to take one home.

 

 

ummmmmmm, you might want to do some research on any seller before committing to buy, try a search on here...

[jess1merlin]

Where do you live, there are quite a few places not that far from the Domestic Fowl Trust that are worth a look ie. Cotswold Chickens, Newland Grange Poultry, and the Poultry Park. I'm sure your kids would have a great time looking around any of these and you would have even more choice!!!!

[gaynorharris]

Hi - thanks for that - we live in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. I have been looking at a few different breeds - Ancona, Cream Legbars, Leghorns, Araucana etc for ladies with different coloured eggs.

 

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks