DBarnard Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Hi I have an eglu and 3 chickens and would like to get some bantams, how many can I get without it getting too squashed in the eglu? Many thanks for any help Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Hi Debbie , I feel it would be hard to introduce bantams to an already established flock of large fowl I know some people have bantams and LF together but I think many have had them all at the same time instead of introducing the bantams. With an introduction of hens of any size, there will be some bullying and pecking and the bantams would not cope with this especially in an eglu run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 I agree with Chelsea; its not great having mixed sizes together. Depending on breeds the smalls do tend to be picked on and I wouldn't introduce bantams to an established flock - they are likely to be bullied. The other thing is that the real constraint would be the size of the run rather than the size of the eglu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Me too, in fact I posted just the other day about a sad story I heard when woman tried to introduce some banties to a LF flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 I have large banties and small banties - and I wouldn't even dream of mixing the two. The difference between my smallest banties and a LF would be enormous. Size does matter. Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 To give you a different side i have bantams and LF in together with no problems. However i introduced them slowly and let the bantams decide whether to move in with the big girls or not as they pleased. As somone has said it's more the size of the run thats the issue not the eglu. I'm not sure i'd do it if they were in an eglu run. I would add that in my case the bantams don't get bullied so much as are bullies. They are currently picking on the bigger chickens terribly. With all introductions it's not a good idea to shove them in together straight away without going through careful intros because it doesn't really matter what the size of chicken if multiple chooks gang up on it it's going to be hurt. You have to be careful with bantams and pick your bantams carefully but it is doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 apart from the advice given above to answer your question two bantams would be ok Eglu - size wise No more at all if you only have the Eglu standard run or even a 3m run But the advice about mixing should be read and digested, a lot of it comes down to personalities involved, I have one gobby bantam who lives with LF but a good 20 others that i would not put with a LF! Introductions are important a separate coop and run will be needed for at least a month probably more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Our pekins free range happily with the big girls all day without incident howeverwhen bedtime comes the big girls go to their house & the banties to theirs. I have no intention of expecting them to share for many, many months.Good luck with whatever you chose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
