sarahjw Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 We recently lost our first chicken to sterile peritonitis and now feel ready to get another. We have an eglu, standard run and 2 regular sized hens who are big fit birds I know new introductions can be difficult so was wondering if it would be better to get 2 bantams or 1 regular size hen? Do Bantams and big girls mix or am I asking for trouble?? Cheers Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue-DiamondChick07 Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 I was told not to mix the two, as pecking can be fatal. Saw this at the farm on saturday some saturday worker put a bantams in with big hens, and it had its eyes pecked out! there could be a way, but I have always been told no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 I was told not to mix the two, as pecking can be fatal. Saw this at the farm on saturday some saturday worker put a bantams in with big hens, and it had its eyes pecked out! there could be a way, but I have always been told no Though, to be honest, this could've happened if they'd put any hen in...and highlights why careful introductions are vital. That said, the only way I woud consider doing it is if they were raised together (e.g. you hatched a small group of bantams and large fowl and they established order at a young age) or if you have a very large walk-in run, preferably with plenty of perches and shelves so the smaller hens can escape and the introduction was done very slowly and carefully. In an eglu run...I really wouldn't mix!! There isn't enough room to escape, especially as it's fairly long and narrow, it would be very easy for the big girls to corner a small bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Sorry to hear about your hen. I'm trying to mix bantams and LF at the moment - my big girls are coming up to, or at, POL. The two Pekins around 10-12w. They're in sight of one another and becoming more tolerant - and sharing hen-house at night with no probs. The information and advice I have had here has been great and I'm taking it slowly rather than rushing in as I started off doing and would usually tend to do . Some say you can do it if you're careful, others say best not to. You'll get good advice here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 I have always mixed banties and big girls with no problem at all. in fact our Buff Orp was best friends with our Golden Sebright, and the comparison in size was SO ridiculous. enough space, places to hide/perch and run away are the key. so I wouldnt do it with your current eglu set up - maybe time to extend?!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 i've got a real mix from pekins to jersey giants and they all live together quite happily. You do have to be very careful when you introduce them i got my pekins at 9 weeks and they were in sight of the others till they were 18 weeks before they got properly introduced to anyone. I wouldn't have chosen to do it then i was waiting till they were around 25 weeks but my dominant girl broke in and they were getting along fine. You do have to be more careful and have a back up plan just in case they don't get along fine. The other thing i would say is that in a standard run with no extensions you might struggle with three when you are introducing them because they need space to be able to run away and hide and the standard run really isn't big enough . In your situation i would either leave the two as they are or get an extension and then add a standard sized girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Some very good advice - adding one to two is difficult, adding anything to an established group is hard, adding anything in a confined space to an established group is almost impossible without huge amounts of time and patience (with no guarantees it will work). I think I'd stick with two in your shoes, unless you've room for another house and run .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 You do have to be very careful when you introduce them i got my pekins at 9 weeks and they were in sight of the others till they were 18 weeks before they got properly introduced to anyone. I wouldn't have chosen to do it then i was waiting till they were around 25 weeks Woodcat - that's the advice I got on here when I got my Pekins last week (or, I should say, my children got their Pekins!) ... anyway, they're penned off inside the big run. I spoke to the breeder yesterday to tell her we're going to keep Fudge (surprise boy ) and her advice was to integrate them asap on the basis that the longer I leave it, the more likely it is that they'll run as separate flocks. I'm sticking to the Omlet advice although I did let them out to the big girls last night when we were moving their enclosure and there was nothing more than a little chasing off - that was ok whilst i was there to supervise but I'm not going to chance it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 I think you're right Isabel, particulary as you have a boy who, once grown up, will make sure his flock lives in some sort of harmony! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 yup i second Jools, the chances are even when they are introduced and living together they will run in separate gangs for awhile but eventually they will jell together happily. All of my intros have had a period where they live together but still run as separate flocks and they've all joined into one gang in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Thanks guys - that's reassuring. Spoke to a breeder today who has 16-18wk Pekins - Gold Birchen, pale blue, lavendar & white. Now need to convince DH that I **need** to get two asap so as they can join the other Pekins sooner rather than later. Only prob is that he's a 2hr+ drive each way. Sorry Sarah - not meaning to hijack your thread!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 I think you're very sensible to Isabel - I hope to integrate my babies eventually (7 week old wyandotte and pekin) into the WIR with the big girls but if they need to be separate then it's not a problem. I think Sarahjw you just need a plan b i(or another if it doesn't work out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahjw Posted July 21, 2010 Author Share Posted July 21, 2010 thanks guys for all your advice , I feel a walk in run and another eglu maybe in the pipeline my other 2 girls are 2 years old now so high time for some fresh feathers I think, can't believe its taken me this long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 thanks guys for all your advice , I feel a walk in run and another eglu maybe in the pipeline my other 2 girls are 2 years old now so high time for some fresh feathers I think, can't believe its taken me this long! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabel Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Sounds like a plan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
