Cube Mark One Run

[2Chiqs]

I have kept chickens now for a few years and would like to get a couple of bantams to go with them - is this a good idea? I have a two year old Miss Pepperpot and a one year old Light Sussex, and would like two silkies. Does anyone have any advice?

[Cheryl]

Hello, I cannot see any problems whatsoever. I have such a miuxture, I even have Seramas with my other lot and its all fine.. of course the only thing is that you keep them apart for about a week when you introduce newbies, I use a dog crate which I place inside the run with all the necessary food and water.. invest in a small dog crate you can buy them secondhand, its useful to segregate and even to transport them, they need to be able to see each other, so they can get used to new chickens joining them.. the funny thing is the little ones are the most fiesty

[Blue-DiamondChick07]

Dog create is such a great tip! I'll remember that one

[grageomat]

Ive mixed mine i have 4 large fowl and 4 bantams they all live happily together infact one of my bantams is rather high up in the pecking order! So i say go for it!

[grageomat]

Oh and if you are really worried just go for largefowl silkies though my bantam version does just fine!

[beach chick]

some people have had bad experiences; but I've always mixed them up and not had a problem. careful with the introductions, and make sure you have enough space, enough feeders and drinkers etc.

[Kittycat]

Just hijacking this thread rather as I was about to ask the same question. But I'm also interested to know what combination would happily fit in an Eglu. I have a light sussex and a black rock (our lohman brown sadly died 3 months ago) and am debating whether to get another couple of large fowl or go for bantams on the basis I could squeeze more in?!

[Redwing]

Most Silkies are actually large fowl just on the small side, the proper mini versions are pretty rare

 

Having said that they sometimes have problems seeing because of their hairdos and so can be picked on quite easily

 

It should be ok -take the intros slow and be prepared to have two flocks if it all goes wrong

[2cvhound]

I have just upgraded to a cube and am thing about getting 3 bantams to go with our 3 Black Rocks (who stopped laying 6 weeks ago to moult! ). I am thinking about Sussex Bantams as they seem hardy, but not sure whether to do it now or wait until the spring.

 

Since upgrading all the Black Rocks insist on roosting in the laying area at night which is annoying beacuse they make so much poo there! Should I try and keep them out of there at nightime, or perhaps put some bedding down on the bars? The cube seems very draughty - there is a big gap where the trays slot in and large vents front and back.

 

Rob

[Plum]

Hello, the only time I've blocked those gaps is when there is a strong cold wind blowing straight at the back of the cube.

 

A sussex is a larger bantam so good choice and how do you wait until spring I failed

 

It's worth dividing your run so you can do slow introductions and takes a lot of stress out of things

[Chortle Chook]

Back to the business of integrating Silkies with larger chooks, I was told a while back by a breeder that you have to take care not so much of the size, as the temperament of the birds. They said that integrating Silkies with Orpingtons for instance, would be no problem as both are docile breeds. In fact most of the 'heavy' breeds should fit well with Silkies, but possibly not the light (non bantam) breeds.

[megalin]

I have a buff orpington (large), pekin bantam and new hampshire bantam.

The Orp is boss and she does an occational peck and chase but none of them have any serious problems,

I've had no feather loss blood etc and sometimes at night the little ones squeeze under the

deeply unimpressed orp!! She puts up with them, I think it's a bit of a mothery situation, she puts them in their place if they step out of line and keeps them warm when they need TLC as long as she can eat first!

 

In the spring I'm getting a silkie bantam and 2 others so we're going to have a real mix up here.

 

It really does all depend on the character. My orp is nuts. You just never know!

 

Shame you don't get to spend enough time with them to get to know what they're like when you go to get them!

Good luck, take it slow and they should be happy...... Took mine a few weeks to settle.

[chickyhazel]

Mixing bantams and chickens is fine, you just need to introduce them exactly the same as you would introduce large fowl. Sometimes the bantams even end up at the top of the pecking order... size isn't everything.

 

I would get 4 bantams so you have 2 pairs and there isn't an odd one out to be picked on... and it's an excuse to get more chickens!

[bouldercroft]

I'm a newbie and was lucky to get all the girls at the same time so I didn't have introduction issues - but Josie the little Barred Rock Bantam with the BIG ATTITUDE gets on great with my two full sized hens - I'm always amazed at how collaborative they are - she was coaching Tikka into how to jump up into the herb border well that was my interpretation of what was going on.

And when I sneak a peek at them at night time she's snuggled down in-between the two full sized hens - very cute!