Used Omlet outdoor rabbit run Width 2.2m Height 2.05m Length 3.1m vgc.

[docsquid]

Yes!!!!

 

On 7th September I got these three lovely banties

 

They were only youngsters at 9 to 11 weeks, but now, 6 weeks later we finally have integration! They will happily FR with the big girls, and even better, can co-exist in the WIR with the big girls too! I've even had Gwladys (the frizzle silkie) eating from the same Grub as Gwennie, one of the Omlet girls, and Blodwyn lays her eggy in the orange Eglu that I have for the banties, instead of the cube I have for the big girls.

 

I was initially worried as Megan was a bit of a bully with the little girls, but now she doesn't peck them - she just looks at them and they get out of her way! But it has been a long-ish process, and it is so lovely to be able to take the divider down and let them mix happily.

 

Just waiting for the first eggy from my "silly little girls" now!

[Olly]

Congratulations - they are gorgeous bundles of fluff! Just goes to show that the slow-but-steady approach works if you give it enough time.

[scarlettohara]

Brilliant well done Mine are fring together but the babies still tend to stick together but are daring to get closer to the big girls each day (only 2 of the lf chase them off the others ignore them) they have separate WIRs though as getting 3 ex-batts next week and hope eventually they will go in with the big girls Do you expect any of yours to start laying yet - I was told it takes a lot longer with bantams

[docsquid]

Yes, they still mainly stay together as a threesome, but Gwladys and Gwennie actually get on quite well too. Blodwyn is top chook of all six, and seems to feel it is beneath her dignity to acknowledge them. It is only Megan who feels insecured, and she has gone from obsessive stalking, chasing and pecking to posturing but not a lot else. You just have to wait a bit and they will be accepted, if not liked.

 

I've made sure the feeders are on separate sides of the WIR. If the big girls see the littleuns eating, they move over to that feeder, and then they swap sides and so on ad infinitum . But it means that the litteluns don't miss out on food.

 

I don't think there will be any eggs for a while. I'm just hoping they start to lay before the Omlet girls moult

[Plum]

Well done, it's good to hear they are doing well together. What are you doing about type of food?

 

I got my banties a couple of weeks before you and bit younger so guess they are same age now. I took the babies run out on friday but left their house so they can move in with others when they are ready. Going well so far but not really mixing yet so envious yours are making friends.

 

I'm giving them all growers and offer the big girls layers when I have time to stay and supervise them. If the banties aren't going to lay till in their 20's are the others ok on growers for a month or two? Guess just get less eggs.

 

Have you any more pics of yours together?

[docsquid]

They were fed separately up to this week, but now are all on layers as the littleuns are more or less fully grown and 16-17 weeks, plus they prefer the layers mash anyway. Plus mealworm treats. Plus whatever they can get FR.

 

I read you shouldn't eat the eggs if the big girls are on growers as they contain a chemical to suppress coccidiod but it isn't edible by humans, so I've been careful not to let the biguns eat growers (not that they would anyway, they like their mash too much).

[scarlettohara]

I'm sure growers are fine for everyone - I fed growers to Honey and Treacle after they had an infection to build them up a bit and still ate the eggs

[Plum]

My growers doesn't have coccidiastats so ok as far as eating eggs goes - when we get them