megalin Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Hello everybody, Just wondering if anyone had any experiences keeping large breeds with littles? We're looking to get 3 chickens and only calm and gentle breeds definitely an Orpington and a Faverolle..... I'm a little confused about what to do for the 3rd....! The breeders actually have these, Brahma's big and small, new hampshire, Black rocks, Silkies, Cochins l/f, Araucanas, Pekins, Wynadotte bantams and a selection of bantam hybrids. Any Ideas and experience would be much appreciated....! Thanks Megalin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 I've got wyandotte bantams in with my hybrids but they are still very much a pair. So I would say if you are getting bantams have 2 for company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Hi I think it all depends on the breed. My big girls ( ex batt, faverolle, & araucana ) don't bother the pekins at all but the araucana gives my little sablepoots a hard time . So much so that the others who are normally very peaceful all join in. They've never pecked them, but they do chase them around the garden. They have separate houses & I don't ever intend to integrate them. I'm not sure if one bantam would be good with two big birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Well.. I hatched a large fowl Light Sussex under a Pekin- they live together. I had a 20lb Norfolk black Turkey hen, She lived with two silkie bantams, she used to mother them, it was soooo cute. I don't think size is really a matter, but you have to allow a bit more space incase of bullying problems ect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I'd agree that size does not seem to matter as much as one might think. I have two different friends who have several large hybrids each and just one little Silkie (One is black and one is white) in their flock. The little Silkies do not appear to be chased or pecked or in any way bullied by the larger girls BUT I have noticed that each little Silkie does seem to go off on her own rather and I sometimes think that it would be kinder if both friends got another silkie each so they had a pair. That means you can get more than one more girly surely Good excuse don't you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Gas Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 At one point - until I had a late night visitor- I had 3 hens two large and 1 banty.............. she was the boss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megalin Posted October 25, 2010 Author Share Posted October 25, 2010 Well thanks all... I don't think my fella's giving me any more freedom on numbers!! He'll come round eventually I think he's a bit anxious about the whole thing! I guess it just depends on the character of the bird... I'll see who catches my eye and be posting pics as soon as they're here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 Good luck!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted October 26, 2010 Share Posted October 26, 2010 Orpingtons are big girls but gentle. I recently saw some at a farming fair and was amazed at quite how big they were. It is not easy to get a real idea of size from pictures in books. If you plan to get one of these large ladies, I'd go for a Brahma as the 3rd. They look lovely! There is a National Trust house not far from where I live that has a whole flock of them and they seem so grand and stately. Alternatively you could get a bantam Orpington and then perhaps a Silkie. I don't know much about Faverolles. Really I suspect you will just go there and get won over by three girlies and any plans will go out of the window . Least that is what would happen to me. Do tell us what you get so we can all be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megalin Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 Hello! The girls have arrived! We ended up getting a buff orp, pekin bantam and new hampshire bantam..... They were all well integrated as they got moved around and socialized a lot so we took our chances. We do have 2 bantams so hopefully they'll be ok, just a bit worried the orp might be lonely! She's so calm and beautiful, almost melancholy. We put them straight to bed, they wouldn't come out of the cat boxes so we just left them to sleep in them. Will post pics tomorrow! I'm sooooooo excited. megalin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 how lovely! I've always mixed and matched, never had a problem - in fact our buff orp was best friends with our golden sebright (before the fox got the littlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 What a nice mix can't wait to see them How old are they? Congratulations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megalin Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 Yes they seem calm enough so far (from the night time spying i've been doing and the trip home being squished together!) Fingers crossed it will continue.... Well I think they said they're about 20 weeks but they look pretty well developed, put pics up tomorrow and see what everyone thinks. They look a good team! The little Faverolles were a bit pecked at and sad looking, wondered whether they were subject to some aggression so decided not to go for them although it broke my heart a bit..... Hope to get one of these in the future though! My wish list is getting a bit extended already.... Eeeek Megalin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 What a lovely mix you have chosen! Hens are like chocolates in a box: once you have had a couple you just have to try out others of a different sort I have quite a wish list but OH has yet to come round to more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
