BocBoc Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hmmm - I think I want a couple of bantams. Well, that's a fib - I know I want some!! We currently have an Eglu (Classic) and the standard run with an extension panel. Our girls free range most days when we get home from work and usually all day on Saturday and Sunday. We have three chooks at the moment; a Light Sussex, a Ranger and an Ex-batt. I figured that two bantams would be ok in the Eglu - if it's big enough for four big hens then it should be ok for three bigs and two banties. BUT - of the zillions of bantams out there - which ones should we get? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-real-tinkerbell Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 hey hun i dont want to bring you down but i wouldnt put that many girls in a eglu i have 3 exbats in mine and it was overcrowded . but maybe it could be a excuse to get another good luck with what ever you decide im hatching some bantam orps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I'd suggest a new Eglu and then several lovely new bantams! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 How about giving in to your Morehens, selling your eglu classic and getting a WIR and a cube or larger chook house with room to expand? I started last May with a small hen house and run combined, that the sellers said was suitable for 3 standard hens or 5 banties. It was really only big enough for three Silkies but I went out and bought 4 chooks and then I joined this Omlet club and had to accept that I had wasted my pennies. I sold my henhouse and invested in a big chook house. I've not regretted it one bit . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hi, I have a a and a pretty wooden house. We have 3 standard sized hens, 2 pekins and 3 sablepoots. The is in a WIR. They free range almost all day. At night they take themselves off to whichever eglu they wish. The big hens always sleep in the , the sablepoots always sleep in the and the pekins are sometimes in one, sometimes in the other This has evolved over time however & I wouldn't recommend that you put bantams in with standard sized hens without giving them an alternative house to run to if they so wish I would also add, that not all hens are good with banties eg our araucana is wary of the pekins but is positively horrible to the sablepoots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 I can't upgrade to a cube because they are soooooo expensive and I don't have that kind of money just knocking around. After meeting up with some Omleteers at the last couple of poultry shows, I discussed this with them and we all agreed that a couple of bantams with my existing three girls in the current set up would be fine. But you lot have put me off now!! Ah well, maybe I'll just have to put up with my bout of morehens disease for a bit longer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Annie, I definitely would not put two new bantams in with three existing hens in an eglu and eglu run, even with extension. I was in exactly the same position as you having 3 hens in the same set up, and I also wanted two extra bantams. Even though two of my existing chooks were bantams, adding more would really have cramped their space, and I think made introductions nigh on impossible, as the smaller the space, the more jealously gaurded it is by the existing girls. I had to wait quite a long time until I could afford to build a WIR and also a second eglu, which is now paying dividends, as if you see my post elsewhere in this column, I am having problems with introducing my two new bantams even in the new set up. Sorry to put a damper on your plans, but why not see if you could get a cheaper larger house and run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 Thank you for your advice. I just don't have any spare money for alternative chicken housing at the moment - it's not a high enough priority really. Maybe next year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I find that the best antidote to not being able to get any more chooks is to spoil those I have and to look on websites and in books and draw up lists of favourite breeds for when I can get more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Time for a devious plan You'll need spare accommodation during introductions so get your new bantams and seperate your current run with the babies in a cat box or similar (once the hard frosts have gone). You can divide the run with canes one of the mods will direct you to a thread how to do it. Or you can borrow my little house which can connect to the door of the run. Then your OH will realise they need a bit more run space and run out and build a WIR for his little sweethearts By the time he's got it done the bantams and big girls will be best mates and sleep together happily in Eglu (I've got bantams and hybrids) and all will be well in Bocboc land If he's buying the wood and wire and assembling it himself it won't cost a fortune you'll save loads of money. You could start small then add to it as Morehen disease grips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 I have 6 naughty pekin banties in one eglu! They are naughty because they have the choice of many places to sleep - but huddle in the red eglu after free ranging. Emma.x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-real-tinkerbell Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 oh ive just had a thought from your sig your not far from me ,and i have a little wooden coop that i was going to put on freecycle ,i used to use it as a hospital bay , its fox proof but is only small but your welcome to it for intros if you want it ,its a small ark with a nesting area and small run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 Wowsers, what a turn around! I love your plan Plum but unless it has two wheels and lots of horse power, my OH isnt really interested! Love the idea of a little bantam house. Pm sent. Thank you x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 This takes us back to the original title of your thread . . . what banties are you going to get for your little bantie house? Pekins (see thread on Morehens disease), Wyandottes (sooo pretty and tubby looking), Silkies (dear little feathered bunnies), Frizzles (dear little ladies, just out of curlers), bantie Orps?? Do let us know. To interest your OH, you could always put your bantie house on wheels, just not sure about the horse power bit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Well he loves the Frizzles (as do I) but I also loved the laced Wyandottes. A breed that lays coloured eggs would also be a fun option...hmmmm. I know upon seeing any feathered little friends I'll fall in love with them all so I won't really mind which ones we end up coming home with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyfeet Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Hi there All of my girls are bantams. I've got 4 pekins, 1 x Barbu d'uccle, 3 x Rhode Island Reds, 1 x Gold Partridge Wyandotte, 2 x Cuckoo Marans, and his Lordship, a Dutch Bantam Cockerel. If I were to have any more then I would probably go with Wyandotte or Maran, as they lay a lovely sized egg (Maran is Dk Brown too) and they are lovely and sturdy with a nice personality and I don't think they are prone to going broody at the drop of a hat, unlike the Pekins! I will admit to hankering after some Bantam Orp's but OH says I have to sell my Pekins first - naughty man!! Dawn x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 Tinkerbell has just dropped off our new bantam house Im getting excited now!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-real-tinkerbell Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 i have about 16 days before mine hatch lol i cant wait to have my full again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateCooke Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 I have 4 bantams in an eglu and they all huddle up in a tiny space I imagine 2 more bantams would be fine, but no expert. As for breed, I love teh look of my Wellsummer Bantam, she was teh first to lay and they are very big for bantam eggs. I also have a buff wynedotte and she has laid 5 eggs a week all through winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 13, 2011 Share Posted February 13, 2011 New arrivals here http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=74531 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
