phenna_family Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 (edited) hi everyone would our eglu and run be big enough for our two excisting chickens and then bought two bantams, would they have enough room or would we have to extend, ourt chickens free range for 10 hours a day?????? claire Edited June 3, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted June 3, 2007 Share Posted June 3, 2007 There's a possibility the bantams could be picked on as they are much smaller and may not be able to defend themselves. The run is only for 2 chickens really, unless they freerange as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenna_family Posted June 3, 2007 Author Share Posted June 3, 2007 our chickens do free range most of the day about 10 hours a day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 If they are free-ranging for that amount of time every day, then the eglu and run are perfectly big enough for two hybrids and two bantams. You just need to take a bit of care when introducing new birds to a flock though as there will be fisticuffs at first. The way that works for me is to separate an area off the for the newcomers for a week or more, so they can all see each other and interact through the wire, but they can't actually get hold of each other. Then I start with some supervised mingling just before bedtime, gradually increasing the amount of time until they have settled any differences. Good luck - bantams are brill!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phenna_family Posted June 4, 2007 Author Share Posted June 4, 2007 Good luck - bantams are brill!! Hi Jools thanks for your reply, i have a seperate run that we are putting the battams in for about a weekin the daytime so that Nelly and Doris can get aquainted, but will they be ok in the eglu together at night or should I keep the sleeping arangements seperate for the the first weeks or so . Any advice would be so appreciated, I am quite nervous about this I have had mismatch replies and are thinking am I doing the right thing, but our chickens love company and are always wanting to come in the house just to sit with us so I thought if I get two Bantams they would keep them company. Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 You'll definitely get conflicting advice on this . Personally I prefer to let them have their separate sleeping quarters until I know they are happily mingling during the daytime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 4, 2007 Share Posted June 4, 2007 As Jools has pointed out, you will get conflicting advice on this one. There have bene incidents reported on the forum of banties being picked on quite severly by hybrid or bigger hens. I have 8 bantams in an eglu with an extended run, they freerange all day, but you also need to bear in mind whether they would be confined to the run if you were out all day or away. I have always affected introductions using seperate accommodation, and it works fine. There's an excellent sticky somewhere about introducing new hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
