4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[wendor]

I have 2 Buff Sussex Bantams, both are regularly broody for 3 weeks. They always seem to sync the timing of this... so I have to go and buy eggs...(aah!) They are beautiful friendly hens, but I'm thinking of introducing another bantam(or 2 even!?) that would lay eggs when my 2 are broody. My daughter would love a white/creamy hen...looking through my chicken book Ardenner Bantam possibly, I thought maybe a darker hen Barnvelder Bantam,double laced look stunning. I don't want to introduce breeds that wouldn't get on together, can anyone suggest a harmonious mix please? Also any ideas on stopping broodiness? I keep them off the nest and shut the Omlet door so they have to go outside into the netting run ...but they still refrain from laying for 3 weeks.

[Redwing]

bantams are split in to three groups, heavy, light and 'true'

 

Many of the heavy breeds (inc Sussex and Barnevelders) will be inclined to broodiness

 

Some of the true bantams are too, especially the Pekins.

 

Few of the light breeds will be inclined to broodiness (the Silkie being a massive broody exception!)

 

The trouble is that some of the light breeds are a bit flighty

 

Sussex bantams would probably get on best with a similar largish heavy bantam but if introductions are done very slowly and carefully you'll probably be able to integrate most bantams with them

[fluffy chick]

My pekins are often broody and my silkies almost as bad although they didn't go broody this year lovely though!

[karlotta]

My least broody bantams are Polands. All the rest are taking turns to be broody!

 

They do lay well but you'd have to be very careful introducing them as they could get bullied.

[wendor]

Thanks for these replies, I bought a black Australorp Bantam. After a week all three got on together. My eldest sussex bantam did bully her at first. My younger Sussex bantam was more tolerant but did peck a bit to establish heirarchy. I had to separate them and keep original two in omlet run and new one in outer fence run and alternate this throughout the day for a the first five days.

[Daphne]

And how are you finding your new girl for character, laying and being broody? I think australorps look great in the smaller size