What are these l brackets for

[sparrow3]

Hi all, I am new to posting but quite often get great advice from you all by browsing!

I have 2 hybrids that free range very happily in our large garden. My mother had 4 japanese bantams but unfortunately she has now found herself with only one! she doesnt seem to have had much luck and so is giving up. She wants me to take the lonesome bantam but I am unsure how my girls will react. They are very sweet natured and we temporarily looked after someone else's hybrid until its new home was ready and they were fine but as this bantam is so small im not so sure it will be so plain sailing. We have a very large garden and plenty of room for a second hen house and are able to keep an area fenced off but do not want that arrangement to be permanent. Any thoughts? Will it even be possible to integrate them?

[FatJasper]

We introduced two bantams to our 3 hybrids in Sept. The bantams spent 4 weeks in a separate section of the Eglu run (we just wired chicken wire across a bit of it and used the end panel to get access) and FR'd together when there was a spot of pecking. We would also stick the little ones in with the big girls at night when they were all 'switched off'. After 4 weeks shoeved them all in together and all is fine. Just take it slowly and all should be fine.

[Redwing]

I wouldnt try it personally. Apart from the difficulty of introducing a lone hen hybrids arent known for their friendliness to pure breeds and Japs are very small

[coco]

As Japanese bantams are timy and quite delicate I wouldn't risk it with two hybrids. Compared with my pure breeds I have found the couple of hybrids I have had in the past to be quite aggressive.

[smartrus]

I agree. It was hard enough introducing hybrids to each other. Just a thought, but how about getting another bantum for company and giving them a separate home? Im guessing the bantum has its original house?

[The Dogmother]

Another agree-er here; I've had Japanese bantams, they are tiny, gentle things and really can't hold their own against anything big. Mine were fine in my flock of other bantams but I certainly wouldn't mix them with hybrids.

[sparrow3]

thanks all for your replies and to be honest I pretty much knew the response and was hoping for some fluke person to say it was all fine!!! The little girl is here now and will be let out in HER garden for a rummage tomorrow. My girls will be able to see her but not get to her. I am possibly thinking of getting her a buddy and having the two sets. lets see!!

[counturchickens]

2 sets sounds like a plan!

[smartrus]

Yep, I would go with your gut. I would rather have 2 sets of happy hens.x Let us know how it goes.

[sparrow3]

Bit of an update on our homeless bantam!!!

She seems to spend more time in her house than my hybrids do in thiers but all in all seems quite a perky little thing! Ive been feeding all of them either side of the fence ( quite close) so that they get used to each other a little and other than eyeing each other up the first time its all been going fine, Then Jennifer (my very greedy hybrid) took note of the fact that there is food in the bantams area and decided to break in!!! I only noticed when I glanced outside and noticed her in there quite happily wandering around with the bantam. Obviously my heart was in my mouth but I let them be for a few minutes and then called her out so they left on a good note!

[craftyhunnypie]

We let our Japanese bantams out to Free Range with hubby's big girls & Sid the Cockerel. They get on fine, but we do always watch them from the kitchen window, not because of the big girls & Sid, but because of any predators like Buzzards etc.

Emma.x

[sparrow3]

Woohoo, another update on Millie (the homeless bantam!)

She has now figured out how to get out of her part of the garden and it is too small for Jennifer and Nina (the hybrids) to get through, so she happily roams with the big girls and if she gets worried she just goes back to her own patch and the big girls cant follow. After a few episodes of the big girls chasing Millie round a bit they all seem to now get on fine!

she is quite a bold little thing and extremely vocal!!!

I have taken a picture but cant figure out how to add it here?

[sparrow3]

OOOh forgot to say..... She now sleeps with the big girls too with no problems.

[MedusA]

Brilliant outcome. Happy hens all round.

[Plum]

Wow you have done well by taking it slowly. Chicken Whisperer

[Cheeky Chooky]

Good to read she's doing so well Bantams are smart cookies and are not shrinking violets either