helen_molly Posted April 21, 2014 Share Posted April 21, 2014 Hi, I am preparing to get my first chickens and have done a lot of reading and am planning to get an eglu cube, but I haven't been able to find information about whether it is ok to mix ex battery hens (of which I would like to get 3 or 4), with bantam chickens due to the size difference. My main criteria for chickens is for them to be human-friendly and not too flighty. I am also a bit concerned about having to deal with broody hens. Pekins seem particularly adorable. I would welcome any advice about whether this is a suitable mix and if so, which order to get the chickens - all together? Ex batts then add in the bantams? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg_x Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 Hi, I am preparing to get my first chickens and have done a lot of reading and am planning to get an eglu cube, but I haven't been able to find information about whether it is ok to mix ex battery hens (of which I would like to get 3 or 4), with bantam chickens due to the size difference. My main criteria for chickens is for them to be human-friendly and not too flighty. I am also a bit concerned about having to deal with broody hens. Pekins seem particularly adorable. I would welcome any advice about whether this is a suitable mix and if so, which order to get the chickens - all together? Ex batts then add in the bantams? Thanks! Hiya! I asked the same thing to a breeder the other week and got the following advice (relates to hybrid/bantam mix but I think similar enough advice)... They do as long as you are careful. As long as the hybrids are younger than the bantams and you have plenty of space then the balance should be right. Hybrids are vaccinated and pures aren't. Hope this helps - though I'm sure some of the more experienced hen keepers (I'm a complete novice as well!) will share some thoughts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottyJ1 Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I have one bantam with two ex batts and one pure bred and the bantam is top chook and can be very nasty to the smaller one of the ex batts. I think because she is smaller she feels she has to keep the others in check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen_molly Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 Thanks for the advice. I would be buying the bantams as pullets though and the ex batts would be older, so according to your breeders advice maybe not such a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choo-chook Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I've got 2 pekins and 3 other types of bantams. The pekins are the cuddliest of them all but also the broodiest!! Both have been broody this year, one twice which makes it very difficult for my others to lay as they are also the bossiest of the chickens. I can see me having to keep the dog crate in the run full time throughout the summer good job they are so cute. Sorry I can't give you any advise on the sizing issue, I'd love to take on ex batts but only when space allows. Good luck in choosing, exciting times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen_molly Posted April 22, 2014 Author Share Posted April 22, 2014 Thanks ChooChuck. I just won an ebay auction for a green cube so an very excited!!! Having a broody hen sounds a bit of a pain for a first time chicken owner so despite how cute and soft they look, I may give pekins a miss. My list now includes Sebright, Dutch bantam, silver laced Wyandotte and Welsummer as well as some ex battery chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 It's not true that hybrids are vaccinated and pures aren't. It depends where you get them from. Pure breeds are much more likely to go broody than hybrids. Although some hybrids break the rules If you go to the BHWT web site you can find info about mixing ex bats with other breeds. It's a great site to visit anyway. I've always mixed my girls. Just take it slowly. In my big Cube and WIR I have 3 different hybrids. 2small silkies a welsummer 2 araucanas and a pekin frizzle. My ex bats are separate, but that's just a space thing. I'm very excited for you. Good luck and let us know what you get Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 22, 2014 Share Posted April 22, 2014 I personally wouldnt go for the Sebrights, they are extremely small and really quite specialised, the females can be aggressive too. The other breeds you mention should be ok though I have ex batts and bantams living together BUT I wouldnt mix ex batts straight out of the farm with bantams, they need time to adjust, recover and refeather a bit before meeting healthy feisty bantams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LottyJ1 Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 BUT I wouldnt mix ex batts straight out of the farm with bantams, they need time to adjust, recover and refeather a bit before meeting healthy feisty bantams So true! I kept my newest ex-batts separate for a good few weeks before introducing them to Bernie the Bantam! She chases newbies round and round! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helen_molly Posted April 23, 2014 Author Share Posted April 23, 2014 Thanks everyone. That is good advice - I will get the ex batts first. I'll think carefully about the sebrights too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
