Tweety Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 We have lost two of our beautiful bantams today, a silver Sebright and a Buff Rock. It happened sometime this morning, whilst they were out in their run, there were people and dogs in the garden and the Foxwatch was on, and I foolishly thought that they would be relatively safe from predators. At first we thought that it must have been a bird of prey, but I saw a fox in the garden this afternoon and suspect that he is the culprit. I feel that I have let the girls down, and am worried about my two remaining bantams ( a gold Sebright and a Speckled Sussex)who are in the Eglu on their own tonight. My two Sebrights were devoted to each other and I just hope that the surviving one will be ok without her little friend. I have 6 big girls in a Cube too - do you think I should put the bantams in with them (there is plenty of room)? They have free-ranged together for weeks now, although they have lived separately, but the Sebright is really tiny so I am worried about putting her in with the big girls. In a classic case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, I am now going to build them the permanent, predator-proof run I have been thinking about for ages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 so sorry to hear your news. Was it an eglu run they were in? Are you sure they couldn't have escaped? Sorry I can't help you with the bantie/ big girl question, I hope the others stay safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 I'm so sorry to hear you have lost your girls I don't know about mixing big girls and banties as I don't have banties (yet ) but if they freerange together then perhaps they wlll be fine, plus it is going to be a cold night so they can all keep each other warm, even if you have to take the little girls out in the morning karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Sorry to hear your news. I can't advise re mixing banties and big girls as I've never had the former. I know some have done it successfully, others advise against it. Not very helpful I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 I've got 4 big Omlet girls & 2 Plymouth Rock Bantams living happily together in a cube. Maybe you could put them together whilst they're all sleepy to possibly avoid trouble? Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 So sorry to hear about your visit from Mr Fox. I think having the foxwatch in the garden when the dog is there makes it ineffective if the dog can access the area of the fox watch. From what the manufacturers say it shouldn't be triggered constantly because the fox becomes immune to it. It's a problem I have too because I have dogs. I have trained the fox watch on the area which I think the fox gets in the garden (and the dogs don't go in). Letting our girls freerange is a risk we take and I'm sure if you could ask them your girls wouldn't have it any other way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovemychooks Posted November 23, 2007 Share Posted November 23, 2007 Oh i'm so sorry to hear that they both died, it's not nice. That happened to me last week (took 6 of them). I'm not sure about putting them together because i've only got big girls and no bantams but hope it goes well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted November 23, 2007 Author Share Posted November 23, 2007 Thank you all so much for your replies. I think I will leave the banties in the Eglu tonight and see how they are in the morning. I agree with you Shirl - we do take a risk every time we let our girls out to free range, but I think it is a risk worth taking and all we can do is try to minimise it. It is heartbreaking to lose my two chooks but, as a friend was told by an African safari guide when she burst into tears at a kill " You mustn't cry, it's just nature". I am trying very hard to remember these words when I think of my little girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 really sorry, but these things happen I'm afaid. I can't say about mixing bantams and big hens as I just have the big girls However I can say that there will be no probs at all with room - mine all huddle up together. Its really interesting because pecking order, which is very operative when they are outside, gets suspended as soon as they go in the Cube. There's a few complaints and whinges as hens get walked on and stood on etc. but it isn't in the order - they all seem to be equal once they get inside the Cube. Odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodle Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 I am so sorry to hear your news. Having had a near miss myself two weeks ago, I know how distressing it is. Big hugs x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 I am really sorry too - what a horrible thing to happen As for mixing bants & Big'uns, well I keep mine seperate & will probably continue to do so. That said,I would give it a go if I were you. If it alls goes wrong,you can always split them up again,can't you? Good luck whatever you decide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted November 24, 2007 Author Share Posted November 24, 2007 Thanks again everyone. I have decided to keep the bantams separate from the big girls, and to get more bantams to keep them company. I feel as if I am being disloyal to my two little girls who are now in chicken heaven, but I can't bear to see my surviving girls looking so lonely. I phoned Wernlas to see if they had any bantams of suitable age to join mine and, amazingly, they have got one gold and two silver Sebrights available so I have said I will collect them tomorrow. I will also get another Buff Rock bantam if they have one. Not looking forward to the introductions, but hopefully they will all settle down before too long. Thanks for all the support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 glad you have got some good news - I know what you mean about feeling disloyal, but your remaining bantams will appreciate the company (well, eventually they will!) Hope they soon get used to each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puffball Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 So sorry to hear your news... Good luck with the banties and big un's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
