Bantams

[Hinksy]

Was looking at getting 2 Bantams, however the person I bought my Chickens from said it would not be a good idea to allow them all to live in the same house/Coop.

We have 5 Chickens in a very large Chicken Coop which can easy house double the amount we have but we have decided to just make it that more comfortable and stick to 5 Chickens. The free range about the garden most days.

My question is what size type of housing/coop/run would be ideal for just 2 bantams, again once they settle in they will be out in the garden too, what would I need for 2 bantams though?

[kirsty b]

I have kept bantams and bigger chooks together with no probs.

Bantams are fairly speedy, so their swiftness avoided bullying problems. I currently have 3 bantam cocks in with my bigger girls and they are getting along fine.
Also find more than one feeding station can help as they don't seem too inclined to scrap over food if they have more than one dish to get it from.

[Scarlet]

I keep a couple of bantams in with my marans with no problems. If you free range in the garden most of the day anyway the little space they will take up in your coop at night would mean it's probably not worth getting a second coop/run- unless you are thinking of getting more????

[yeti]

should be no problem keeping them together..

[DaveJ]

Don't see what the problem is.

[its hilly]

I've got bants and biggies together, free ranging. My smallest banty hen gets shoved out of the food by everyone including the other banties. But they dont pick on her in the roost. No idea why.

[lindyloo]

if the original chicken have not seen bantams before, i would keep them seperate, as the chicken will bully the bantams. i would place the bantam run next to ( as close as possible) to the chicken run, so they can see each other up close, for as long as it takes. eventually, you should be able to let them all run loose together in garden, but i wouldnt do it straight away, as chicken are programed with imprinting, and as such are not that good at accepting poultry different from what they are used to seeing. the run itself, i would personally want it to be about 8' long by 3' wide, with a house of about 3'x3' or 3'x4'. probably too big on a ratio of space per hen, but i dont like to see poultry ( or rabbits) cooped up in little runs.

[Hinksy]

I had originally intended to put the Bigger Hens in with the bantams but like said was told that with the pecking order they might get picked on a little too much. I did'nt like the idea of them being picked or but neither like the idea of creating a divide.

Getting another coop for the Bantams seemed the better option then I can get more Chickens as they are great, only had them 2weeks but they are funny watching them run about the garden.

[Hilary B]

Unless your bigger hens are bullies by nature, I can't see a problem. Banties are small, but most of them are fast-moving, agile, and feisty. As long as they have space to dodge, they will stand up for themselves quite well. The biggest problem is mixing a group of 5 with just 2 others....

[Hinksy]

So buying 2 to go in with the Chickens would not be enough? I suppose that makes sense in the case of they would all be able to stick up for each other.

Would a Silkie fall in to the same bracket as a Bantam? I could always get a Silkie and 2 Bantams.

[Glutton4...]

... Would a Silkie fall in to the same bracket as a Bantam? I could always get a Silkie and 2 Bantams.

Or 2 Silkies and 2 Bantams.

Or 4 Silkies,

Or 4 Bantams,

Or 4 Silkies and 4 Ban...


OK, I'll get me coat!

[Hinksy]

2 Silkies and 2 Bantams sounds fair! Just need to convince the wife now!

[Nicos]

2 Silkies and 2 Bantams sounds fair! Just need to convince the wife now!

you could go down the lines of....

Set scene....

nice cuddle from behind and a kiss on the neck....

You...
" You know what, I've been thinking recently about how thoughtful you are about me- and I really appreciate it."

Pause... ( big grin if she turns round wondering whatever it is that you're going to ask her to do)
"I've been thinking hard and I'd like to give you a little something that you could get a lot of pleasure from.
I realise how much fun you've been getting from the chooks- and I've got all excited about an idea I've had for you.

Wouild you like to come along and help me choose some more chooks to increase our little family- I'd been thinking of a couple of silkies and a couple of bantams. You've got a good eye for these things- what do you think?..
I know a place which has some in stock- we could go now if you like!"

NB- don't pause at all between the second and third sentance as she'll start visualising a new watch, ring, car, shoes etc!!!


What do you think gals????


I'd work on me...but then again- I always was a softie

But then again she may just say. "Nope- we've got enough already- I'd rather have a new microwave or go away for a weekend."

...then you'll need an immediate back up plan!

[Nicos]

Oi!!! ...you still alive???....you've not been sent to Coventry for being sleezey have you????

[Nicos]

Oh Nooooooo....quick- send out the search party!!!!!