My tiny little (about the size of your hand) banty hen does just fine in the same coop & living environment as a big Barred Rock rooster (and 5 big hens and 8 Guinea fowl), even with Little Red (the banty) being removed from the flock to live in the house for the coldest parts of WI winter here. Heh, when I see Lil' Red shivering from cold weather for more than just a day or two out in the coop, she comes inside to become a part of the house-family - her tiny little body doesn't seem to have the same cold-resistancies as the big chickens do. Have done that for 2 of her coming up on 3 yrs of age now. Every spring she goes back out into the coop, and never seems to have a problem with either her or the flock re-adjusting.......she's so little she can not only skitter/fly off much much faster than the others, she can go (hide) places in the coop that the others can't as well, during any initial "re-adjustments" -- which never last for very long if they even do happen.
I've never seen (seen, mind you) the rooster trying to mount her, nor have noticed any signs on her that he has. But again that may be because of her small size letting her get away from things that she "doesn't want to participate in" too. I *have*, however, chucklingly seen her tuck up to & around the rooster for 'protection' when one of the other hens is trying to too insistently grab a treat or earthworm from her, LOL.
FWIW, when I first got Little Red (@ 6 months old), I put her in a small-dog wire cage in the coop with the rest of the flock for awhile........do that for introducing any new chicken until they've all become accustomed to accepting each other's being there - if that helps any. Of course, that'd be kind of hard if you're introducing full flocks together. Is there any way you could temporarily divide the pen with some kind of wire fencing (see through but can't get through to) with a flock on either side until they can all become familiar with each other?
Kate in WI :-)
<< Posted by: "Pat & Valerie"
We are getting to combine our flocks. My concern is in the all hen flock we
have one banty hen. In the other flock we have a full sized roo. Will they
be alright in the same pen?
Valerie in Va.>>
We are getting to combine our flocks. My concern is in the all hen flock we
have one banty hen. In the other flock we have a full sized roo. Will they
be alright in the same pen?
Valerie in Va.>>
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