Can I have a bantam rooster with large hens?

[mowin]

Thinking about getting a rooster. Yes I can have a rooster. Been having issues with pecking order. Seems every couple weeks, one of my gals is taking a beating from the other hens.

Didn't want a rooster, because I don't want to hear the Damm thing at O dark 30.

However, the other day I was at a buddies house, who has a couple bantam roosters. Didn't mind the crowing compared to a large breed rooster.

So will a bantam be able to control the gals? Or is he in for a nightmare, lol.

 

[nicalandia]

So will a bantam be able to control the gals? Or is he in for a nightmare, lol.

I once had a Bantam game Rooster and large sized hens, some of them tested him, but he quickly showed them who is Boss. I am not sure if a regular non-game breed would do the same

 

[Ebony Rose]

Bantams are KNOWN to hold their own, even with the hens. They're also known to 'dance' for their girls, and show respect for them. Bantams are excellent protectors and will fight to the death, if need be, to protect their flock. The eggs that your hens produce will still be the same size as is normal for them as he doesn't play a part in that aspect of the equation unless you're hatching out their eggs; the egg size of his daughters could be affected. I love bantam cocks, they're feisty, lovable and often beautiful little roosters.

 

[mowin]

Bantams are KNOWN to hold their own, even with the hens. They're also known to 'dance' for their girls, and show respect for them. Bantams are excellent protectors and will fight to the death, if need be, to protect their flock. The eggs that your hens produce will still be the same size as is normal for them as he doesn't play a part in that aspect of the equation unless you're hatching out their eggs; the egg size of his daughters could be affected. I love bantam cocks, they're feisty, lovable and often beautiful little roosters.

Sounds like a bantam might be a good fit. Scrappy enough to keep the gals in check. Kinda like a little dog syndrome, lol.

Not looking to hatch any chicks, nor do I sell any eggs.

 

[Maverick1]

Bantam rooster is fine with large hens. The only thing you have to worry about is, if you want him to fertilize eggs for hatching. He may be to small, to mount the large hens. Which means , the eggs will not get fertilized because, he won’t be able to mate. Although, he will continue to try, it will not effect egg production at all.

 

[mowin]

Bantam rooster is fine with large hens. The only thing you have to worry about is, if you want him to fertilize eggs for hatching. He may be to small, to mount the large hens. Which means , the eggs will not get fertilized because, he won’t be able to mate. Although, he will continue to try, it will not effect egg production at all.

My eggs are for ourselves and family, friends. Have never sold a egg. If I've got extra, I give them away.

 

[aart]

Give it a shot, let us know how it works out.
I don't put a lot of stock in a cock/erel keeping the peace,
especially if it involves a low hen that everyone is beating on.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My thought is to explore why your hens are getting beat up every few weeks, especially if it is different ones. What is the real problem? How old are they, how many do you have, how much room (in feet) do you have in your coop and how much room (in feet) in the run, how do you manage them (free range or in the coop/run only)? Where and when does this beating up happen? What does this beating up look like? Are they trying to kill her or just a peck or two? Is it the same one doing the beating or getting beaten?

I do think having a dominant rooster in the flock will change the flock dynamics which affects conflict between the hens. But then I hardly ever see any conflict between the hens even when I don't have a dominant rooster in the flock except at bedtime when they are sorting themselves out for sleep. That's why I think something is going on to cause your hens to beat each other up. That's the real problem you need to solve.

 

[mowin]

My thought is to explore why your hens are getting beat up every few weeks, especially if it is different ones. What is the real problem? How old are they, how many do you have, how much room (in feet) do you have in your coop and how much room (in feet) in the run, how do you manage them (free range or in the coop/run only)? Where and when does this beating up happen? What does this beating up look like? Are they trying to kill her or just a peck or two? Is it the same one doing the beating or getting beaten?

I do think having a dominant rooster in the flock will change the flock dynamics which affects conflict between the hens. But then I hardly ever see any conflict between the hens even when I don't have a dominant rooster in the flock except at bedtime when they are sorting themselves out for sleep. That's why I think something is going on to cause your hens to beat each other up. That's the real problem you need to solve.

8 hens in a 6x8 coop. Run is approximately 8x16. No free range.
It's my BR that is a bully. She picks a new target every few weeks. Her target the past couple weeks is a broody BO that I'm trying to break by booting her from the nest box every couple hrs.

 

[Ridgerunner]

With a normal flock of all mature hens you should have enough room. I don't think overcrowding is the problem. It often is.

I don't know what other experiences you have had but I think your main problem is that the BR is a brute. I don't know how vicious her attacks are but she is the dominant hen and will not accept any challenges (real or perceived) to that dominance. Occasionally you get a chicken, rooster or hen, that relies on violence to keep their dominant position instead of relying more on their personality.

That broody hen does not want to be bothered by the other hens when she is off the nest. She is probably not giving the dominant hen the deference she wants. Or maybe when you take her off the nest you toss her in a way that the BR feels under threat. Again, I don't know how vicious her attacks are or what has gone in in the past.

So what do you do? I always try to solve for the peace of the flock. If one chicken is consistently disrupting that then that chicken is gone. Sometimes it might be the one that is getting picked on if that is consistent. More often it is the one doing the bullying. Most people don't like this approach but it is highly effective.

You can try isolating the bully. Keep her somewhere separated from the flock for a week or so until she loses her dominant status. When she is reintroduced she will have to work out her new pecking order status. Sometimes this really calms down the flock on a long term basis. It may be violent when you put her back. I've had some success changing flock dynamics by isolating a chicken like this but it does not always work.

The last thing I'd do in a volatile situation is add another chicken. With living animals you never know what will happen. it might actually help. But I'd not risk it. Plus, just because you think you'd be OK with the crow of one specific bantam rooster at 4:30 in the morning doesn't mean they will all sound like that.

If you really want to break that broody, use a broody buster. Lock her in an elevated wire-bottomed pen or crate so air can get under her. Give her food and water but nothing she can use as a nest. Leave her in there for 72 hours, then let her out. She should be broken. If not, toss her back in for another round.

Good luck!