Am I crazy?

I have started thinking about adding two more bantys to my flock. I have been doing a lot of research. I had already decided that if for any reason I lost one of my girls (this came to mind when Amber looked so ill when laying her last egg), that I would add two more bantys.

I have been reading up about problems with feather pulling or indeed any bullying within a flock and the general opinion seems that there is likely to be less of a problem in a larger flock. The smaller the flock the more intense the problems.

Bluebell chases the bantys from the treat bowls and in fact often chases them for little or no reason. I wondered if four little girls to three big girls would give a better balance than two little girls to three big girls. Bluebell would have to split her chasing from the treat bowls between four little girls instead of two little girls.

I realise that there may be spats between the the two sets of little girls to start with but wonder if four little girls would flock together and feel less intimidated by the three big girls.

I realise I may be crazy and may take on more problems and I do worry about being selfish by adding more because I want more when I need to think about what is best for my flock but I also think there may just be a chance that they would end up a better balanced flock.

Please jump in and comment and tell me if this may or may not be a good idea.

I had already decided quite a time ago that if I added to my flock I would like some Dutch bantams. I will come to more details of the breed in a moment but first I just want to add that after adding my little girls a year ago I feel I have learned such a lot and would do it much better this time.

We have an area that can be separated simply by closing the gate that is left open at the moment. I would install another small coop (actually called a small animal house) like the one we use as a second nest box now and feed and water bowls. I would keep the new girls in the coup with the dog crate attached as a small run for the first day so that they know where to go to sleep. I would then let them into their enclosure the next day so that are separated but can see and hear the rest of the flock and visa versa.

I would then start a slow integration process over the next few weeks allowing time together before bedtime and gradually lengthening time together if it goes well, always supervised and with the water spray at the ready to stop any aggravation.

The Dutch bantam is a breed of chicken originating in the Netherlands. It is also one of the true bantam breeds, meaning it is a naturally small breed with no related large fowl form, from which it is miniatureized.

Dutch bantams have many colour variations. They are hardy and good layers for their size. They are the smallest breeds of bantam. Females weigh 450 grams which is 200 grams less than my bantam vorwerks.

They fly well and their breed is friendly in temperament. They lay cream or white eggs and are suited to backyard chickens due to their small size.

These are all details which attract to me this breed. I have researched where I may find some that is not too far away from us and have found a farm in Reading that breeds them and has the gold partridge colour. I don’t mind any colour as they are all lovely. I am going to phone tomorrow (Monday) to see if they have any.

I may be disappointed and am ready for that but I also feel excited too. Am I crazy!