The Poultry Keeper

AnnieT

Hi - I am totally new to all of this but love my 3 bantams - they have been laying an egg each most days. I am wondering if it is possible to mix bantams with normal size chickens. The other question is - is it safer to store eggs at room temperature or in the fridge? Currently I have written the date on each egg an stored them in a ceramic hen. Thanks for your help with these questions. There seems to be so much to learn. Embarassed

Fangs · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 4:59 pm Post subject:

i keep large fowl with bantams. and its easier to introduce large fowl, to an already established bantam flock, in regards to the other way round. as long as not too many are introduced at one time, unless they aren't completely mature.

i store mine at room temperature. but i guess you could store them in the fridge too.

Fangs

Knobby · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 5:41 pm Post subject:

I keep small & large together, they get on fine ! BUT....i guess it would be a good idea to get Placcid large chooks. Confused

If you get my meaning !

AnnieT · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 8:58 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the reply. The large chickens will probably come from the same person as gave me the 3 bantams. Is it likely the chickens will remember the scent etc. and settle in without pecking each other? I am actually scared of chickens and cant bring myself to touch them yet. This venture was my son's idea and he is fine with picking them up etc. but guess who gets to do the getting up letting them out etc. feeding, cleaning!!

debcat · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 9:11 pm Post subject:

letting them in and out and feeding them is a great start:D

I have large and bantams mixed together and they all get on fine, like fangs said it's easier to introduce large fowl than the other way round. And placid breeds are easier, they just seem to want a quiet life and don't cause as much agro

poultry poofs · Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 11:40 pm Post subject:

We have Bantams and Large fowl together on occasions and generally all get on fine once they get used to each other just keep an eye on the bullying when first introduced they can be pretty horrible like children are for a few days.

RE the egg storage,we supply eggs to the retail trade and DEFRA rules prohibit us from refigerating our eggs for sale and recommend storage in a cool stable temperature environment around 8 to 10 degrees(where do you get one of those outside a fridge or a crypt!! Especially in the summer months
Bizarrely the customer information we are obliged to place on every box is "refrigerate after purchase" !!! Rolling Eyes

rich