Old English Game Bantams?

moonshadow_dancer · **Posted:** Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:04 pm

Hi All,

Need advice on these cute little Bantams, I am a bit worried about letting them free range like the rest of my gang.

Do they need to be penned? Also is there any special care for them.

My other half purchased 2, them umm I went over and purchased another three.

Can the come out for a scratch, or should they stay in a pen?

Any advice on their well being would be greatly appreciated.

Take Care
Deb

greenaus · **Posted:** Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:45 pm

I have a few OEG X bantams and they get out and free-range.

I guess it depends on your reasons for hesitating. If it's because there's a high risk of being eaten due to known predators in the area, then I guess keep them penned. If not, let them free-range.

In either case, I would recommend keeping them penned at night.

If you're going to allow them to free-range, keep them penned for a few days first so they get used to the pen...and will return to it.

Despite chooks apparently being smart, I am yet to be convinced. While my 9 week old chickens were free-ranging Friday I moved their (trampoline) pen about 10 metres. At bed time Friday night, they huddled together near where it used to be. I had to move them a few at a time. Then, tonight when I got home from work, they were sleeping outside the cross-breed chickens' pen. I moved them again and will leave them penned for a few days.

I only moved their pen about 10 metres, not 100!!!

pjh · **Posted:** Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:55 am

they can free range, they will love it, but-----isn't there always a but

they can fly and may escape the yard, they are very good at laying nests in hiding and they will disappear to brood

they should be locked in their pen for a few days (to a week) to get used to their new home.

rather than let them free range all day , if escaping and hiding would be a problem , letting them out for a few hours of an afternoon only is an option, they usually will have laid and are so busy eating, scratching, dust bathing they do not get up to the escaping phase

or you could clip one wing unless you are going to show them

cheers pam

moonshadow_dancer · **Posted:** Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:24 pm

Thanks all for the advice,
I ended up with a black (hen)and buffish (cockral) pekin banam pair. I placed them in the pen closest the house.

I went down to place a parsley plant and some bedding hay in a few boxes for the OEG's. Somehow the door opened and 2 hens escaped. My animal hating friend caught one :shock:

The other was around the pen before dark as she was attracted back by the little roosters, we waited till near sundown, but we can't find her. I hope she is ok.
My other spoilt brats were chasing her,It is to dark now to find her even with a torch. Luckily we don't have a fox problem.

I didn't realise how high they can fly, so she may be ok, the others that she grew up with are penned so she may stay close I hope. I guess tomorrow will see.

On a lighter note, I bought a Turkey Tom, for my Mrs T, I think they are in love, I penned him and she hung close to the pen, he was displayiung his manlyhood and she was like oh la la. I put her in the pen with him late this afternoon. I can't wait for her to show hime her digs. I raised her from a chick so this place is all she knows.

Take Care All
Deb

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