Pros: GREAT with children, laid back to docile, easily handled, lay eggs daily, great brooders (when you let them)
Cons: Older hens can be brutal on new arrivals (standard chickens and banties); roos are the world's best alarm clock and security alarm
I love my banty hens, but especially my cochins. They are so friendly that one is down right annoying. Fluffy (my little white banty cochin) greets me on the outside roost and promptly settles herself on which ever shoulder or forearm is readily available. She "rides" along with me in the pen and coop happily directing me on the best method for filling feeders, cleaning the waterer or scooping out the coop. The others are immediately underfoot and I usually end up tossing them up on my other shoulder just get them out from under my feet!!!!
Our roo - Little Boy Blue (a barred banty cochin) is a never-fail 5:30 a.m. alarm clock - rain or shine. He is also the best perimeter alarm available. If you don't enjoy a vocal rooster - you probably want to stay away from Banty Cochin roos. We had a blue roo prior to this one and he was even more noisy.
While lovable and cuddly with humans, alas, my little banty hens are little tyrants in the pen and coop. They are top hen without exception - including the standard size hens. They can be down right nasty when it comes to adding new or young birds to the pen and I always have to keep my eye on them. The older they get, the saucier they seem to get. My prized 3 year old black hen (Casino) will take any roo in the pen and send them the other way in a hurry. She is the one I always have to watch when adding new pullets and young roos to the flock. She is absolutely vicious. Once they get the "pecking" order figured out and pay the queen bee the respect and laud she is due - everything settles back down.
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