Bantam uses?

So, we are brand new chicken parents. We have ten assorted variety pack hatched May 17th, and we are in love. Well, maybe worse than love. My husband and i love watching all the stuff they do as busy babies, and love cuddling them, petting, whistling to them and watching them grow and learn. They are fascinating to us.
So, my question is, if Bantams are mini size, what are they used for? Seems like eggs would be way small, small for meat. Let me guess. When i used to show dogs, my freind i showed with had large Herding dogs, and Chihuahuas. The Chihuahuas she loved cause she could keep so many on little food and in little space. So, i am guessing, for people like me who want different colors and breeds, they are easier and all available in Bantam size to feed the chicken monster addiction. Am i right?
Also, how much do they weigh on average, and are temperaments similar to large fowl counterparts? I have three Orpingtons and love their temperament, but love the appearance also of some other breeds.
Lisa

I agree that that could be a very good reason! I personally keep bantams as pets, and nothing more, although I'm sure others might show them.

~Alex

Basically, temperament of bantams should be the same as their LF counterparts.
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html
http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf
There are so many great breeds, my advice is to not restrict yourself to the most popular.
I'm a big fan of LF and large eggs. However, many old time farmers around here have embraced bantams.
What their primary attraction is, is more pounds of egg output per pound of feed input.
Also, more birds per building. So basically, it is more economical to keep bantams but you won't get big eggs out of them.
Bantams tend to be more broody as well.

Thankyou ChickenCanoe! I love the awesome links! Right now i have three Orpingtons, two are Choc and freindlier than the Splash. Two Golden Cuckoo Marans, friendly, curious, and very quick. Two Cream Leghorns, one is very sweet, and three Rhodebars, lovely but very stand offish. My thing is being able to handle them and see what they can learn. I think one knows her name.
I would love silver, blue, lavenders. May i ask what in the world farmers do with the tiny Bantam eggs?

They eat them and sell them. They taste just like eggs.
It just takes 3 eggs in a recipe that calls for 2.

Sounds like you are a prospect for chicken clicker training. A dog trainer that is known for clicker training said, "if you want to be an excellent clicker trainer, start by trying to clicker train a chicken."

ChickenCanoe said:

They eat them and sell them. They taste just like eggs.
It just takes 3 eggs in a recipe that calls for 2.

Sounds like you are a prospect for chicken clicker training. A dog trainer that is known for clicker training said, "if you want to be an excellent clicker trainer, start by trying to clicker train a chicken."

Click to expand...

Would that be Karen Pryor? I must confess, i trained dogs before chickens. I am attempting to find out about treats for them now. The only thing so far that really turns hem on are scrambled eggs. I am not sure i can get him to stop spoiling them before Christmas!

Karen Pryor was a good guess. It was Bob Bailey. He taught dolphins to bomb ships.

https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/...history-interview-with-bob-and-marian-bailey/