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Purpose of Bantams?

post #1 of 10
3/27/12 at 11:30pm
Thread Starter 

Okay, so the other day, my wife and I stopped in at a newly opened feed store in town.  The chickens in the pens outside is what caught our eye.  Everyone of them were bantams (rooster and hen) pairs.  They were absolutely beautiful chickens.  We went in and looked at some other chicks and then the people showed us their incubators and some of the bantam's eggs.  Obviously, the eggs were alot smaller than what I am used to collecting from my own chickens.  So, that led me to question why do people keep bantams?  Other than the idea of owning them just because they are a beautiful bird, are their any other reasons a person would want to keep them?  Any other benefits other than "looks" because the eggs are just too darn small to benefit the average Joe?  Thanks for your input!!!

 

BTW - is it okay to let bantams stay in the same pens/coops with standard breeds?

5 RIR, 4 SLW, 4 GLW, 3 Delas, 2 Doms
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5 RIR, 4 SLW, 4 GLW, 3 Delas, 2 Doms
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post #2 of 10
3/28/12 at 12:33am

bantams can stay with LF, they usually rule the roost! LOL

 

Well bantam eggs are good for painting and decorating, and people like to buy the eggs cause they are JUST SO CUTE!

 

if you live in the city sometimes bantams are better since they are smaller and fit better

 

Bantams are usually wanted so selling their chicks are wanted, because people want banties!

 

other then those i have no reasons LOL

Poem

Dreamin' of swans

No crested ducks

LMAO

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Poem

Dreamin' of swans

No crested ducks

LMAO

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post #3 of 10
3/28/12 at 5:55am

In my area one of the local feed stores sells bantams just because they are good sellers with the local asians and other nationalities. I personally get them for their looks and while they are not the best layers of my flock during decent weather as in only in the summer lol I get around 4-5 eggs a week. 

2 cats, 1 dog, 5 black sex links, 2 reds, 1 speckled sussex, and 5 silkies, 2 plymouth barred rocks, 2 buff orpingtons, 2 austalorps, 1 deleware, 2 EE's, 3 Mutts, 2 mixed roos, 2 golden laced,2 silver laced, and 2 blue cochins and 15 betta fish (so far), 1 little sister.

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2 cats, 1 dog, 5 black sex links, 2 reds, 1 speckled sussex, and 5 silkies, 2 plymouth barred rocks, 2 buff orpingtons, 2 austalorps, 1 deleware, 2 EE's, 3 Mutts, 2 mixed roos, 2 golden laced,2 silver laced, and 2 blue cochins and 15 betta fish (so far), 1 little sister.

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post #4 of 10
3/28/12 at 6:25am

Well besides them being so pretty and good Mammas the eggs are great for pickling. I love how cocky my Roos are. My grand kids love eating the little eggs for breakfast. I do have them in a separate coop and run not because I'm worried they'll get hurt but because I worry my regular flock will get their bottoms whooped lau.gif

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post #5 of 10
3/28/12 at 6:36am

Bantams are great - you can keep 2 or 3 times as many without overcrowding.  lol.png  Bantams and standards can do well together when raised together.  Introducing bantams to an established standard flock can be fraught with difficulties because of their smaller size.  All about the pecking order - when raised together from chicks, bantams frequently 'rule the roost'.

Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
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Friends are the family you make for yourself.
There are no coincidences- only providences.
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post #6 of 10
3/28/12 at 6:50am

They are also aggressive about food!!!  They are the best bug eaters, they scratch the dirt up better, with more gusto than any other chicken.

Also, as stated before, they are good mothers. They are cute.

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post #7 of 10
3/30/12 at 11:30pm
Thread Starter 

Thank you all for your input.  After reading these replies, we may think seriously about raising some bantams on the side in addition to our LF chickens.  They sure are beautiful birds!

5 RIR, 4 SLW, 4 GLW, 3 Delas, 2 Doms
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5 RIR, 4 SLW, 4 GLW, 3 Delas, 2 Doms
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post #8 of 10
3/30/12 at 11:47pm

Honestly, bantams are really cocky, our OEGB tried and take on an OEG and a RIR, ...... *facepalm* needless to say he didnt win, but he think he did! LOL

Poem

Dreamin' of swans

No crested ducks

LMAO

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Poem

Dreamin' of swans

No crested ducks

LMAO

Reply
post #9 of 10
3/30/12 at 11:47pm

Honestly, bantams are really cocky, our OEGB tried and take on an OEG and a RIR, ...... *facepalm* needless to say he didnt win, but he think he did! LOL

Poem

Dreamin' of swans

No crested ducks

LMAO

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Poem

Dreamin' of swans

No crested ducks

LMAO

Reply
post #10 of 10
3/31/12 at 8:26am

Another plus with bantam eggs, the ratio of yolk to white is higher.

 

The difference in weight between my bantam eggs and my usual layers is about 10-15grms.    I haven't calculated how much weight of feed difference there is, but I know they eat less than the bigger girls. 

 

 

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