WanderingHen14
In the Brooder
- Aug 15, 2025
- 1
- 9
- 16
Hello, poultry friends! Two years ago I volunteered to care for a neighbor's bantam flock while she was on vacation. It turned out to be a TRAP!!!
Fast forward two years and now I'm catering to the whims of 8 hens, one golden marshmallow (we think it's a rooster cuz it crows at 4:30am every single day), and about 18 lil' peepers ranging in age from 3 to 8 weeks.
So far it's not a bad deal. I make them food balls out of moistened mash, a little scratch feed, and just a dash of molasses and ACV. I top them off with the occasional kitchen scraps and some nice alfalfa hay and they pay me in a regular stream of (super delicious) little eggs!
My neighbor and I help each other out with our chickens, which is fantastic.
I never intended to get into bantams, but I did, and now I have no interest in larger birds. I have a very small property and a limited budget, so bantams make sense for me. Their eggs also suit my tastes better than regular large eggs, and last year, while managing all the ninja-hatches, I discovered, while small, bantam cockerels make pretty good eats!
I'm currently learning everything I can about proper care and nutrition. My current goals are to master nutrition and dial-in my maintenance routine and record keeping habits. My future flock goals are to raise healthy backyard birds with a focus on production and friendliness.
I personally don't see my birds as pets, nor do I have that "breeder mentality" but I see them as friends and coworkers.
So, my birds are mostly mixes of Cochin and red breasted old English game. Some are silkie/americauna/Cochin. My top rooster (the marshmallow) is a curious, super chill buff orpington. My senior hen is tiny, but at her peak she gives me five lovely eggs a week. One of her daughters just started laying and she's already laying 4 perfect eggs/week.
Thus Saturday my "test batch" from my senior hen will be hatching out. This will be the first time I specifically chose eggs for hatching so I'm terribly excited to see these chicks. I'm taking TONS of notes!
Lets see if I can include a pic of my pair.
I'm hoping others here also enjoy bantams for their eggs and table qualities and I'm not just plain crazy!
Fast forward two years and now I'm catering to the whims of 8 hens, one golden marshmallow (we think it's a rooster cuz it crows at 4:30am every single day), and about 18 lil' peepers ranging in age from 3 to 8 weeks.
So far it's not a bad deal. I make them food balls out of moistened mash, a little scratch feed, and just a dash of molasses and ACV. I top them off with the occasional kitchen scraps and some nice alfalfa hay and they pay me in a regular stream of (super delicious) little eggs!
My neighbor and I help each other out with our chickens, which is fantastic.
I never intended to get into bantams, but I did, and now I have no interest in larger birds. I have a very small property and a limited budget, so bantams make sense for me. Their eggs also suit my tastes better than regular large eggs, and last year, while managing all the ninja-hatches, I discovered, while small, bantam cockerels make pretty good eats!
I'm currently learning everything I can about proper care and nutrition. My current goals are to master nutrition and dial-in my maintenance routine and record keeping habits. My future flock goals are to raise healthy backyard birds with a focus on production and friendliness.
I personally don't see my birds as pets, nor do I have that "breeder mentality" but I see them as friends and coworkers.
So, my birds are mostly mixes of Cochin and red breasted old English game. Some are silkie/americauna/Cochin. My top rooster (the marshmallow) is a curious, super chill buff orpington. My senior hen is tiny, but at her peak she gives me five lovely eggs a week. One of her daughters just started laying and she's already laying 4 perfect eggs/week.
Thus Saturday my "test batch" from my senior hen will be hatching out. This will be the first time I specifically chose eggs for hatching so I'm terribly excited to see these chicks. I'm taking TONS of notes!
Lets see if I can include a pic of my pair.
I'm hoping others here also enjoy bantams for their eggs and table qualities and I'm not just plain crazy!
