Bantam chickens.. a friendly discussion about all pure and mixed breeds.

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo Beautiful birds

Due to hurting my shoulder muscle, considering converting to a bantam breed. It's between Seramas or Japanese Bantams. Would prefer the Quail Antwerps Belgian but having to order a minimum plus shipping won't be cost effective for me.

Not having to purchase 50# bags of feed & converting my 3 x 8 x 2 brooder to their coop, have a mobile run (5 x 8) for them to use during good weather, or just spend time in the patio. My Chicken House 8 x 12 x 7 is occupied by 4 Whitings are this time but maintenance is hard with my shoulder, and it doesn't seem to be getting better.

Thank you! I love them.

So sorry about your injury! Bantams are definitely fun and, depending on the breed, pretty low-maintenance compared to their large fowl counterparts. I don't think you could go wrong with either choice, though my personal preference between the two would be Seramas, just because they're so colorful, and super tiny. Japanese are pretty, but more standardized by color, so they'd be fairly uniform in appearance unless you went for an assortment of varieties. Also, if I understand correctly, they carry a lethal gene (creeper, I think is what it's called, which gives them their super short legs) so if you did any breeding you'd have to be aware of that and how it functions. Of course, all of that's pretty irrelevant if you're just looking for eggs and entertainment.

I almost commented on both of those breeds not being very cold-hardy, and then I noticed your location. I'm guessing that's not as much of a concern there.

My Birds yesterday ..Noodles too..

Beautiful birds!

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Some of my bantams yesterday! Mostly OEGBs because they're so small and I'm head over heels for them. One of my large fowl Black Copper Marans hens even posed nicely next to Vega, one of the OEGB pullets, so I could show just how tiny they are

Vega really stole the show yesterday... She's just so cute! She was being extra cuddly.



Achernar, meanwhile, hit me with with the over-the-shoulder pose Isn't he handsome?




And lastly, a couple pics of my 'ugly' Silkies. This is Winter (the rooster) and Marka:



This one just made me laugh. The wind caught one of Winter's sickles and it was waving around like crazy:

 

[chickens really]

Some of my bantams yesterday! Mostly OEGBs because they're so small and I'm head over heels for them. One of my large fowl Black Copper Marans hens even posed nicely next to Vega, one of the OEGB pullets, so I could show just how tiny they are

View attachment 1975059

Vega really stole the show yesterday... She's just so cute! She was being extra cuddly.

View attachment 1975061 View attachment 1975063 View attachment 1975060

Achernar, meanwhile, hit me with with the over-the-shoulder pose Isn't he handsome?

View attachment 1975057


And lastly, a couple pics of my 'ugly' Silkies. This is Winter (the rooster) and Marka:

View attachment 1975066 View attachment 1975058

This one just made me laugh. The wind caught one of Winter's sickles and it was waving around like crazy:

View attachment 1975065

Very nice Birds...

 

[Elliebeans]

Here's my little 10 week old Japanese Bantam Susie Q, raised her since she hatched. She's a super sweet little girl.

 

[chickens really]

Here's my little 10 week old Japanese Bantam Susie Q, raised her since she hatched. She's a super sweet little girl.

She is adorable..

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

 

[chickens really]

View attachment 1978749 View attachment 1978750

Very pretty Birds...

 

[Arbutus Peregrine]

Looks like I have a TON to catch up on! I've only been able to peek at the site here and there while standing in lines, etc.! How sad! Hope everyone is doing great

I have BIG BIG NEWS!
Actually, it's rather tiny...

My 22 weeks and 3 days old babies laid their first eggs today!!!!
My hunch is that they are both Blue Rosecomb eggs, as two of my three Rosecombs have been sporting VERY red combs lately!!

One of the girls--Ruth--looked exhausted this afternoon, too! She was hanging out mostly by the ramp to the coop and her little eyes would betray her and shut. I think she must have worked so hard!!!

I think the other one who worked extra hard today was my top snuggler, Dora! She is always cuddly and wanting hugs, but maybe also because of getting ready for the work!

I know it won't be news for any of you... but I was so excited, I thought I'd share. My cat Malcolm was also VERY proud! I had to give lots of extra treats and tell the entire flock how proud I was. One of the eggs was actually in the nest box, too! Way to go! Hole in one!

I didn't think we would see eggs until Spring. Here are the eggs--one in the nest box and one in a corner of the coop. (Also in the nest box is a large fake brown egg!)

 

[chickens really]

Looks like I have a TON to catch up on! I've only been able to peek at the site here and there while standing in lines, etc.! How sad! Hope everyone is doing great

I have BIG BIG NEWS!
Actually, it's rather tiny...

My 22 weeks and 3 days old babies laid their first eggs today!!!!
My hunch is that they are both Blue Rosecomb eggs, as two of my three Rosecombs have been sporting VERY red combs lately!!

One of the girls--Ruth--looked exhausted this afternoon, too! She was hanging out mostly by the ramp to the coop and her little eyes would betray her and shut. I think she must have worked so hard!!!

I think the other one who worked extra hard today was my top snuggler, Dora! She is always cuddly and wanting hugs, but maybe also because of getting ready for the work!

I know it won't be news for any of you... but I was so excited, I thought I'd share. My cat Malcolm was also VERY proud! I had to give lots of extra treats and tell the entire flock how proud I was. One of the eggs was actually in the nest box, too! Way to go! Hole in one!

I didn't think we would see eggs until Spring. Here are the eggs--one in the nest box and one in a corner of the coop. (Also in the nest box is a large fake brown egg!)

....Awwww!
So exciting...

 

[Arbutus Peregrine]

Here is Malcolm admiring the eggs. I'm holding them with a store-bought egg.

Then I put them in the carton with my store-bought eggs!

Last photos are my #1 suspects, Ruth & Dora. Dora is the one facing the camera and Ruth is the one who looks ready for a nap!