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

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Does anyone else struggle with justifying more solely because "they're tiny?"

*snort* YES.

Trying to figure out how much room I need in an OEGB coop because they're just so smol and irresistible, and somehow my plans for them keep multiplying...

I'm also trying to come up with reasonable justification to get Modern Game bantams now, too. Because. I mean. Those legs.

Going to shows and seeing so many bantam breeds in person has not exactly been a wise idea.




Love those OEGBs of yours, too. Those Crele x SDWs are too pretty! You're giving me more ideas over here...

 

[Alexandra33]

*snort* YES.

Trying to figure out how much room I need in an OEGB coop because they're just so smol and irresistible, and somehow my plans for them keep multiplying...

I'm also trying to come up with reasonable justification to get Modern Game bantams now, too. Because. I mean. Those legs.

View attachment 1942866

Going to shows and seeing so many bantam breeds in person has not exactly been a wise idea.




Love those OEGBs of yours, too. Those Crele x SDWs are too pretty! You're giving me more ideas over here...

Good to know I'm not alone over here. No matter what, I always respond to temptation with, "Hey, I have space for these!"
What colors of OEGB are you drooling over? Uh oh, coop plans. Scary place to be.

Get some. You need them. Those legs are reason enough!

Awww, thanks! They were a surprise, hatched in the coop ceiling. Good, good....I love being an enabler!

~Alex

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Good to know I'm not alone over here. No matter what, I always respond to temptation with, "Hey, I have space for these!"
What colors of OEGB are you drooling over? Uh oh, coop plans. Scary place to be.

Get some. You need them. Those legs are reason enough!

Awww, thanks! They were a surprise, hatched in the coop ceiling. Good, good....I love being an enabler!

~Alex

I have long had a love for Silver Duckwing in its many forms. Just a gorgeous color with a lot of potential. Fawn Silver Duckwing was my first OEGB variety love.

I started with a pair of Fawn Silver Duckwings last year and hatched from them in the spring.

Then I told myself, 'I need just regular Silver Duckwings to cross into my Fawns. For, err, genetic diversity. Yeah.' I haven't yet gotten my hands on any, but there have been a few tempting times at the feed store with tiny bitties fresh out of the box...

Now I've seen Blue Silver Duckwing. Oh, what a beautiful variety! I must have!

However, Blue SDW is pretty hard to find. The good news is, there are varieties that I could use to cross into the Fawn SDWs to make both Blue and Platinum Silver Duckwings. Blue Golden Duckwing would be the easiest to use for that result, but that one's also fairly uncommon. Blue Red could also work, it would just take a bit more time to breed away from mahogany. So now I'm up to... I need Blue Reds and/or Blue Golden Duckwings, and regular Silver Duckwings. For genetic diversity, of course.

See how it snowballs? Eventually, I'll need like a dozen varieties just to cross and see what happens. How am I supposed to build a coop big enough?


I'm going to the Ohio Nationals this year, at this point mostly in the hopes I run across a nice pair of one of those varieties for sale. We'll see if I get away without some Moderns, too.

I wish I could be surprised at chicks hatching in the ceiling... These birds will brood anywhere, won't they?

 

[Alexandra33]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo , I'm reeling at your wonderfully detailed reply! So many genetics and color varieties involved! Indeed, there is much diversity. And beautiful birds as a result. Blue SDWs, wow. Depending on how close you are to Ohio, I know where you can get some stunning Blue Reds. My little ladies from this hatchery are gorgeous.

Are you planning on breeding solely for personal enjoyment? Or will you be selling these lovely chicks?

Sadly, the coop plans must expand.

If some of those long-legged beauties end up in your possession, you must share pictures.

Anywhere!

~Alex

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

Depending on how close you are to Ohio, I know where you can get some stunning Blue Reds.

I'm in northeast Indiana, juuust on the other side of Fort Wayne from the Ohio border. I've made a few trips over to Meyer Hatchery, so if it's any nearer than that, I'm set.


As for breeding for all these colors, mostly it's for my own enjoyment. I like pretty birds, and pretty, friendly birds like the OEGBs are a bonus. There are some that I own that I would like to be able to sell, like my silkie-feathered Cochin bantams, mostly because I'm terrified that I'll never find them again should something happen to my birds if I don't get some stock out there to other people. My flock is not NPIP certified or disease tested, though, so I'm not sure how I feel about selling birds without knowing for sure if I'll be passing things on to others. I have looked into getting Tek-Trol egg wash for before incubating as a means of preventing disease transference through the egg, so it could be a possibility. Maybe some day.

Yes, the coop must expand. Too bad I don't have the funds to build a barn yet. Should some Moderns accidentally sneak their way into the car on the way out of the Nationals, there will for sure be pictures!

 

[chickens really]

Just a few more of Lancelot, my evil, gorgeous brat. I admit, I can't stop staring at him. There was a time I didn't even know bantam Hamburgs existed. They're so itty bitty.

Sorry if I gush too much....it's always been my dream to own a Hamburg roo.
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~Alex

Awesome pictures..

 

[Arbutus Peregrine]

Has any noticed that Bantams are way easier to keep than standard Chicken breeds..?
I definitely see a difference in behaviour and they just mingle around doing their own thing daily..

I've only had my bantams for four months! I have had standard chickens in the past. So far I think Bantams are so much harder because they are fantastic flyers--needing protected runs or bird netting, the cockerels are VERY HARD to find homes for and I haven't had the heart to give them up to someone to eat, and they're INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT to have around because the only thing I want to do is play with them!!! They are the best ever and I'm so glad I got them!!

 

[Arbutus Peregrine]

Absolutely stunning....

ooh I love the OEGB!

 

[Arbutus Peregrine]

Yup! I think it's good I'm taking a break around now. The world seemed to be out to get our chickens for a while. Like, everything bad that could possibly happen to our chickens happened. Flystrike, internal laying, cocci epidemics, hawk attacks, coon attacks, bear attacks(not one, not two, but five stinking times!!!)... Yeah, I think some time to recover is going to be good. :/

yikes, sorry about that! We have crazy huge and aggressive urban rats in Portland. Raccoons that attack during the day...Tons of hawks... coyotes... but no bears attacking so far!

 

[Arbutus Peregrine]

I have 3 Bantam hens.
Charlotte a Gamefowl View attachment 1923609View attachment 1923606 Jane a Frizzle BantamView attachment 1923607And Angelina a Japanese mix bantam View attachment 1923610

so pretty! And I love your natural roosts!