Bantam Maturity Question

[ChickenChick46]

So I've read that bantam chicks mature slower than standard breeds. Does this mean feathering in to gender specific patterns, comb/wattles growth and color, or both?

Mine are 3 weeks old now, and since one is a Sebright, short of it laying an egg or crowing, I guess I won't really know what it is. The others, maybe I'm just a few weeks out?

Anyone want to take some guesses for fun? The weather isn't great today, so I've got my chicks having some play time inside on beach towels so please excuse the mess, lol.

 

[Folly's place]

Cute chicks!
Our bantams (EES, d'Uccles, Old English Games, and Brahmas, matured at similar rates or slightly faster than our standard birds.
Your third chick, the blue/ gray bird, looks like a cockerel, it's that red comb. The others, don't know.
Mary

 

[ChickenChick46]

Cute chicks!
Our bantams (EES, d'Uccles, Old English Games, and Brahmas, matured at similar rates or slightly faster than our standard birds.
Your third chick, the blue/ gray bird, looks like a cockerel, it's that red comb. The others, don't know.
Mary

I thought cockerel for that one too. The comb got me as well. I sure hope he stays friendly. If it is in fact a he, his name will be Gilbert. If he's a she somehow, Anne.

Thank you so much! I've gotten a lot of input from folks here, as these are my very first chicks. I read up and learned so much on caring for chicks, coops/runs, all that good stuff. And nothing on IDing breeds, ha! So I was at a loss when I got these.

With lots of help from folks here, I think these are a cochin (possibly red), an OEGB, a d'Uccle, and the Sebright.

 

[redinator]

I thought cockerel for that one too. The comb got me as well. I sure hope he stays friendly. If it is in fact a he, his name will be Gilbert. If he's a she somehow, Anne.

Thank you so much! I've gotten a lot of input from folks here, as these are my very first chicks. I read up and learned so much on caring for chicks, coops/runs, all that good stuff. And nothing on IDing breeds, ha! So I was at a loss when I got these.

With lots of help from folks here, I think these are a cochin (possibly red), an OEGB, a d'Uccle, and the Sebright.

I have Self Blue Old English Game Bantam I got in a batch of SR bantams at TSC. He (definitely) is 6 weeks old and half the size of the bantam cochins I got in the same batch. The black-sex links (standards) in the same picture are the same age as the bantams.

 

[redinator]

I have Self Blue Old English Game Bantam I got in a batch of SR bantams at TSC. He (definitely) is 6 weeks old and half the size of the bantam cochins I got in the same batch. The black-sex links (standards) in the same picture are the same age as the bantams.

I just noticed you're Blue (grey) chick has feathered legs, neither of mine have feathered legs, I'm not sure if that means anything or not. These are my first bantams, so I'm guessing on breeds as well, until they feather out more.

 

[MROO]

I haven't noticed a significant difference in growth speed between bantams and standards, but I haven't really raised enough larger fowl to make a good comparison. My BJG's matured very slowly, but that's apparently normal for the breed.
Sebrights present their own special challenge, being hen-feathered, you won't see hackles or ruff feathering in the males. Mine didn't even show a huge comb difference, but I did notice wattles in young males - not huge, but definitely a bit more pronounced than those on the ladies.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I have Self Blue Old English Game Bantam I got in a batch of SR bantams at TSC. He (definitely) is 6 weeks old and half the size of the bantam cochins I got in the same batch. The black-sex links (standards) in the same picture are the same age as the bantams.

They're gorgeous! I have noticed that my OEGB (I'm unsure of its color) is still smaller than the other 3. It's definitely healthy, happy, and growing. But it is the smallest for sure.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I just noticed you're Blue (grey) chick has feathered legs, neither of mine have feathered legs, I'm not sure if that means anything or not. These are my first bantams, so I'm guessing on breeds as well, until they feather out more.

It's got very heavily feathered legs. I didn't realize that when I picked it out, but I did shortly after we got home. I believe it's a d'Uccle (with a ton of help from people here), and I thought maybe porcelain, but now maybe thinking Self blue.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I haven't noticed a significant difference in growth speed between bantams and standards, but I haven't really raised enough larger fowl to make a good comparison. My BJG's matured very slowly, but that's apparently normal for the breed.
Sebrights present their own special challenge, being hen-feathered, you won't see hackles or ruff feathering in the males. Mine didn't even show a huge comb difference, but I did notice wattles in young males - not huge, but definitely a bit more pronounced than those on the ladies.

I'm definitely expecting the Sebright to be my biggest challenge. Attitude wise, it acts like a cockerel. The way it usually stands up so straight and tall, it's very loud, and yesterday, it called attention to a very large beetle crawling towards them during their outside time.

 

[redinator]

They're gorgeous! I have noticed that my OEGB (I'm unsure of its color) is still smaller than the other 3. It's definitely healthy, happy, and growing. But it is the smallest for sure.

I intend to sell some, but I have no idea how I'm gonna part with them, lol.