There are laying type bantams, that are miniature versions of the big ones. The personalities are similar, and my chubby little orpington bantams don't realy fly at all. You can just walk over and pick them up. Also bantams don't come sexed, so you have to buy and raise extas( like get 8 to keep 4), and get rid of the roosters one way or another (hens are always easy to get rid of). That makes it a little harder to establish a nice backyard flock. With full size you can buy just pullets.
You CAN take the extras to auction though. Plan on it. It is very hard to get rid of roosters. Also beware of people pushing THEIR roosters off on you as hens.
If you just need a few, and realy don't want to deal with roosters you can buy started pullets or young hens (especially in the fall) from breeders that show. I just did that for 2 clean faced bantam auracanas. I paid quite a bit but they are very nice birds, with good bloodlines, just not quite up to par for the ring. I have seen some very nice bantam rhode island reds, barred rocks, wyandottes, and new hampshires for sale lately but they do not go cheap.
