Bantams for entire flock?

[dragonjaze]

I have a few questions, and I hope this is the right place to post them.

Don't have chickens yet, or even a space to put them, I'm just making plans for the future. I'm wondering if a bantam breed would make a good small flock for a single person?

I like eggs, but probably wouldn't eat them every day, so having a small flock (say 5 or 6?) of a bantam breed appeals to me. 2 or 3 banty eggs about equal one large egg, correct?

And having a small chicken for eating also sounds nice, so I wouldn't have to be eating chicken for days on end from one bird.

Are there "dual-purpose" bantam breeds?

What say the experts on this idea? Does a small flock of mini-chickens sound silly?

 

[aprophet]

I have 11 seramas 4 are chicks some of the lager seramas the C's and D's lay a small/med sized egg just like a regular chicken they are really sweet little birds the C's and D's are considered culls by most of the serious breeders and are normally a lot less expensive I hope to have 20-30 by summers end

 

[bantyhen'sfriend]

To the contrary, I love the idea. I want to get some bantam cornish just for that purpose. Bantams lay like crazy (in my experience) and bantam cornish can get to be between 2-3lbs or more. I have bantam Plymouth Rocks right now, and I am planning on eating my culled cockerels and using the pullet culls as layers. Bantams eat less, and take up less space, so you can have more per coop (about 2 sq ft per bird).

 

[Katy]

As long as you don't mind having to use 2 eggs for every large egg when you're cooking there's no reason not to only have bantams.

 

[Teach97]

bantams only...that is just silly

BANTAMS RULE

LARGE FOWL DROOL!!

 

[gmendoza]

I have a good friend in Pelion,SC Who has 22 bantam ee hens and 3 ee roos. he gets 10 or so eggs a day. Sometimes more. He doesnt want bigger chickens.

 

[AprilWC]

This is actually my plan. I prefer little bitty chickens. I've been trying to decide which banty would be the best layer for me.

 

[gmendoza]

I did make coops (small ones) for backyard urban chickens. This year I might make some but advertize them as bantam coops.Might be the nitche I need.

 

[homeinspectorman]

They are right about using more banty eggs in your recipes. I have a hand written pie recipe from my Grandmother that called for “pinches” and “bout a hand full” of this and that. Called for four eggs. After the third try with disastrous results I remembered she only had “game” as she called them hens. Used two regular sized eggs the next try and had great success.

 

[gryeyes]

I think an entire flock of bantam chickens would be just adorable. I love my banties. I also love my large fowl.... but there are tons o' folks who only have bantam flocks. Go for it!