Bantams that are Good/Great Layers

[Egg_newton]

I have to move to a much smaller house and yard and am trading in my LF for bantams. I am wanting/needing birds that are docile and lay well. So far I have Silkies and want to get Faverolles and Ameraucanas. Any other breed suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

Sebrights are good layers!

 

[chiclet]

My japanese bantam is my best layer, and very friendly...

 

[RainbowBirds_of_a_Feather]

Aloha,

My friend had Miniature/Bantam versions of his large fowl. He had miniature/bantam Leghorns, Barred Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and Marans ( I think). He said that they laid well for two years, as a general group. But as an individual breed he didn't really monitor that. But he liked the compact size and food consumption because they were smaller birds.

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
Bantams were not bred for egg laying numbers.

I raised Bantam Dominiques, Barred Rocks, RIR,s Lakenvenders and true Ameraucanas for 2 years to see if it is worth to keep them for eggs.

In my experience it is not worth to keep bantams for eggs. They will lay 5 to 6 eggs a week in spring for 3 to 4 weeks then take a break, when the summer heat hits , they quit. In fall when the day gets shorter, they slow down and in November/December they quit even here in Central Fl where day never gets shorter than about 10 hrs.

Worse layers of mine - Ameraucanas. Generally speaking no bantam breed will lay more than 150 eggs a year, and many will lay less than 100.

So I consider my Bantams for eggs experiment a failure, I am switching to few standard size hens this Spring.

So much for my "chicken activity" future plans. LOL

 

[Egg_newton]

It has to be banties. I don't need a ton of eggs just a enough. And I need to have chickens. I already got rid of my big girls and its killing me to not see them running around the yard.

 

[adkins90]

Bantam Orpingtons are good layers, at least in my experience.