Barred Rocks Do Not lay white eggs!!

[mikki717]

I like the half point part of the chicken math... but I have a dog problem. My two German Shepherds have decided that chicken is their favorite appetizer, and if a standard can fly over a 7 foot fence, I can just imagine what a Bantam can do! My fence keeps the dogs out, but I am worried about keeping the girls in! I already clip one wing down to the secontary flight feathers, but I lost one of my White leghorns last week. I then clipped the other chickens second wings as well.

The main reason we have chickens is for egg production, so it will be rather hard to justify bantam hens. Most people don't want mini eggs, and it would be a waste of resources for us. I don't show chickens or sell pure bred hatching eggs.

I think I will take better pictures and post them to see if I can get a positive ID.

It does make sense though... NOW... that they hold their wings at a funny angle down. I thought they were just hot!

 

[flgardengirl]

Some of the hatchery bantams you get at feedstores etc. aren't really all that small when they grow up. You might be suprised. I have an oegb male and female pair in my layer pen with 13 (LF)large fowl hens and they are doing just fine. My oegb girl lays me a small white egg almost every day and the male is so cute. He crows but it is only about half as loud as my LF roos. I thought I would probably get rid of mine too when I first found out what they were but they have really grown on me. The girl, especially, wants to be held and cuddled all the time.

ETA: Can you put a tarp or some shade cloth over your run to keep them in? I put shade cloth over all my runs this summer and have them secured with zip ties. This time of year the shade cloth might even be on sale at lowes or home depot. It keeps the hawks out as well.