Breed help

[Quail27]

I am looking to get a few chickens, but I need help with deciding on a breed.

I know I'm wanting a bantam breed.
In fact, I would like a VERY small breed (small for even bantams).
I want a breed that is a prolific layer.
I want a breed that isn't going to cost me a fortune because of rarity.

Please give me some suggestions, and if it's possible, suggestions on where to purchase them online.

Thank you.

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

Serama is a very small bantam, and there are many breeders on the forum (or one that posts ALOT

)

For the prolific layer do you want White or Brown eggs, or both? this will help narrow it down.

 

[Mahonri]

How about miniature leghorns?

Do a search on here for them... southern AZ.

 

[Quail27]

I like brown eggs better, but I have no problem with white eggs.
Aren't Serema's expensive? I'm not sure where to get them, but I remember looking and seeing some high prices.

 

[ella]

Old English Game Bantams are tiny but pretty common so not too expensive. They come in just about every color imaginable so I'm sure you could fine one you like.

I don't know how well they lay though.

 

[Quail27]

do you know the mature weight of an old english game bantum, or a photo that shows one being held so I can get an idea of their size?

 

[ella]

Here's an article with some good pics. http://www.salisburypost.com/Area/110208-bantam-chicken-show-at-fairground

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

Here is a full grown Serama rooster next to a Robot Chicken DVD. He's a little camera shy and not standing up or posing...He is like, WHY am I in this room on this precarious ledge?!

Here is more of what they are suppose to look like. This is not one of my best though. I just sold this guy for 15.00-20.00 to another breeder. And he was a nice small B class.

Here is one next to a young Ameraucana rooster...

You can find affordable Seramas if you look.
Its the shipping that gets you. Maybe you could find someone local.
Many breeders would love to educate you and set you up myself included!
It just depends on if you want them as pets or if you want ones that are going to breed and produce Serama qualities.
A lot of Serama breeders get ragged on for selling the pet quality (cull) birds though, because people breed them, without regard to the "standard" (they are trying to get ABA approved) and then try to sell the junk as Seramas and then everyone who gets those thinks they have expensive Seramas and sells more junk without breeding for type.

 

[Quail27]

that is PERFECT sized.

So, can old english game bantums be used as layers (of small eggs of course), and to eat (not a lot of meat, obviously, I'm thinking comparable to quail?)

See, I have very little space, but I want a tiny chicken that can make me feel like I'm still homesteading in a way

I haven't decided if I'm going with quail or bantams, but I do like the look of these old english game bantams.

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

I dont have my record book on hand, but maybe you can see his weight in the picture?

I think it was like 412 grams or something....