- Jul 24, 2013
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I've owned and bred Light Brown Dutch bantams for 4 years, I decided to get the breed in 2012 when I was considering which two breeds to focus on breeding and showing well. I remembered seeing a photo of a Dutch bantam in a book that I read years ago, and which I really liked. After some searching, I discovered that there was a Light Brown Dutch Bantam breeder only a few hours from me. I went to take a look at some birds the breeder had for sale and ended up coming home with my first pair of Dutch! I quickly decided that I loved the breed, and with the help of chicken math, I had soon purchased another pair. Three years later, I now have about 10 Light Brown Dutch bantams (I would have more if my coop was larger).
The main thing I do with my Dutch bantams is breed them for show, although a few are more pet-like. I strive to keep improving the quality of my Dutch while having fun exhibiting them at poultry shows and sharing my stock with other breeders. There is plenty of room for improvement, but my Light Brown Dutch have proved to be good quality, consistently getting best of breeds at shows and sometimes going further (Champion of class, Reserve in Show, etc.).
I enjoy many things about Dutch bantams. Firstly, they have great temperaments. Some roosters can get a little "cocky," but a 21-ounce bird attacking you feebly is hardly a threat. The females all enjoy hanging out, eating insects, taking long dust baths, and cramming themselves into the most ridiculous roosting spots. They're small and easy to handle, making them great for youth and adults alike. Due to their excellent, kid-friendly personalities, I've shared my birds with 4-Hers in my area, with good results. I always enjoy helping other breeders raise one of my favorite breeds, the Dutch bantam.
In addition to their personality, I enjoy how easy Dutch bantams are to raise. I vaccinate all of mine for Marek's disease, since the the breed is not very resistant to that terrible virus. Beyond that, though, they're easy keepers. I usually have 90-100% fertility in the eggs I incubate, with nearly every fertile egg hatching. My Dutch have had few problems with mites or other diseases, and I've never seen any cannibalistic or egg eating behavior from them. If I let them, most of my Dutch females would gladly hatch their own eggs, since they go broody several times each year and get very protective of their nests.
Lastly, I enjoy raising Dutch bantams because they are a rare breed that needs to be preserved. There aren't very many breeders in the United States (many more in Europe, where Dutch are often considered the "most perfected"), so it is important that every breeder works hard to keep their Dutch healthy and true to the Standard of Perfection. The purebred Dutch bantam is a beautiful bird to behold, with relatively loose feathers, a round breast, short legs, bold eye, well spread tail, wide feathers, and vibrant color. Unfortunately, many hatcheries are "destroying" the Dutch bantam by crossing in Old English Game. The resulting birds make excellent pets and backyard bantams, but they are sadly not Dutch.
Once you cross Old English Game bantam in, a Dutch line will never be the same--the body type and characteristics of the two breeds, though similar at first glance, are just not compatible. Old English Game influence causes Dutch bantams to be tightly feathered, changes the color pattern, lightens the beak and leg color, reddens the properly white earlobe, and just makes them "gamier" in appearance. If you want purebred Dutch bantams, I strongly recommend buying from a reputable breeder, not a hatchery. Both on BYC and off, I've seen far too many people think they were buying Dutch only to be disappointed when they instead received Old English Game crosses.
Overall, I just love the Dutch bantam breed! I plan to continue selectively breeding my Light Brown Dutch, showing them, and selling quality birds to people who want a great start in this great breed.
Some photos of my birds:
A nice pullet I had a few years ago. Sadly, she died before I got any chicks out of her.
One of my cockerels at a November 2014 show.
A group of little "bumblebees" (as I call active Dutch chicks.)
The main thing I do with my Dutch bantams is breed them for show, although a few are more pet-like. I strive to keep improving the quality of my Dutch while having fun exhibiting them at poultry shows and sharing my stock with other breeders. There is plenty of room for improvement, but my Light Brown Dutch have proved to be good quality, consistently getting best of breeds at shows and sometimes going further (Champion of class, Reserve in Show, etc.).
I enjoy many things about Dutch bantams. Firstly, they have great temperaments. Some roosters can get a little "cocky," but a 21-ounce bird attacking you feebly is hardly a threat. The females all enjoy hanging out, eating insects, taking long dust baths, and cramming themselves into the most ridiculous roosting spots. They're small and easy to handle, making them great for youth and adults alike. Due to their excellent, kid-friendly personalities, I've shared my birds with 4-Hers in my area, with good results. I always enjoy helping other breeders raise one of my favorite breeds, the Dutch bantam.
In addition to their personality, I enjoy how easy Dutch bantams are to raise. I vaccinate all of mine for Marek's disease, since the the breed is not very resistant to that terrible virus. Beyond that, though, they're easy keepers. I usually have 90-100% fertility in the eggs I incubate, with nearly every fertile egg hatching. My Dutch have had few problems with mites or other diseases, and I've never seen any cannibalistic or egg eating behavior from them. If I let them, most of my Dutch females would gladly hatch their own eggs, since they go broody several times each year and get very protective of their nests.
Lastly, I enjoy raising Dutch bantams because they are a rare breed that needs to be preserved. There aren't very many breeders in the United States (many more in Europe, where Dutch are often considered the "most perfected"), so it is important that every breeder works hard to keep their Dutch healthy and true to the Standard of Perfection. The purebred Dutch bantam is a beautiful bird to behold, with relatively loose feathers, a round breast, short legs, bold eye, well spread tail, wide feathers, and vibrant color. Unfortunately, many hatcheries are "destroying" the Dutch bantam by crossing in Old English Game. The resulting birds make excellent pets and backyard bantams, but they are sadly not Dutch.
Once you cross Old English Game bantam in, a Dutch line will never be the same--the body type and characteristics of the two breeds, though similar at first glance, are just not compatible. Old English Game influence causes Dutch bantams to be tightly feathered, changes the color pattern, lightens the beak and leg color, reddens the properly white earlobe, and just makes them "gamier" in appearance. If you want purebred Dutch bantams, I strongly recommend buying from a reputable breeder, not a hatchery. Both on BYC and off, I've seen far too many people think they were buying Dutch only to be disappointed when they instead received Old English Game crosses.
Overall, I just love the Dutch bantam breed! I plan to continue selectively breeding my Light Brown Dutch, showing them, and selling quality birds to people who want a great start in this great breed.
Some photos of my birds:
A nice pullet I had a few years ago. Sadly, she died before I got any chicks out of her.
One of my cockerels at a November 2014 show.
A group of little "bumblebees" (as I call active Dutch chicks.)
I don't have any, but they are definitely a future breed for me and one near the top of my (admittedly quite long...) 'want list'. I saw some in person this past weekend at a show, such beauties! I came really close to breaking my vow of not bringing anything home that day and almost bought a little Cream Light Brown Dutch rooster that was for sale--too bad I have so much self control or I'd be able to share pictures of him. 
And I wanted to add a big x2 about BantamLover21's post--great information for those of us wanting to some day own some of these gorgeous birds!
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