Choosing Bantams

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Sorry to bother you with all the questions, but does anyone know about Old English Game Bantams, Faverolles and Wyandottes?
 
I promise that this will be one of the last questions that I will ask on this post, are bantams the quietest chickens?
 
DaisyMilo said:
Thanks for everyone's help. One more thing, how do I keep their feathering clean?
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Hey :)

Unless they get really muddy or have a wound that needs cleaning etc; I have never had to bath any of my gals.

They keep their own feathers clean by preening and with dust baths, which also help keep down the lice population. My White Silkie will have a dust bath and be nearly black by the end of it but the next day, white as ever.

DaisyMilo said:
Ok, just another quick question, since I have never had chickens before(and because they don't break the bank as much!) could I get the chickens at 10months to 1year+? And how do I introduce 2 different breeds of chickens together(bantams)?
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OK, this one is a little tricky and I am not an expert by any means but I can maybe help with some personal experience. When I got my first two bantams, they were in separate pens at the feed store but they got popped into the same box and when they got home they were fine, no fighting.

I believe this was because they did not have an existing pecking order. However, when I introduce a new chicken now (not often); not only for quarantine reasons but also for their own protection, I keep them separate for a couple of weeks and then gradually introduce them, wire dividers etc. This is because there is an established pecking order and my matriarch would not take kindly to having a new gal thrown into the mix without warning.

Having said that, when I just had two and sadly lost one, the remaining gal was very lonely so I went out and bought her a friend, threw caution to the wind with quarantine etc and popped them in together after keeping them separated by wire for the day. I think the fact that she had company far outweighed any angst and after a few gentle 'I am the boss' pecks, they were fine.

It all depends on their chickenality.

DaisyMilo said:
Sorry to bother you with all the questions, but does anyone know about Old English Game Bantams, Faverolles and Wyandottes?
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Can't help you there, sorry.

DaisyMilo said:
I promise that this will be one of the last questions that I will ask on this post, are bantams the quietest chickens?
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Ask as many questions as you need to, we all had to start at the beginning. Lots and lots of very helpful people in BYC. While I am more than happy to help where I can, it is good to get others opinions also by searching the threads, someone may have already asked that question. You could also try the Learning Centre https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

In answer to your are they quieter question ... NO! lol

Some may be quieter than others but these little chickens can make as much noise as big chickens. My Silkie does great Peacock impersonations!

Luckily my neighbours have mentioned they like when the girls sing the egg song and they definitely do not mind the free half a dozen eggs I give them now and then
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DaisyMilo said:
Sorry to bother you with all the questions, but does anyone know about Old English Game Bantams, Faverolles and Wyandottes?
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Teila did a good job on answering your other questions, so I'll answer this one. If you're looking for a docile breed, I wouldn't recommend and Game bantams, Old English are otherwise. There's a reason that Game chickens are the breeds used for cock fighting. Wyandottes are very cold hardy, good layers, and generally docile, although I have occasionally had an aggressive one that I had to remove from the flock. Faverolles are the most docile and gentlest of these three breeds. I never had any personally, but a neighbor and close friend of mine raised them and his children made lap pets of them.
 
DaisyMilo said:
Quick question, do you breed and sell bantams?
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Hey again :)

I am not sure if you were asking me that question but I will answer anyway
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I am not a 'breeder' per say. I have my small flock which is made up of gals I purchased at the start and chicks I have kept from hatches .. chicken math strikes again! :)

I am not able to keep roosters here but I have been able to find homes for them (give away).

As I do not have a rooster, if I do have a broody that I want to give fertile eggs to, I purchase them on line. I have two chicks at the moment and a broody sitting on 6 mixed bantam eggs. Sadly, I only have room for one more and Council regulations also state I can only have six. So, I will probably be keeping one from the two I have now (if they are not both roosters) and I will have to find homes for the others. Obviously, if both of the current chicks are roosters, I will be keeping a pullet from the second hatch.

I do not sell my chicks as they are not show stock and I tend to prefer the 'barnyard' mix as you can get some individual colours etc. I am happy for them just to go to what I believe are good homes :)

Knowing that I could not keep them, it was with a heavy heart that I gave my Pekin these eggs but she just refused to be broken! I do have an 'everything for a reason' philosophy and I am also hoping for another Frizzle. So, maybe, these two will be roosters and that Frizzle may just be in the next hatch
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Then, I am done for a while and fingers crossed
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no more broodies! lol
 
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Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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I have never kept bantams. But it looks like you have been given some great advise from the above posters!! So I will just welcome you to our flock!
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

I have kept bantams before but it looks like the posters above have already set you straight.
 

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