Do you prefer bantams or standard size?

[BantyChooks]

I second @lazy gardener on "production hybrids." My first girls were unwanted 2 year olds and I had no idea. Lost most of them within 2 years to reproductive issues. I now get duel purpose birds. Good egg layers and could be eaten. (Mine will never be dinner)

I third that. Useless birds.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I third that. Useless birds.

I felt terrible there was nothing I could do for them. I'm fine with fewer eggs per year but more eggs over a healthy lifetime.

 

[Folly's place]

Both, for different reasons. I started with Belgian d'Uccles and Silkies, and fell in love with the Belgians. After many years, and many breeds of big and small birds, I have standards of several breeds (favoring Chanteclers) and both Belgian d'Uccles and EE bantams. Big eggs, little eggs, multicolored. What's not to like?
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Totally agree about the production reds of any sort! Mary

 

[BantyChooks]

I felt terrible there was nothing I could do for them. I'm fine with fewer eggs per year but more eggs over a healthy lifetime.

Same here, seems rather wasteful to only have a year of production.

 

[Nimueh Alene]

I have both. And love them for different reasons. Bantams less feed, good broody hen (all the time) fabulous personality. Large fowl eggs, personality.
Have salmon Faverolles, Easter egger and mixed bantams.
Faverolles lay small eggs
Easter eggers large eggs
Bantams same size eggs as the Faverolles.
My OEG bantam rooster Hastings is the love of my life. Lol

 

[SilkiesInSuburb]

I love bantams. They're easier for showmanship, for one thing, and I just love little animals. Our silkies are by far our favorites. And, while I'm probably alone on this, I think it's actually kind of cute when our silkies go broody. They don't peck and they're just so funny and adorable. Bu anyway, i do prefer bantam breeds.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Oh FUN!

I think it depends on ones goals.
LF.... Large eggs, great personalities, pretty colors all these things are true.
Some breeds are wonderfully broody and make great moms.

Then there are the meat capabilities if one is looking to harvest their birds.

Bantams....
Super cute, low feed consumption, pretty colors, eggs are small and they would not yield much meat but most lean toward being broody and make good moms.

Personally I like my big girls but I adore my bantam Cochin's.

Nothing beats watching hubby laugh his butt off when they come bounding across the yard for snacks.