How Were Bantam-Sized Chickens Developed?

[BovieVei]

How did bantam chickens start to appear and what causes it?
A mutation?
Or what?
How do you make a bantam-sized chicken?

 

[LarryPQ]

With teeny weeny eggies.

No really, the Chinese have been breeding chickens much, much longer than the Western world. They like things smaller, prettier, and waaaaaay cuter than should be allowed.

 

[LarryPQ]

ANd you make a bantam by taking the smaller hens, and breeding them to smaller roosters. Then you take those offspring and pick the smallest to breed. Do this over and over until you reach the size you want them.

 

[BovieVei]

Oh. Got it. Thanks!