Hypothetical Question

[JesWith3]

Hypothetically, you are moving to (or already reside in) a small alotment between a quarter and an eighth of an acre within city limits. You've decided you MUST keep chickens, but bigger, standard breeds will be too much for your space, so you decide to keep bantams (and possibly lighter breeds like Legbars). You love colorful eggs and would love to keep a BYM of bantams, and decide you'll choose 3-4 varieties. You want docile chickens who like to forage, but who also do well in enclosures. Are more cold hardy than not, and they lay a decent amount for a bantam. You aren't supposed to keep roosters, but you're a rebel who will find a way to make it work (hmmm house rooster with special trips outside?). Which 3-4 bantam breeds are you choosing for your backyardstead and why? Asking for a friend

 

[NatJ]

For colorful eggs from bantams, try bantam Easter Eggers. I've had some from several different hatcheries, and they have all been pretty nice.

 

[JesWith3]

For colorful eggs from bantams, try bantam Easter Eggers. I've had some from several different hatcheries, and they have all been pretty nice.

I ordered these from Cackle and not one of them survived despite supplementing with slightly higher heat (I won't have live birds shipped again). Lost one after the other over the course of a few days. I then got some pure Ameraucana (blue wheaten) eggs and ended up with two chicks (probably roosters lol). I just got the most beautiful pinkish beige (almost dark enough to be tan) egg from my chocolate Silkie who is laying for her first time, so, hoping I'll get some miniature olive eggers from her crossed with an Ameraucana bantam or one of my Legbar x Red Pyle OEGB crosses. I'm working hard to create and grow the perfect flock for our little space. I've got two d'Uccle (one Porcelain pullet and one Mille Fleur cockerel), because people say they're really sweet birds with great personality, but I'm hearing they aren't so cold hardy?? Bummer...I'm in Northwestern Pennsylvania (sigh)

 

[NatJ]

I ordered these from Cackle and not one of them survived despite supplementing with slightly higher heat (I won't have live birds shipped again). Lost one after the other over the course of a few days.

I have ordered from a number of hatcheries, and generally had good results. But I think the weather can make a big difference. If it is extra-cold or extra-hot, that is really hard on the chicks. Also, it looks to me like the chicks do better when they are shipped in larger groups (15+) not in small groups, but obviously that does not work well if you can only deal with a small number.

I then got some pure Ameraucana (blue wheaten) eggs and ended up with two chicks (probably roosters lol). I just got the most beautiful pinkish beige (almost dark enough to be tan) egg from my chocolate Silkie who is laying for her first time, so, hoping I'll get some miniature olive eggers from her crossed with an Ameraucana bantam or one of my Legbar x Red Pyle OEGB crosses. I'm working hard to create and grow the perfect flock for our little space. I've got two d'Uccle (one Porcelain pullet and one Mille Fleur cockerel), because people say they're really sweet birds with great personality, but I'm hearing they aren't so cold hardy?? Bummer...I'm in Northwestern Pennsylvania (sigh)

Given what you have now, it does sound like breeding your own will be the way to go. Hopefully it will work well!

 

[NatJ]

I just got the most beautiful pinkish beige (almost dark enough to be tan) egg from my chocolate Silkie who is laying for her first time, so, hoping I'll get some miniature olive eggers from her crossed with an Ameraucana bantam or one of my Legbar x Red Pyle OEGB crosses.

You should be able to get some easter eggers from the cross (blue or green eggs), but you will not get olive eggers (dark green eggs).

 

[JedJackson]

Bantams generally are not docile. They are very active and noisy, and they do not usually lay that many eggs compared to large fowl. So your friend will have to sacrifice some things somewhere to make it work.

Cochins, Silkies and Brahmas can be docile, and Brahmas are good layers for bantams. You should get brown eggs from Cochins and Brahmas, white or cream from Silkies.

If your friend chooses lighter bantam breeds like Easter eggers, a covered run will be necessary to keep them from flying to neighboring yards.

Both Dutch bantams and D'Uccles are said to be reasonable layers, but they are not calm breeds.