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.

 

[JesWith3]

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.


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

I ordered 5 and received 7 and in the same box were 6 Silkies. I have one remaining pure white Silkie from that order, but it was on the colder side, sadly. Not frigid (above freezing, but definitely cold). I was honestly surprised none were DOA, but they quickly took a turn. I like hatching eggs, but I can't wait til the Silkies take over lol

 

[JesWith3]

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.

Yes, I don't free range. I'm a wing clipper and run coverer (I'm paranoid). I really wish I could keep my big girls, but I've also got 5 Muscovy (this is why less eggs from bantams isn't a deal breaker) and I need to downsize. I love chickens, been raising them for years on different properties, brand new to bantams though. I've had Silkies for coming up on a year and we love them, but I want different breeds and some cute rainbow eggs to share with friends and family.
I'm loving our D'Uccles! They are both so very friendly and curious and LOVE head rubs (especially my porcelain pullet). My Red Pyle X Legbar cross little guys are, so far, very social as well. The Ameraucanas are too young to really tell, but if I had to take a stab in the dark, they are going to be a bit skittish.
I think aside from egg color and bantam size, I'll prioritize social, friendly birds.
I'm not so much concerned about henny noise considering I'm surrounded by many neighbors who don't seem to care whether their neighbors mind incessant, non-stop barking (shrug). I won't be letting a rooster crow, however...we'll reserve that for inside or in the garage turned chicken hotel.

 

[JesWith3]

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).

I knew that, too lol I don't know why I stick all green eggs into the olive category lol I meant (and should have said) green eggers. One of my favorite standard hybrid is the Starlight Green Egger, I've got one now named 'Honey' and she lays the most GIANT near-olive green eggs...it's beautiful! But yes, I just want some creams, tans, pinks, blues, and greens. Just a nice little rainbow

 

[NatJ]

One of my favorite standard hybrid is the Starlight Green Egger, I've got one now named 'Honey' and she lays the most GIANT near-olive green eggs...it's beautiful!

If you want to, you can breed a bantam rooster to a full-sized hen. Chicks will probably grow up to be medium in size. Females from that can be crossed to a bantam rooster, and some of the next generation should be smaller.

Of course you will have bantam-sized chickens faster by just breeding from bantams, but if you enjoy breeding projects and like the traits of your current hens...

I think aside from egg color and bantam size, I'll prioritize social, friendly birds.
I'm not so much concerned about henny noise considering I'm surrounded by many neighbors who don't seem to care whether their neighbors mind incessant, non-stop barking (shrug). I won't be letting a rooster crow, however...we'll reserve that for inside or in the garage turned chicken hotel.

You might think about whether you want extra feathers and fancy traits (crests, feathered feet, muff/beard on the face, sikie or frizzle feathers, extra toes.) Some bantams have them and some bantams do not. Silkie feathers are recessive. If you cross a Silkie with something else, you get chicks with normal feathers. The others are mostly dominant traits, so they tend to show up in a first generation of a cross. If you breed the mixes to each other or to another "normal" type chicken, you will get some without the extra traits.

If you want to avoid broodiness, you can selectively breed among whichever chickens you have (mainly a matter of hatching eggs from the hens that go broody less or not at all, rather than eggs from the ones that go broody most often.) If you like having some broodies, then obviously you do not have to do that.

I assume you know that hatching eggs will give you a bunch of males as well as females. I hope you have a plan to deal with the extras. Bantams are just as edible as any other chicken, if you want to eat the extras. They're just smaller.