"Making" Bantams?

[ninjapoodles]

I know how miniature poodles were developed,

and I'm just wondering if it's the same with chickens.

If established Bantam stock for a certain breed isn't available, can anyone with LF stock just begin selecting for smaller individuals, and keep culling and whittling at it until they have the correct-sized stock that breeds true?

I don't have any banties (yet--there are some frizzled banties from DDD in the incubator right now, yay), but was just curious about this.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I'm not 100% sure but I'd guess inbreeding (line-breeding), selectively breeding smaller individuals to one another, and perhaps introducing established (known) bantam breeds to down-size & then breeding back for type? I'm not sure...

Most breeds are available in miniature form already--which breed(s) were you curious about?

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
Oh, none. Just curious in general! I don't have any plans for creating mini-me's, but was wondering how it's done.

 

[monarc23]

"mini-mes"

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
Oh, none. Just curious in general! I don't have any plans for creating mini-me's, but was wondering how it's done.

Oh okay.

I'm loving my banties more & more...they eat less, require less room and most of them are pretty funny to watch!

 

[ninjapoodles]

I'm starting to understand why people love them so--I'm getting the appeal of an "economy size" chicken!

 

[dixiechick]

My kids are participating in the ABA APA Youth Program and from they have researched, I don't think anyone knows exactly how bantams came about...they are believed to derive from Asia...Not all LF have a bantam counterpart, but all bantams DO have an LF counterpart.

The definition of bantam is a bird that is 1/4 to 1/5 the size of the LF, with disproportionately larger heads, wings, and feather size...so they are not exact replicas of the LF standards.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Quote:
Interesting! That's way different from my miniature poodles (and toys, for that matter), which are supposed to be IDENTICAL in every way to full-size standards.

 

[playswithfowl]

Some bantams don't have a LF counterpart like Japanese, Sebrights, Antwerps and a few others, they are true bantams.

 

[jossanne]

Quote:
Not all bantams have a LF counterpart. This is from http://www.smallholder.co.uk/news/1746975.what_is_a_true_bantam/

"I WOULD like to start by clarifying the term 'True bantam'; the definition of which is that they have no large counterpart of the same breed. Breeds that exist in both large and small versions are called 'Miniature Fowl', unfortunately many people still refer to them as Bantams. Examples of these breeds are Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes, etc. whereupon True bantams are Pekins, Nankins, Japanese and Belgians. Also two that we are covering this month; Dutch and Rosecomb."