Modern Game Bantams

[LarryTX]

That would be a lot of help and very much appreciated. These moderns are a blast.

 

[Delaneygraces]

@LarryTX
Oh my!! I’m so sorry! I completely forgot to take a video!
I’ll try to get one tonight, but If i happen to not be able to get it taken, then I’ll take it Sunday, as I have a show to go to, and won’t be home until then!

 

[LarryTX]

Thanks. I’ll be watching for it and surely many others can learn from your post.

 

[SarahGfa]

Strange question, but, what do modern game bantams sound like? I have only one MGB hen, she used to quack like a duck. But then she got sick (possibly Marek's) and then recovered and now she only makes a high-pitched whine like a dog.
I eventually want to get more MGBs if I can find them around here and am wondering what a flock would sound like.

Also, is their average life expectancy the same as other chickens?

 

[Delaneygraces]

Thanks. I’ll be watching for it and surely many others can learn from your post.

My oh my look how late I am. Long story short, I left my phone in the hotel at the chicken show I went to a week or so ago, and therefore couldn’t get a video. But thankfully I got it back, so I will definitely flirt it tonight, if my babies aren’t too cold to stand. It snowed!! In October! Can you believe it?

Strange question, but, what do modern game bantams sound like? I have only one MGB hen, she used to quack like a duck. But then she got sick (possibly Marek's) and then recovered and now she only makes a high-pitched whine like a dog.
I eventually want to get more MGBs if I can find them around here and am wondering what a flock would sound like.

Also, is their average life expectancy the same as other chickens?

Hello! For sound, I think it mostly depends on the bird. Most hens/pullets will make a loud chirping/quacking sound, I can audio record my flock tonight at feeding time when they are most vocal if you’d like. For small birds, they sure can make a racket.
I do have one rooster who has a permanent rattle, (thankfully not a contagious one)that makes him kinda croak/chirp like a frog, and another hen who kinda squeaks, or chirps quietly.

I do believe that if they are kept in a warm, healthy environment, they can a similar life expectancy as standard birds, although it is more common for their life span to be shorter, about 7-15 years, all dependent on health and environment.Although, some birds do develop issues, such as stradel leg, or other issues.
Let me know if I have answered all your questions!

 

[SarahGfa]

I do believe that if they are kept in a warm, healthy environment, they can a similar life expectancy as standard birds, although it is more common for their life span to be shorter, about 7-15 years, all dependent on health and environment.Although, some birds do develop issues, such as stradel leg, or other issues.
Let me know if I have answered all your questions!

Thank you for responding! They are such cool birds and I would love to add a group of them to my flock. Do you think they are appropriate for young kids? They seem so delicate, especially as babies.

 

[Delaneygraces]

Thank you for responding! They are such cool birds and I would love to add a group of them to my flock. Do you think they are appropriate for young kids? They seem so delicate, especially as babies.

Yes, I’d definitely recommend them for kids! They are very calm, friendly, and very tame. Most will walk right up to you! Although some roosters do get protective/mean with age, and also some become mean during molt. If you do have any little roosters, dorm handle them much as cockerels, as in my experience the most handled boys always become the wildest, and run away from me. Those I ignore/don’t handle as much, are always much more friendly as they age.
I got busy, and won’t be home until later, so my birds may not be as vocal. If they aren’t, I’ll try to get a audio in the morning before I turn them loose!

 

[SarahGfa]

Yes, I’d definitely recommend them for kids! They are very calm, friendly, and very tame. Most will walk right up to you!

Great! I guess my question is whether kids can handle taking care of them. Like you said they can develop stradel leg, so will they need special care?

 

[Delaneygraces]

Great! I guess my question is whether kids can handle taking care of them. Like you said they can develop stradel leg, so will they need special care?

I think kids are totally capable of taking care of them. They don’t require much food, I feed 1/3 a cup (kitchen measuring cups) of food a day, and fresh water. The only thing they may not being able to do, is if your birds stay in pens, which I recommend a smaller space with enclosed walls for the winter, then they may need help cleaning those pens, as even for me (though I have 12 individual pens to clean)it is very time consuming.
I have a 4 year old birchen who has stradel leg. She is still a little young for it, but I talked to her original breeder/owner who has hundreds of quality moderns and shows them, and does amazing. Apparently, she had been shown a lot, and has done well, but with all the training to pose, she had started squatting some, and that developed into stradel leg. So, as I said earlier, it depends completely on care and lifestyle of the bird, on when they get it, and how to care for it. Personally, for my bird, she doesn’t require extra care, I just refrain from posing her. I wouldn’t keep a stradel leg bird penned up all the time though, they need to be able to stretch and run around.

 

[SarahGfa]

I think kids are totally capable of taking care of them. They don’t require much food, I feed 1/3 a cup (kitchen measuring cups) of food a day, and fresh water. The only thing they may not being able to do, is if your birds stay in pens, which I recommend a smaller space with enclosed walls for the winter, then they may need help cleaning those pens, as even for me (though I have 12 individual pens to clean)it is very time consuming.

Great thanks! Do they need a heater in the winter?