Now considering bantams , HELP, I don't have a clue about them.

[mom2jedi]

Okay, so we possibly found the house we're going to buy. We put an offer in yesterday now we're just waiting to hear back about it. The backyard while big enough to have a small kidney shaped pool, has some green but not a lot. It's about 60 - 70% pool and the rest grass. (Sorry, no pictures yet.) Given the size of the grass area and the fact that smaller birds might allow me to have a few more than I could with large ones could you guys answer some bantam questions for me?

My hubby would like 4-5 eggs per bird each week which is why I'm considering the really good layers. I don't think he would mind smaller eggs so much if the quantity is still high. I would need them to be heat hardy and not so much cold hardy. San Diego winters are pretty mild but the summers lately have been kinda brutal.

1. Of these breeds, which ones for sure come in bantam size? My Pet Chicken is out of stock so I can't tell right now.

Black Australorp
Barred Rock (I know these do.)
RIR
Wyandotte any color
Delaware
Black Star
Easter Egger

2. I know that bantams lay smaller eggs but how much smaller and do they lay as frequently as their large counterparts? For example, MPC claims BS and RIR lay 5/wk while the rest 4/wk, does that hold true for the bantams as well?

3. I know there are quite a few bantam breeds that don't come in standard form. Are there any that would fit what I'm looking for?


4. I've been focusing on standards for long enough I can't remember the coop/run requirements for bantams. Are 4 banties the equivalent of 1 standard? I read that yesterday on another post. If that's true, does that count only for the amount of foraging they do or for housing as well?

Okay, I think that'll do for now. Any help you can offer is much appreciated.

 

[silkieluvr]

Black Australorp- I don't think they come in bantam

Barred Rock (I know these do.)- yep, they come in bantam and I actually breed them. They lay really well and have such cute personalities, I love bantam rocks! Mine lay very well! I've had weeks were my hens each gave me an egg a day so 7 per hen, but I think they average about 4-6 a week

RIR- these come in bantams, though I've never had any. I have heard somepeople complain that the LF rirs can be aggresive with other chickens.

Wyandotte any color- They come in bantam, but from my understanding are more of a show/ ornamental breed because they don't lay all that well.

Delaware- Come in bantam, but I don't know much about them.

Black Star-Not sure

Easter Egger- come in bantam and I love EE's! They lay pretty well and have beautiful green and blue eggs. Mine lay about 4 or 5 each per week, but they have pretty good sized eggs.

Of all these breeds, I would reccomend bantam rocks or EE's. They're my two faorites lol

 

[mom2jedi]

Thanks so much!!! I was worried the EE wouldn't be bantams! So, how much smaller do you think your bantams' eggs are compared to what you would get at the grocery store? Would they be mediums do you think? I thought someone said 1 1/2 bantam eggs was the same as 1 large standard egg. Does that sound right?

 

[a2ms4chickens]

I have 2 bantam RIR hens. They do rule the roost, but they are not agressive, just at the top of the pecking order.

The only problem I am having is once they went broody, they decided they kinda liked it. One just stopped being broody, again, this week. Mine are purebred, so the broodiness has not been bred out of them.

They are very sweet and make good mamas.

Good luck on your decision!

 

[jakmallex]

My hen is a bantam size black frizzle/black australorp mix and she lays about an egg a day. Every now and then she will miss 1 day, but not very often. Here's a picture of one of her bantam sized eggs beside a large egg from the grocery store. Sorry the photo is not in focus, I have never been able to take a sharp picture with my boyfriend's point and shoot camera. At least you can get an idea on the size difference.

I have bantam EEs too, but they haven't started laying yet. I absolutely love them and would definitely recommend them.

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
Thanks for the picture, that helps alot! Where did you get your bantams?

Anyone else have suggestions on good laying banties?

 

[jakmallex]

My mixes came from a friend. My EEs came from Ideal Hatchery. I also got white silkies from them.

 

[greenthumb89]

if your worried about the number of eggs you could try leghorns...they come in different colors and the lay REALLY well. or OEG the eggs are smaller but they are amazingly funny to watch. and neither are heavy breeds so dont really have to worry about overheating

 

[AussieSharon]

I have Bantam White Leghorns. The girls are sweet and so is the roo. They are egg laying machines and for such a little chicken it amazes me how big the egg is.

 

[Chicabee19]

Are the bantam Leghorns skittish, flighty at all?