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

[pattypenny]

I keep bantams and I love them.
They eat less and take less room.
The eggs are smaller but two will equel one large egg.
They are broody a lot but you can raise babies and replace the older hens with the young females. I have the Rhode Island reds and they are friendly but very broody.
my hens don't lay ever day. If I just wanted chickens for the eggs I would get a good laying hen and only keep 4 to 6 hens but I like a lot of chickens so the bantam is my choice.
I have never had white leghorn bantams and they might be better laying chickens.

 

[seedcorn]

I have wyandotte bantams and I'd recommend them to anyone. they are very calm, don't fly, lay well and will go broody if you let them keep their eggs.

Another good thing is they come in a lot of different colors.

My dad had bantam leghorns and they weren't flighty like standard leghorns.

If you want decent egg production stay away from cochins and silkies. While they may lay (when not broody) as well as any bantam, they go broody on a rock.

 

[mom2jedi]

Quote:
I'm thinking Brahmas as well after reading another post. What I'm most wondering is if bantams will lay as many as their large fowl counterparts. Of course, that goes for the ones that have them!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I am new to bantams too and getting bantam cochins soon

So exciting!

 

[mom2jedi]

Where are you getting your bantams if not from hatcheries? Do feed stores have them in the spring?

 

[playswithfowl]

I second seedcorn on the wyandottes! I have two wyandotte bantams right now. I LOVE them, they have great personalities lay pretty well and there are tons of color varieties.

 

[greenthumb89]

my friend has the bantam leghorns and the girls will let you come up and pick them up without so much as a cackle. one of these is also the best mother hen that she has, other then the fact the she hardly ever goes broody. she also gets about 6 eggs a week from the one she has in a pen. you can get bantams from hatcheries or you can get some from a breeder that would be your best option, if you werent looking for "the best of the best" and just wanted them for egg laying purposes then that would be your best bet, i got amazing ameraucanas from a breeder that they only reason they are getting rid fo them is that they have crooked toes( not a big deal for the backyard enthusiast) or there was a feather on each wing that had too much black ticking on one of the blues. so just contact breeders and talk to them they will usually sell them for a lower price and you still get a quality bird but if you want better laying birds you actually WANT to get them from a hatchery or from hatchery stock because purebreeds are notorious for laying later then expected.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Ideal poultry just sent me a notice that they are having a sale on assortment of bantams set to ship 9/3.

The cost is 1.50 each for a total of 25 bantams. They are assorted, though, so not sure what you'd get.

I hope this isn't against rules to post this - I've never ordered from Ideal, so I am not trying to boost their sales or anything.

>>>This is from the ad they sent---

We have ducks and bantams we need to ship next Tuesday or Wednesday. Please call us at 254-697- 6677 ext. 5410, 5409, or 5405.

Regular small order charge of $7.00 applies, as does the air mail charge of $.17 per duck or $.12 per bantam. The minimum order is 20 ducks or 25 bantams. This offer expires when we are sold out for the 9-3 hatch.

Order now on our website under advertised specials, place order code DB903in the comment section or call us at 254-697-6677 to place your order for this great special. <<<

Peace -
Meriah

 

[seedcorn]

I have light brahma bantams. They are nice, lay well but I still like my Wyandottes better. Little smaller body, same size egg. Both are friendly but I feel the wyandotte roosters are gentler than Brahma roosters. Plus more color variations altho I only want partridge wyandottes.

 

[spook]

I'll tell ya, just this summer have 3 bantam cochins, 2 pullets and 1 roo. They are an absolute screech to watch, really super friendly, and I don't know about the eggs yet, but they are sharp.
I wish I had gotten them years ago! Never knew bantam eggs and regular standard eggs are so simular in size.
That is really cool. Thanks for asking the questions, I enjoy reading the benifits to these little super heros!