Rare bantam breeds that are decent layers?

[RainbowRabbits]

Hi,

What are some rare bantam breeds that are decent layers that also look unique, are cold weather hardy and friendly?

 

[Debbie292d]

Silkies by no means are rare, but you can create some pretty unique silkies through creative breeding if you want to get into that. They lay 5-6 days out of 7, and all winter long, but just half as many. We heat their coops to 40°F in the winter.



You may want to look into Seramas. Someone I know has those and they are the cutest little birds. I almost got into raising them but decided to stick with silkies.

 

[RainbowRabbits]

Thank you! I love silkies, but I’m worried about heating the coop in the winter. I like seramas too, thank you for the ideas!

 

[DSJMHenDen]

I can't remember what hatchery, and they probably aren't rare, but I saw some bantam easter eggers. Imagine the cute tiny colorful eggs when I feel brave enough for straight run chickies I would love to have some myself!

 

[BoundlessLove]

Cochin bantams
Cold tolerant and friendly

 

[123RedBeard]

If they are truly rare, they are not likely gonna be good layers ...

 

[Folly's place]

Our EE bantams from Cackle hatchery are cute, friendly, hardy, and pretty good layers of aqua eggs. Love them!

Old photo, don't have good new pictures, sorry.
Mary

 

[Tonyroo]

Phoenix hens are pretty good layers and don't require a lot of feed. They are flighty though. They know how to evade predators. They do need a coop to get out of the cold winds.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Coturnix quail! Yes, not chickens, but lay 300 eggs a year, cold and heat hardy, come in a variety of colors, definitely small, but again, not chickens (unique care requirements). Sorry, couldn’t resist!

 

[MROO]

Hi,

What are some rare bantam breeds that are decent layers that also look unique, are cold weather hardy and friendly?

I'm in Maryland - hot summers, icy winters - and I love my RC Nankin bantams! They just came off the Critically Endangered list- moved up to Threatened. The hens look like tiny versions of "The Little Red Hen" while the roosters look like they just stepped out of an "Old MacDonald's" children's storybook - very pretty!