Showmanship bantam question

[eggiefarmer]

My 7 yr old would like to have bantams for 4H and possibly enter showmanship. What is the best breed and gender of bantam for this?

 

[prizepete]

I personally really like using my serama hens for showmanship. I know some people who love their silkies for showmanship, but I had a judge who said that you really need to be a good showman to use a silkie, because of the crest feathers, and feathered legs. It just makes more work for your 7 year old to remember. I would start out with a clean legged bantam hen, like a serama or an OEGB.

 

[LilJoe]

×2
Especially with seramas being small, they would be easier for a 7 year old to handle than a larger bantam.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Do you have any other bantams? If not, they're pretty social animals and you should probably get a pair or a trio. My bantams get along with my standards, but they prefer the company of their own--especially the little hens.

Roosters are showier. They're prettier, and cockier, and, so long as you don't get an aggressive little guy, friendlier. I agree on the clean-legged bantams. I love Old English Game bantams (see my profile pic.) They're hardy, generally friendly, small, and tidy-looking.

 

[eggiefarmer]

Do you have any other bantams? If not, they're pretty social animals and you should probably get a pair or a trio. My bantams get along with my standards, but they prefer the company of their own--especially the little hens.

Roosters are showier. They're prettier, and cockier, and, so long as you don't get an aggressive little guy, friendlier. I agree on the clean-legged bantams. I love Old English Game bantams (see my profile pic.) They're hardy, generally friendly, small, and tidy-looking.

 

[eggiefarmer]

These would be our first bantams. We plan on separate area from our larger hens, they free range during the day. Our neighbors had bantams free range and picked off very quickly by hawks.
Thanks for the advice. Next question...Where is a good breeder for these guys?

 

[LilJoe]

These would be our first bantams. We plan on separate area from our larger hens, they free range during the day. Our neighbors had bantams free range and picked off very quickly by hawks.
Thanks for the advice. Next question...Where is a good breeder for these guys?

Depends on what breed you want. And since your 7 yr old is doing showmanship, you can get them at hatcheries or feed stores. No need for show quality bantams.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Well, it does depend where you are. OEGBs are pretty common bantams. What I would do is check the OEGB thread and the buy~sell~trade thread. Cackle Hatchery is noted for being one of the best hatcheries for actually conforming to breed type. Avoid Ideal like the plague. As LilJoe said, you don't need show-quality bantams.