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Just wondering if anyone knows why they are getting bigger? I understand it can be due to different lines in the genes but how are they getting bigger if originally they were all more of the bantam size. It seems I am getting both and I did start with different lines but some are hatching larger and some are more petite.
Birds with longer featehrs, but the same body size LOOK larger. There is a huge size difference between the smallest and largest bantams, and most of the larger breeds of bantams do not fit well through the doors of the smallest bantam show cages, either. I have seen pigeon cages used for bantams before, too.
All that said, some (many) judges tend to pick larger birds, and therefore some breeders take that into account in their selections. I have always contended that shows should have a scale on hand for protests (or if an exhibitor wants to weigh their own bird).
edited to add: Time of year when they are hatched (all breeds) can cause ultimate size variation--there are scientific studies on this--spring hatched birds develop to be larger than their fall hatched siblings. My opinion is that this would likely vary somewhat based upon the climate one lives in, a more temperate climate having less difference than a climate with more extremes.
