The BANTAM ORPINGTON Thread

[Sagetown]

Behavior question:

This is my first experience with any bantam, & only one bantam egg hatched. The little 8 wk old female has spunk & never seems to notice she's smaller. She's so cute, but very "flappy". Most of the chicks can be scooped up with one hand. Their wings stay still, they're always docile, & they love to cuddle. The bantam doesn't seem to like the same hold. She flaps or squirms, then sits on an arm, shoulder or knee rather than be held. She also rarely comes when called. When compared to full-sized Orpingtons, are the smaller birds a lot more active or is this just a case of individualism? Does anyone else have a bantam Orp that thinks she's a parrot?

Yep; the Bantam Orps will perch on top of your head if you let them. Mine, at a very early age, both sexes would fly up on my lap, till there wouldn't be any room for another bird, and that was just for starters. After the 1st time one messed on my shoulder that was the end of that. I didn't allow them up there any more.

 

[gootziecat]

I hatched one sweet little chocolate bantam that was a week old yesterday. Sweetest, most adorable little chick ever! But she (fingers crossed!) seems to be feathering really slowly. I remember my standard buffs feathering much quicker. Can anyone tell me, is the slow feathering due to color or size? Thank you!

I posted about my chocolate bantams feathering so slowly. Evidently, it's the color and perhaps the breeding, since they are UK bred originally. Mine are coming on 6 wks and have not totally feathered out yet.

 

[gootziecat]

Sagetown, how well are your girls laying now?

 

[Sagetown]

Sagetown, how well are your girls laying now?

Two have gone broody. Can't keep them off the nest. For awhile they all four were just like clockwork.
But; with Bantams, broodiness is to be expected.
They lay beautiful light brown eggs the size of a small to medium commercial egg. Really big for a Bantam. No wonder they cry before they go into the coop to lay. You can hear them 1/8th mile away.
I've got 14 RIR Bantams that the hatchery claims they should lay quite regular. We'll see. They are 11 weeks old right now, so, they are half way of being old enough to lay.

 

[gootziecat]

Sagetown, you'll have to let us know how the RIRs stack up to your Orp bantams. Sometimes you can't measure disposition in egg numbers and size. I understand the bantam Rocks do pretty well in the laying department too, and not excessively broody. Strictly heresay as I haven't had them. I'm pretty picky about traits and disposition so always interested in hearing about the different bantam breeds.

 

[Sagetown]

At this stage I can tell you these RIR's aren't too interested in perching on your lap or shoulder as do the Orps, however, there are a few, both male and female that don't mind being picked up and petted.

 

[jeremy]

6 BBS eggs go into lockdown on Tuesday!

 

[jeremy]

My newest babies! A trio of bantam English Orpingtons, 2 Blacks, and an adorable little Blue. Hatched last Friday from eggs we received from Blue Rein Poultry. So excited to watch these little ones grow up!

 

[Faraday40]

So adorable. Congrats!

 

[Marthab1953]

My newest babies! A trio of bantam English Orpingtons, 2 Blacks, and an adorable little Blue. Hatched last Friday from eggs we received from Blue Rein Poultry. So excited to watch these little ones grow up!

Oh soo cute!