What do you *do* with Bantams?

[walkswithdog]

LOL I have a friend with Seramas only. When he gives me Serama eggs for hatching, I give him a dozen or two of Delware and Rock eggs for eating - that way he has far far less to crack for his breakfast. And I get to try hatching seramas. Which makes me happy.

I'm looking for ONE type of male in particular and one or two more pullets- one more chocolate oh please, oh please... Everything else will be sold. Even if I start getting good hatches from the eggs, most will go, but I love hatching, and he likes my big bird eggs.

 

[TurtleFeathers]

Our chickens are, first and foremost, pets, regardless of size. So we treat them as such, just like we would our dogs and cats. We don't eat our pets, but the fact that they lay eggs that we can eat is definitely a bonus, even if they're small ones!

We eat eggs of all sizes here when I'm not hatching - sure, you need two or three silkie eggs to make a decent sandwich, but they're just as good as large eggs! And when I we have a family function to attend, I normally take a tray of cute little bite size deviled eggs - everyone loves them. And my husband gets a kick out of the pickled eggs I make for him, too - I can fit more in a large jar when they're small, and as much as I hate to admit it, I've even been known to add a serama egg or two to the jar! They're just as good as the big eggs, only in miniature...

 

[OSUman]

I use mine for breeding but that is just because they arent really friendly but

if you raise them right they will be.

I know this is off topic but how did you get a hold of those ex battery hens?

 

[Mahonri]

You don't want to hear this but when I was a kid we really loved our banty roosters.... for Sunday dinner.

 

[catwalk]

I use my banties as decoys for meeting people! I take one to nursing homes, and I plan on showing my "littles" next year. Although I hope they do well, I really just want to find people to talk to who don't look at me like I have two heads when I tell them about my chickens...

For example, I need an honest answer to the question, "do you have a dual- purpose bird if you use it as a hat?"

 

[jerseygirl1]

I claimed I never wanted bantams, they were not useful - then I bought two belgian quail, and would now like to get into breeding them....................I'm an addict, I need an intervention.................

 

[Robin'sBrood]

I have two Millie Fleur d'Uccle hens and even though their eggs are smaller, you'd be surprised by the size of the yolks inside those small eggs. Seems to me there is less egg white compared to standard chicken eggs... so bantam eggs make wonderful scrambled eggs, if you like a lot of yolk like I do.

My 8 year old DD loves them fried too, and they are just the right size for her to eat two of them.

 

[harrisville chicken]

We have two Cochin Frizzle Bantams who give us tiny brown eggs. They're great to have to adjust our recipes (I can make things with 1/2 egg or 1-1/2 eggs). My wife loves it when I put an egg on the pancake griddle, cover it with pancake batter to make a egg-in-a-pancake. The smaller eggs are just the right size for this.

I also had a great laugh when my neighbor's granddaughter looked at our two bantys and exclaimed, "They look like pinecones!!!"


Click image for larger pinecone.

 

[jenjscott]

Too small to eat? They eat quail, don't they? Of course, it might take a few extra to feed the family, but thats ok, it gives me and excuse to hatch.

 

[herechickchick]

I do not think that their eggs are that small. We eat them and cook with them. I love bantams because they are easier to maintain in a small space and they consume less feed. Don't get me wrong I love my LF Ameraucanas but my little bantams are my favorites.