What is the benefit of bantam chickens?

[Laurajean]

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I second that. I don't care about eggs and don't eat meat; I keep bantams because they're cute as a button and fun. Also a great conversation piece for visitors who are always in awe of their small size and unusual appearance.

But it is fun to make deviled eggs and bring them to parties. Gets a good reaction!

 

[Laigaie]

If you live in a place where you're only allowed a certain number of chickens, rather than the issue being space/time/cost, there is no benefit to bantams.

 

[san415]

I am surprised no one mentioned deviled eggs. The bantam sized eggs are perfect for making just the right size of deviled eggs. That is what I save mine for, and friends and relatives ask for them for that reason too. Also when I am baking a cake I will often add an extra egg and that s normally a bantam egg too. They are just the right size for mixing with some hot water to put on my dogs dry food for a nice treat for them too.
Of my 8 chickens two are bantams, one a silkie and one a sebright.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

What is the benefit of bantam chickens?


To me.... none, but then again I love my large breeds, so I don't count.

My son on the other hand has a few bantams because he said they are "cute". To me it just looks like a chicken, only smaller...

 

[TreeHugger]

I wanted chickens and didn't really care about eggs and had no plans on butchering them. I can't let mine free range so bantams were perfect! Besides with chicken math my 30 bantams are only like having 10 chickens

 

[EmtheFishLady]

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All I have are bantams. Bantam ducks, bantam chickens. They're adorable. Just like a poodle.

 

[Laurajean]

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I mentioned it, just two posts above yours.

 

[PepsNick]

I see bantams more as pets, instead of livestock. That's just me. They're a tad more cuddly, and make great mamas, most of the time. And I do love my broodies. I had a few bantams in my first flock, none at the time, though.

 

[backyardmenagerie]

I personally am all for utility, and try to have all dual-purpose birds. That being said, I did recently get silkies, because I figured they were cheaper than an incubator, and my dual-purpose hens have yet to go broody. One of my goals for my flock was sustainability, and so far my LF have failed in that area. So silkies works for me. There are some other bantams I find very beautiful, but will likely never own, because I do prefer that my chickens serve a purpose - but then, my chickens are pets either. I love and care for them, but unlike the dogs, the chickens have to earn their keep.

 

[dirtgirl49]

I agree with what others have said about small chickens. I got mine purely because of their size and the fact that my 5 silkies are not very good layers at the best of times doesn't bother me one bit. I am happy to just watch them potter around the run, I find they have such a calming effect and I could sit and watch them for hours! Today my 5 girls had 4 new adopted girls ( polish and cochin bantams) move in.
The size of the eggs my Silkies lay can vary from small (1/2 size of free range farm eggs) to very small (as in you would need 3 of them to make up for one large egg) but any sized egg is welcome here, so long as the chickens are happy.