What sort of bantam should I get?

[Chloe77]

I want to get sebrights, but I don't know if I'm ready yet. Aren't they notoriously touchy? PLEASE HELP???

 

[hdowden]

touchy??

 

[Chloe77]

Yes, they're small and delicate.

 

[hdowden]

they are small but i don't think delicate at all. it's been getting in the lower 30's the past couple of days and the one sebright my parents have does quite well

 

[2seth2]

if you want to start with "hardy" bantums i would do bantum cochins and brahmas

 

[Pele]

Honestly, there are a lot more factors that go into choosing your breed than just if they're 'touchy' or not.

Are you using them primarily for eggs? Brooding chicks? Starting a career in showing? Companionship?

These are important questions to ask yourself. For example, if your priorities are hardiness, reasonable egg production, good forager, and also good brooders; I would recommend Old English Game Bantams.

BUT, if your priorities are companionship, broodiness, showing, cold hardiness, and you don't care about eggs so much, I would point you in the direction of Cochins.

There are a lot of breeds out there with their own pros and cons. You need to clearly prioritize what you want before you go looking.

 

[Smoochie]

My Experience..

Sebright..I have a quirky Sebright. She is flighty and not easily tamed. She lays a thin white egg every second day ( even through winter). She reminds me most of a wild bird.

Plymouth Rock bantams.. The most tame breed I have is my Bantam Rocks.. They are friendly and chatty. They seem to fit in the most when put with new friends. And they are my best bantam egg layers.

Polish..have polish and they are friendly but are the first to get picked on.. They would do well in a flock of only polish.

Frizzles - Cochins.. seem to get picked on also.. I think it is their tempting feathers and most have feathered feet they just can't get around as quick as clean legged.

Cornish bantams.. . A new breed for me. They are a strong chicken and will be on top in a fight.. Not the friendliest but not shy. Pretty broody.

Japanese.. Also a bit flighty but easier to tame than the Sebright. I have found the ones I have not very hardy. Roosters can be hit or miss with personalities.

 

[Smoochie]

Also, One breed flocks seem to have less problems but if your like me you want some of everything you will need to manage the roost more. I go down at night and tuck everyone in and rearrange the order on the roost to keep the trouble makers out of trouble!! Also, I keep a baby monitor on to keep an ear out for fighting... I am thinking of setting up a webcam though..

 

[hdowden]

My Experience..
Sebright..I have a quirky Sebright. She is flighty and not easily tamed. She lays a thin white egg every second day ( even through winter). She reminds me most of a wild bird. ours is easily handled, lays good eggs with no thin shells she isn't laying right now as it is winter and she is 1.5 years old give or take

Polish..have polish and they are friendly but are the first to get picked on.. They would do well in a flock of only polish. again mine is very friendly, and is top in the pecking order. she does very very well in the mixed flock

Cornish bantams.. . A new breed for me. They are a strong chicken and will be on top in a fight.. Not the friendliest but not shy. Pretty broody. never had these but from what i have heard they are very hardy birds

Japanese.. Also a bit flighty but easier to tame than the Sebright. I have found the ones I have not very hardy. Roosters can be hit or miss with personalities. ours is easily handled and very hardy her in louisiana with temps getting down to the 30's at night.
in general any chicken is a hit and miss. they way you take care of them and handle them makes a big difference along with their individual personalities. some will be shier than others while some will come right to you. i handle mine everyday and feed them all sorts of things along with free ranging which makes a difference in their egg quilitay, the better the food the better the eggs.

 

[Smoochie]

I wish now I didn't post my experience.. Bold red *corrections* :/. You are very experienced and I didn't mean to misrepresent the different breeds.