what would be good bantam additions to our small flock?

[nuchickontheblock]

Last May we started out with 3 Ameraucana bantam pullets. They are very sweet and now that we are into chickens would like a few more. Our city allows 6 hens (no roos) and we are contemplating adding to our flock. We really like the banties. Are there other cold hardy, friendly bantam breeds that might be a good mix with our existing flock? I would probably try to get pullets again rather than chicks although when I see everyone's pictures, I think chicks would be awesome.
Suggestions??

 

[Randy]

I don't think the hatcheries sex the bantams so you would probably have to go with pullets or else get rid of any roos if you got some.

 

[elmo]

We have Belgian d'Uccles. They're sweet, goofy birds. We also have mutts: mixtures of Serama/d'Uccle and Old English Game bantams. You wouldn't want Seramas because they aren't cold hardy, but the Old English Game bantam breed might be a good choice. Compared with the d'Uccles, the OEGB are sleek, elegant birds. They come in a dizzying array of color choices, too.

Rather than ordering from a hatchery, google around to see if there are any backyard breeders in your area. If your Ameraucana hens show any signs of going broody this spring, you could get some hatching eggs. Now, that's fun, to have your own hens hatch and raise chicks. To test if your hens have any broody instincts, you could just stop collecting eggs for a while to see if one of them decides to sit on them. You''ll know you've got a broody if she sits on the eggs overnight, and fluffs up and growls at you when you approach her.

When you hatch your own chicks, you do have to deal with the little cockerels that might result. We hatched our own last spring, and it was an amazing experience I wouldn't have missed for the world, but it was very sad to have to give away the cockerels (it's against the law here to keep roos).

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Quote:
If you only want three more and prefer pullets then I would start looking at the Chicken Swaps that will be starting shortly. They are typically found at the Tractor Supply parking lots and many people bring started birds to them. Another place is Craigs List, or your local grain supply should have a board with listings.

There are so many breeds that are cold hardy such as Bantam Cochins, D'anvers, Brahmas, EE's, Orpington, etc. Some lay a larger egg than others so do a bit of research if egg size is a concern.

Good Luck!!

 

[nuchickontheblock]

Thanks for the suggestions.
My DH and I started talking about the new bigger, improved coop and run. So, we'll have to wait for snow to go and do some building first. I'm getting excited though!

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Spring is coming, and I want more chickens so badly, but we really don't need any more. We have 9 already, and that's plenty.

Our head hen has been persistently broody for almost 3 full weeks now, sitting in an empty nest. And I know every one of the other hens we have will go broody at the drop of the hat. But we don't need more chickens!!!!

I was looking over our chick pictures from last spring, and remembering the excitement of the first day when I noticed an empty eggshell under Pokey, our first broody to hatch her clutch. My daughter and I set up lawnchairs and watched her for hours, and after a while we got to spot the first little beak and head peeking out from under her feathers. Amazing!

After all the chicks hatched, sometimes they'd all peek their heads up from under their hen's wing pits. I regret I never got a picture of that!

 

[GotGame]

we havent had any problems with our seramas not being cold hardy. They survived zero degree weather this past winter, I just made sure they had a coop that was not gonna let wind get to them. They are silked too which are supposed to be less cold hardy. I think they are as hardy as old english for cold and heat, just they cost more on average (the good ones do) and people want to baby them. My wife has seramas, and I have old english and a few modern games, any of the three would work for ya but my old english and moderns seem to have more personality...

 

[georgialee]

I'm a huge cochin fan. They're adorable, sweet as can be, and do great in the cold.

 

[HHandbasket]

Too bad you're not closer. I just hatched out a pair of "cobrights" three weeks ago. The mother is a gold sebright & the father is a black bantam cochin. They have sebright fun personalities and furry legs like a cochin. I have 5 more of these eggs in the bator that will hatch on the 26th.

I also have half a dozen porcelain Belgian d'uccle eggs under my broody that I got from a breeder out near U.C. Davis, as well as 7 silkie eggs in the bator. Those are all set to hatch this weekend.