So I've been toying with the idea of getting a few bantams (3, to be exact) off and on since last fall. Now I'm mulling it over quite seriously, and my husband has given me the go ahead (although if you ask him he'll tell you he said no such thing, he just said that if I really wanted them and I could make their coop for next to nothing he'd be ok with it) to get some bantam hens. So it's back to the age old question of "which breed?" Somehow this is even harder with bantams than it was with large fowl!
Here's what I need in a bantam:
-Handles confinement well. My current plan is to build them a coop and large run and keep them there or tractored in a roughly 3x10' tractor. I see a hawk flying the neighborhood quite often and I don't want to loose one. Also, I don't want to deal with integrating them with the "big girls" at this time and they get free run of the yard for the majority of the day.
-Docile and friendly. Let's face it, these are pretty much going to be my pets. Plus I have a toddler. Plus they will be cooped literally right outside my back door up against the back porch. And if I put them in the tractor I need to be able to catch them to put them in the tractor and again to put them back in the coop. I don't care if they don't like to cuddle, but they've got to at least tolerate being handled without freaking out.
-Moderate to high egg production. These will be primarily pets, but I really want bantams for their tiny little eggs (which will make such cute tiny little deviled eggs). They don't have to lay an egg a day, as the "big girls" are my main egg producers and I'm anticipating the bantam eggs will be mostly for special occasion type dishes. But I don't want to be feeding these little guys for a mere 4-5 eggs a week from 3 hens.
-Low to average broodiness. I don't need more chickens. Really, I don't. I also don't need any roosters or cockerels to upset the close neighbors (most of whom seem to genuinely like my chickens, and one of whom seems to think they are attracting mice to his garage). And a broody hen will just beckon me to get some fertile eggs to set under her. I wouldn't mind hatching out a clutch or two every now and then. But I really don't need the challenge of figuring out what to do with chicks and a broody momma on a regular basis.
-Cold hardy. We get some pretty cold winters and unfortunately the location I have in mind for the bantam coop is in full shade pretty much all day. It is close enough that running an extension cord for supplemental heat wouldn't be too difficult, but I really don't want to have to do that.
Here are some features I think might be nifty (after all, they're primarily pets/lawn candy anyway) but are by no means a requirement, just a plus:
-feathered legs. I don't know why, but I think they're neat.
-five toes. I really like the idea of five toes for some reason. I also really like polydactyl cats.
-beards and muffs. They're just cute. And they seem to go hand in hand with small combs and cold-hardiness.
-funky feathers and/or crests. I like frizzles, they just look so silly to me. And crested birds seem like fun too. Since I don't currently plan to let them roam, not being able to see to detect predators isn't really a deterrent for these guys.
Some breeds I've considered:
Faverolles are currently towards the top of my list. They seem to fit all of my requirements, and I could say I have three french hens
Ameraucana. My husband would love the blue eggs.
Brahma. I've loved lurking on the Brahma thread. I'm just not sure if the bantam size is bigger than I want.
Showgirls and/or turkens. I'm not a fan of "naked" birds or animals, but something about these guys calls to me. They're ugly, but they're certainly a conversation starter. I just worry that those naked necks will freeze in the winter despite all I've read about turkens being cold hardy.
Wyandottes. Even though my only wyandotte is a butt-head, I still find the laced pattern beautiful and am hoping birds from a breeder would be nicer than my hatchery girl.
Any other suggestions, or experiences with any of the breeds I'm considering, would be very much welcomed. If and when I do get them it will probably be at the big show in October, so I've got a few months to decide.
Here's what I need in a bantam:
-Handles confinement well. My current plan is to build them a coop and large run and keep them there or tractored in a roughly 3x10' tractor. I see a hawk flying the neighborhood quite often and I don't want to loose one. Also, I don't want to deal with integrating them with the "big girls" at this time and they get free run of the yard for the majority of the day.
-Docile and friendly. Let's face it, these are pretty much going to be my pets. Plus I have a toddler. Plus they will be cooped literally right outside my back door up against the back porch. And if I put them in the tractor I need to be able to catch them to put them in the tractor and again to put them back in the coop. I don't care if they don't like to cuddle, but they've got to at least tolerate being handled without freaking out.
-Moderate to high egg production. These will be primarily pets, but I really want bantams for their tiny little eggs (which will make such cute tiny little deviled eggs). They don't have to lay an egg a day, as the "big girls" are my main egg producers and I'm anticipating the bantam eggs will be mostly for special occasion type dishes. But I don't want to be feeding these little guys for a mere 4-5 eggs a week from 3 hens.
-Low to average broodiness. I don't need more chickens. Really, I don't. I also don't need any roosters or cockerels to upset the close neighbors (most of whom seem to genuinely like my chickens, and one of whom seems to think they are attracting mice to his garage). And a broody hen will just beckon me to get some fertile eggs to set under her. I wouldn't mind hatching out a clutch or two every now and then. But I really don't need the challenge of figuring out what to do with chicks and a broody momma on a regular basis.
-Cold hardy. We get some pretty cold winters and unfortunately the location I have in mind for the bantam coop is in full shade pretty much all day. It is close enough that running an extension cord for supplemental heat wouldn't be too difficult, but I really don't want to have to do that.
Here are some features I think might be nifty (after all, they're primarily pets/lawn candy anyway) but are by no means a requirement, just a plus:
-feathered legs. I don't know why, but I think they're neat.
-five toes. I really like the idea of five toes for some reason. I also really like polydactyl cats.
-beards and muffs. They're just cute. And they seem to go hand in hand with small combs and cold-hardiness.
-funky feathers and/or crests. I like frizzles, they just look so silly to me. And crested birds seem like fun too. Since I don't currently plan to let them roam, not being able to see to detect predators isn't really a deterrent for these guys.
Some breeds I've considered:
Faverolles are currently towards the top of my list. They seem to fit all of my requirements, and I could say I have three french hens
Ameraucana. My husband would love the blue eggs.
Brahma. I've loved lurking on the Brahma thread. I'm just not sure if the bantam size is bigger than I want.
Showgirls and/or turkens. I'm not a fan of "naked" birds or animals, but something about these guys calls to me. They're ugly, but they're certainly a conversation starter. I just worry that those naked necks will freeze in the winter despite all I've read about turkens being cold hardy.
Wyandottes. Even though my only wyandotte is a butt-head, I still find the laced pattern beautiful and am hoping birds from a breeder would be nicer than my hatchery girl.
Any other suggestions, or experiences with any of the breeds I'm considering, would be very much welcomed. If and when I do get them it will probably be at the big show in October, so I've got a few months to decide.
