Why Bantams? I don't get it....

[Bantam Username]

I originally got bantams because I lived in a tiny place with a tiny garden. Now I live in a decent sized place with a big garden - only to all you people either in the countryside or the US it would be a small place with a small garden. Lol.

Basically, I don't have room for full size chickens but even if I did, I think I'd stick with the bantys.
They are such fiesty little characters, a fantastic array of colours and shapes, and they are my pets. If I wanted a chicken or egg factory then it would be different but as it stands they are pets with the added benefit of providing me with eggs for tea.
I can't afford a giant coop for big chickens in either space or money but my little girls and guys provide me with hours of entertainment.

 

[idispatch4911]

Interesting responses. I never thought so many people would have such strong opinions either way. I guess it is really just preference, like what is your favorite bag of chips at the store. Just a matter of what you like. I personally don't like the look of silkies or frizzles or frazzles or any of that. I'm just a plain old chicken girl. I think there is plenty of variety in color in regular old chickens without the strange "light socket feathers"....

I'll still probably never have any bantams because of the 'dual purpose' issue. I really like my chickens. They are my pets too, but I guess once my chicken pet has stopped being productive, she'll still become my chicken dinner - so not exactly a great outlook for "pets" huh?

 

[suzeqf]

I'm guilty too half of my flock is banty I even have a 1/2 banty 1/2 blue andy 6 week old roo I'm not sure why I like them so much I just do

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

I only have a 3 banties and I couldn't ever see myself getting more. They just seem so... useless

Nothin to eat on em' and their eggs are tiny.

 

[ReapKarmah]

Quote:
Eat? Tiny eggs? Well there's your problem, you're only interested in 'using' chickens instead of loving them as pets.
Bantams are mostly sought after as pets -which you're obviously aware of- so I guess don't get bantams. For you I advise 'meat birds'.

 

[Impress]

My bantam cochins lay beautiful little eggs, very tasty and about the size of the smalls you can buy. They are great broodies and mothers, they raise the babies of the finicky large fowl I have that can't be bothered to go broody or care about things like chicks. They seem to be better bug eaters, they notice more of them being closer to the ground. And they aren't odd looking at all, no silky or frizzle or poofies, just regular miniature feather legged chickens. All three of my girls laid an egg a day until 2 went broody, they are busy raising babies out in the cold, and the remaining girl just turned broody this week, I'll use her to hatch out some Speckled Sussex eggs to add to my big flock.

 

[Poultrybonkers]

If i wanted a small looking chicken id get a quail. I really dont like small animals that are to small to see!

I like standards.

 

[Pele]

Quote:
Eat? Tiny eggs? Well there's your problem, you're only interested in 'using' chickens instead of loving them as pets.
Bantams are mostly sought after as pets -which you're obviously aware of- so I guess don't get bantams. For you I advise 'meat birds'.

I think that might be a bit of a leap of logic about someone's nature. I personally keep my hens as pets, but it is critical that they feed me as well, because my family and I are going through economic hardship.

To be honest, I kind of view bantams as a privilage pet. I personally couldn't afford my birds if they were bantams, because there is no market in my area for tiny eggs. As it stands now, my girls produce huge eggs almost daily, which feeds us, pays for their own feed, and helps me bake items to sell.

Maybe someday if our economic conditions improve we can afford less utilitarian birds, but it doesn't make us people who don't appreciate the pet aspect of our birds. Maybe that is the angle that ChickieBooBoo was coming from too.

 

[NC ChickenKate]

I raised llamas for over 25 years...tall llamas that stood about 6' 2" at the pole (top of the head). My herd of 70 were all birthed out by me so they were all ladies and gentlemen when any two legged creature was in the barn. I would hold out their halter and they'd dip their head down into it. (very popular feature with folks in a wheelchair). They came when I called and allowed strangers to pet them when I said it was ok to do so. 95% of their time on this green earth they were allowed to be llamas and live a very natural life.
I personally love the huge difference in size between the llamas that were such a big part of my life then and the little banties that absorb all my extra time now and have stolen my heart. I live in a rental house on 1/2 acre inside the city limits and I could have more chickens in my very limited space by choosing banties. If I ever again have a place of my own I might go for some of the large fowl...but for now, I'm enchanted with the personalities and antics of my flock of 8.
I don't eat eggs, never cared for the flavor, but I'm told when my gals start gifting me some home grown nuggets in April I could change my tune. I do already have three orders for eggs.

 

[rachelcb80]

It's just like the old saying goes, "Different strokes for different folks".

I got into keeping chickens for purely the egg aspect of it. I wanted fresh eggs every morning for breakfast. Over the past two years I've come to love keeping chickens as pets though. That's where the bantams come in. My big girls are only interested in what I have for them to eat. They don't want to be held or petted. I want some "cute" chickens that are more pet-like.

I'm sure plenty of people think chickens as pets is weird but I think snakes as pets is weird. Thankfully there's something for all of us out there.