Bantam chicken in our backyard is an idea that is gaining quickly in popularity. And what can not be loved when they are wonderful pets and deliver fresh eggs at your door every day, as well as providing excellent free pay for the garden?
Bantam are small chickens. Some varieties have been raised to produce miniature versions, but other Bantam races only exist in small sizes. Its small size makes the Bantam a great option for a small backyard. The advantages of Bantam over their larger counterparts include:
- Require less space
- They consume less food
- They are easier to handle
There are hundreds of breeds of Bantam hens available and it is important to choose the right breed for your needs and situation. If you have little time, the first section offers you some answers about what type of bantam chicken to choose.
But if you want more details, the rest of the article offers you deeper knowledge about the choice of a Bantam chicken, where to buy it, and how to take care of it.
What is a Bantam Chicken
A Bantam hen is simply a small hen. In most cases, Bantam chickens are smaller versions of a larger variety.
They can be 50 to 75% of the largest breed size. Many of the most popular races also have Bantam versions.
What is the smallest breed of Bantam chickens?
The smallest variety of Bantam is probably the Dutch, which weighs about 500 grams on average.
The Belgian d’Anver is another featherweight that weighs about 600 grams. Other popular tiny bantams are the Belgian d’Uccle, the Seabright, and the Serama.
Are Bantam chickens good egg layers?
Although most Bantam can not compete with the largest raps in terms of the number of eggs, most Bantam still produce a number of rich and tasteful eggs.
A very general guide is that if the larger version is a good sponsor, the Bantam version is probably also.
What Bantam chickens are the best layers?
Easter eggs, Brahma, Plymouth Rocks, and Sussex are some of the best Bantam layers. They may produce eggs a little smaller than their larger counterparts, but they always produce a good number of eggs. These breeds are also resistant and have a lot of personalities, so they are also good pets.
What is a true Bantam?
True Bantam are varieties of chickens that only occur in small sizes. The true Bantams are naturally small, unlike Bantam breeds that have been deliberately raised from larger varieties. The real breeds of Bantam are the Booted Bantam, the Nankin, the Pekin, and the Seabright.
Bantam chicken breeds
As with normal-sized chickens, you should think about your needs before choosing your Bantam.
Is it important to identify whether you need a regular supply of eggs or are they simply to exhibit them? Are you looking for an easy pet to take care of what you like manipulating your children?
More Questions About Bantams
What are bantam chickens good for?
Bantams are good layers of delicious small eggs. The eggs are every bit as delicious as eggs from full-size chickens. Just cook a couple extra to make up for the small size. In addition, these pint-size chickens are extra fun in a small size, making them a good choice for families with small children.
Do bantam chickens lay eggs?
Are Bantam Chickens Good Egg Layers? Although most bantams can’t compete with the top-laying bigger breeds for the sheer number of eggs most bantams still produce good numbers of rich, fine-tasting eggs. A very general guide is if the larger version is a good layer then the bantam version probably is too.
Are bantams better than chickens?
Bantams are much easier to handle because of their size and lend themselves to locations where you may not want larger fowl. They work well in urban settings with smaller yards because they need less space than standard-sized chickens.
Can you eat bantam hen eggs?
Bantams chickens eggs, whilst smaller than the average chicken egg, are equally as nutritious and delicious as their regular counterparts – with the same smooth and silky white, and golden yolk, just asking to be poached, fried, or scrambled!
Can bantam chickens lay eggs without a rooster?
Hens will lay eggs with or without a rooster. Without a rooster, your hens’ eggs are infertile, so won’t develop into chicks. If you do have a rooster, eggs need to be collected daily and kept in a cool place before being used so that they won’t develop into chicks.
How long do bantams live?
These birds on the average stand at around 12 inches to 15 inches high. This is a domesticated bird that does not have a natural distribution, but can now be found in captivity almost all over the world. The average lifespan of these birds is between 7 and 8 years.
What do I feed bantam chickens?
As well as a good quality poultry pellet, bantam chickens require nutrition from some human foods, in particular fresh fruit and vegetables. Bok choy, watermelon, spinach, strawberries, and pumpkins all provide nutritional value for bantam chickens- plus they go down a treat!
How much is bantam chicken in the Philippines?
A pair of bantam chickens cost P500 to P1,000 (Serama)
At what age do bantams start laying eggs?
On average, young female chickens start laying eggs or “come into lay” around 6 months of age. Some chickens may start laying eggs as early as 16 to 18 weeks old, while others may take upwards of 28 to 32 weeks (closer to 8 months old)!
At what age are bantams fully grown?
Bantams raised from chicks will reach maturity in 7-12 months, with feed costs of roughly $8-10 per bird per year. Because of the growing demand for chickens in general, poultry auctions are becoming more common.
Why is it called bantam?
The word bantam derives from the name of the seaport city of Bantam in western Java, Indonesia. European sailors restocking on live fowl for sea journeys found the small native breeds of chicken in Southeast Asia to be useful, and any such small poultry came to be known as a bantam.
See Also:
- Barred Cochin Bantam Chicken
- BB Red Old English Game Bantam Chicken
- Egg-selling Business Success Story – Philippines
- How to Start a Free Range Chicken Egg Business in the Philippines
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