Some people love raising Bantam chickens, while others will not even attempt it. Bantam chickens are unique and special in many ways. This article looks at some of the issues you will have face when raising Bantam chickens.
One of the most obvious and unique qualities you will see while raising Bantam chickens is their size. These birds are much smaller than other breeds of chickens.
To compare them, a normal, healthy chicken of another breed might easily weigh in at 7 pounds. The Bantam, on the other hand, would be lucky to weight in at 23 ounces.
Some experts suggest that this small size is why Bantams are so feisty. Their smaller size makes them more aggressive and territorial than other types of chickens. It is not uncommon for Bantam roosters to try to “rule the roost”, even if larger birds are on the scene as well.
If you are new to raising Bantam chickens be aware that these little birds can and do fly away, especially if something upsets them. For this reason, you have to keep them in an enclosed space with a wire roof. You should also know that Bantams can be very loud and this can become annoying if you have neighbors nearby.
For the most part, the Bantam hens lay eggs that about one-half the size of other eggs from other breeds of chickens.
These smaller eggs will have more yolk than what you see in standard eggs. The hens are fairly good a brooding their eggs and many will even help other hens with their brooding chores.
While raising Bantam chickens can be adventure, it is still up to the owner to protect these small birds. Predators from the sky are particularly attracted to the Bantam because of its size.
If you keep the Bantam flock inside a wire enclosure with meshed wire roof, you will solve this problem—as well as the problem of them flying away on their own.
As for feeding Bantam chickens, they eat the same thing other breeds eat. A good quality chicken feed, along with some fresh greens every once in a while is the best diet.
You can also give them scratch mix and cracked corn as a treat. It is crucial that you provide your flock with plenty of fresh water every day.
If you live in an area that has cold winters, you want to provide the Bantam flock with some form of heat. These birds do very poorly in frigid weather and may even suffer from frostbite on their combs if the temperature drops below freezing.
Bantam chickens, because of their size, need less room in the chicken coop than other types of birds. Their nesting boxes should be about one cubic foot or so and treated as other types of nesting boxes with plenty of flooring material.
Also, do not be alarmed if you find your Bantam chickens roosting at the highest part of the chicken coop. This added height makes them feel safer than being low to the ground.
If you are raising Bantam chickens from hatchlings, know that you have to show them how to eat and drink upon the first hour of their being free from the shell. You should also know, if you are new to this, that Bantam chicks are very small, tiny in fact. This means that have to be given added protection from predators and other chickens.