Guest Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 we want to get a cple of bantams to keep Bea company in her part of the run. We don't want true bantams (cute though they are) as they'd be too small so I need some advice on bigger bantams. I saw some Plymouth Rocks at Nikki's yesterday and they were lovely but apart from that, I have no idea what breeds of bantam there are etc or if there different types of temperament. We'd like a placid breed if possible so, what breed should we get? (photos would help too if you have any and also where to get them from in the Cheshire/Merseyside are although we will travel further afield if we have to) thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 The chap I spoke to at the Wernlas Collection (I think his name is Shaun) when we visited a couple of months ago couldn't speak highly enough of the Plymouth Rock bantams. He said they were on his top ten list, he really rated them for their egg-laying capabilities and their temperament. Other than that I'm afraid I have no experience of Bantams although I love the look of Pekins - like little baby cochins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronmusgrove123 Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 get some pekins or silkie's they are very very docile here are some pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/31502766@N07/sets/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 This is Bubbles my Buff Plymouth Rock Bantam. She is very friendly, placid, quiet and very cuddly with her fluffy feathers. She is 3 and half years old and has never gone broody. I have had her since she was 7 weeks old and up until this summer she would lay every other day between March and September. Her egg laying tailed off towards the end of the summer and now she just likes to lie in the sunshine and watch the world go by. This is my sadly departed Rhode Island Red Bantam, Ruby. Another friendly, non broody, quiet hen. She followed me everywhere and liked to sit on my feet, mostly when I was still walking. Laid almost every day between March and the end of September. I would have another RIR like a shot. I am not fond of this photo, ruby had a nasty case of Scaley Leg which took an age to clear up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 well, I reckon I go with the Plymouth Rock then As Nikki is so close, I'll PM and ask her if she has ladies ready to go, thanks peeps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 If they have any Light Sussex bantams - STAY WELL AWAY!!! Ours is like the Tasmanian devil when she gets going, all whirling and rushing about clucking hissing and spitting, she's a ferocious, unfriendly little madam who has now stopped laying. (I do rather like her tho ) Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 ooooerrr Mrs B! Ali, forgot to say, love that little story about Ruby on your feet, bless her, she sounded lovely xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 We have a young plymouth rock, and a buff laced wyandotte, both from a lady near to Arley Hall near Tatton, and they are lovely Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 What about a bantam orpington Poet? Small version of a big, placid hen? Trying to think who has one though I'm sure Janty has a banty big breed (if that makes sense) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 we have a bantam buff orp but she hasn't laid yet (must be about 23 weeks). She's had quite a lot to put up with early on in her short life and I can't say she's the friendliest bird - but that may be circumstances. She does love her food like the big orps tho! She is quite scatty because she's young, she can fly but doesn't usually escape. She has developed faster than the large orps of the same age and has been red in the face/wattle for some time, but we shan't see eggs till next year I would think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 I'd do a bit of research first if I were you... Bantams: Small chicken for which there is no bigger counterpart i.e. Dutch bantam Miniatures: Small chicken for which there is a bigger counterpart (sometimes also lumped into the catch-all phrase of bantams) i.e. wyandottes I have both, the most docile are the RIR mini and the maran mini. Having said that, each bird is different. Please make sure that you have extra housing for the introductions as getting big girls to live with little uns is not easy and they may never integrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Have you considered a couple of pekins or silkies? They don't lay all that many eggs although we get quite a few in the summer, but they are very gentle and placid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 thanks all but I've already ordered 2 buff plymouth rock girls from nikki (favorellehen) she told us a lot about bantams on the course on sunday but it wasn't until I got home and had a think, that I decided it would be a good idea to get a cple to keep little Bea company in her part of the run. Bea is okay out free ranging with the other girls but we can't mix her with them in the run so she's still in a seperate area, although she can see them. Now the weather is turning, they spend less time outside so she's on her own much more. Despite being able to see the other girls, I still think she's lonely and it was suggested to me ages ago on the practical poultry forum that it might be a good idea if we get her a bantam chum. It's been at the back of my mind for ages and having seen some on sunday, I decided to get some. Don't worry Claret, I always think carefully about anything I do, I'm not the sort to rush into anything I haven't researched first. I only wanted to know about the different breeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Aww, I love the idea of a couple of mates for Bea to snuggle up to at night Will need the obligatory pics of the newbies as well Poet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Ooh lovely, please post some pics and let us know how they all get on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 don't worry, I will Ian is going to fashion some sort of sliding door so that bea and the bantams (sounds like a pop group!) can sleep in the cube nest box and the other ladies can roost in the main part. Otherwise we'd probably have 7 chooks plus 2 bantams trying to vie for space in the nest box! I don't know who got the idea that chickens like to use roosting bars, none of ours do! I'll keep you posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louisdog Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Ah, sounds like a good plan. But how will you get them all to go where you want them? Or will you put "Bea and the bantams" away each night? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Ah, sounds like a good plan. But how will you get them all to go where you want them? Or will you put "Bea and the bantams" away each night? Bea already has to be carried to her boudoir each night so we'll just do the same with her backing group Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 You will find that the smallest size tubtrug fits neatly in the nestbox entrance; I use mine every night to stop them soiling the nestbox. Handily, the tubtrugs come in the same colours as the eglu/cube. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 good - I'm glad you're sorted. I'd love to know how you get on egg wise as well - they do look to be a lovely breed. Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 thanks can anyone give me a bit of advice about vaccinations (maybe I should post as a new thread?) The 2 plymouths that we're thinking of getting have not been vaccinated. I've since read that it's rare for pure breeds to be vaccinated. It's normally only hybrids that are vaccinated. this is taken from the omlet guide to buying chickens... Vaccinated?Another advantage of hybrid chickens is that they have almost always been vaccinated against a range of common diseases making them very hardy and unlikely to get ill. Because it is very expensive to vaccinate chickens, not many small breeders do this and it is rare for pure breed hens to be vaccinated. I was wondering why this was the case??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 This is because hybrids are usually raised in very large quantities, and are traditionally destined for very large flocks or intensive farming enterprises where these diseases are more prevalent and difficult to spot. The large numbers that they are hatched in make vaccination either by feed or misting economically viable. One of these diseases spreading through a large production like this would mean financial disaster. Pure breeds are raised in small numbers and are intended for small scale farming or poultry keeping, where the owner can more easily keep an eye on each hen for any signs of illness. vaccination in this case is not economically viable, nor necessary. I have always had pure breeds and only once has one succumbed to anything that a hybrid would have been vaccinated against. As my poultry vet would say 'it's really not worth bothering'. The backyard hen keeper really has nothing to worry about provided they quarantine any new hens for a week before introducing them to their existing flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 thanks claret. We're waiting for our vet to phone back as we've asked how much it would cost for us to get them vaccinated. Failing that, we might take a trip to Wernlas as they vaccinate all their birds (just been chatting to them on the phone about bantams and vaccinations etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 If you speak to an experienced poultry vet, then they will tell you that it's really not worth getting them vaccinated; if the hens have been raised unvaccinated then the chances are that their immune systems are far stronger than those of vaccinated hens, as the low levels of viruses in the flocks would have led to them developing their own immunity. The serums involved can only be bought in very large quantities, which is why vets don't generally provide vaccinations for individual or small numbers of hens. I had a long conversation about this some time ago with my vet - he's one of the UK's leading poultry experts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 okay, thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
