4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Kittycat]

After starting an earlier thread about Pekins, I think I've convinced myself that bantams are the way to go (being a newbie with 2 younger children and not a huge garden) but that Pekins (although undeniably cute) are probably not for me. Whilst I'm not looking for egg laying machines, eggs are part of the reason for getting the chickens and it seems that Pekins are just too unreliable. Does anyone have any views on the bantams that are the most consistent layers of a reasonable sized egg?

 

Also, am I right in thinking that 4 bantams would be very comfotable in an eglu?

[Daphne]

We had 5 poland bantams in an eglu and whilst the house was fine, the run wasn't. Got an extension and everything was lovely. Poland bants are quite small, but I could see 4 of most banties being fine - but watch the run (unless they free ranging/out in the pen most of the time of course).

 

Our polands are good layers, odd eggs through the winter as well. The eggs are white and of a very good size considering the size of the bird. The only snag is that you'd have to watch it if you want a mixed flock. They have big wigs (pom pom on top of the head) which means they can't see up and so can get picked on. Ideally they should be kept on their own.

 

I should think bantam Light Sussex would be a good assuming they are as prolific as the Large versions. Leghorns and minorcas are also very good - but both can be flighty. Polands aren't flighty. I should think RIR bantams might be good as well. Oh and Australorps - they're bred for eggs and meat. I seem to be rambling on....sorry! Have fun choosing

[Kittycat]

That's great advice, thanks. Do you have any problems with the Polands' fluffy cheeks?

[Patricia W]

we've got 3 Polands too. One is a cockerel with the most beautiful dreadlocks. Apart from being rather off white at the moment, it's fine. Phillipa's bouffant hair do is always immaculate ( I think she has a mirror in the eglu and doesn't come out till she's put the hair spray on ) but Teddie's flops forward and she then dunks it in the Glug! I have wondered about a ribbon for her..... But, no, we don't find the fluffy hair a problem. As its white, it's always easy to spot where they are in the garden as well!

 

Only one of ours has laid, and has now stopped for a moult, but the eggs were every day and a good size for a bantam.

[Daphne]

no, no problems with the hairdo or the beard and muff if they have them - but use a lipped drinker (a water tower) so they don't dunk their heads each time they drink. They have thinner skulls than other birds and it doesn't do to get soaked all the time - the wig kind of flattens off in an unbecoming monk style leaving pink skin exposed to elements and other beaks. You should check the wig periodically for lice/mites but assuming you have a good programme for controlling this (which everybody should) there shouldn't be a problem. We've had ours for 18 months and no bother so far. Hardy little souls, chatty and great fun

[Janty]

We have Rhode Island Red miniatures, an Orpington miniature and a brahma miniature. All three breeds are reliable layers for pure breeds. It has to be said that the brahma was the best of the three though.

[thewhitehouse]

I have 2 Plymouth Rock bantams (buff girls). They lay like clockwork every day and their eggs are very big for their size . They are the best tasting eggs of any of mine. They look very attractive too and are straightforward to look after (no posh hairdo's or fluffly legs). When I chose them I originally wanted Pekins (I think it was anyway - bit tired tonght and not thinking straight ) but to my inexperienced eye they looked very similar. I was also told by Mrs H from Wernlas that they were a nicer hen.

[Bantambabe]

We have 3 Light Sussex bantams (not "true" bantams I know). The were hatched last April and the first one laid at the end of Oct. After a couple of weeks all 3 were laying everyday. Continued like that til New Year, then production dropped to one a day (always from the same hen). We're back up to 2 a day now and once the snow has cleared etc we'll be back up to 3 I'm sure.

The eggs are small obviously, but I just use 2 in place of 1 hens in recipes, and because the yolks are large it makes the flavour/colour much better in baking.

These are the ladies:

 

They're very pretty:

 

And here's an egg next to a hen's egg:

 

Hope this helps

debs

[Kittycat]

Great pictures Debs, and very useful information. I think I'm leaning towards the 'minis' rather than the true bantams. Light Sussex and Plymouth Rock minis look like they could be a good choice...

 

Anyone any experience of mini orps or brahmas?

[Daphne]

My bantam orp is a good layer, but she didn't start till she was about 9 months old (early hatchings in the year tend to come into lay earlier). She's a one a day girl since the start of this year - say 6 out of 7 days each week. I'll have to see her thru her first season to gauge her properly. People don't normally rate orps as the best layers - all that fluff to maintain! I'd forgotten about Plymouth Rocks; I think they'd be a good choice too.

[The Dogmother]

Out of my lot, the RIR and wyandotte minis are the best layers. Araucanas are pretty good too, and you get the blue eggs

[Milly]

I only have one bantam, a Buff PLymouth Rock. She is very cute, like a golden teddy bear. She doesn't lay every day, but about 4 or 5 a week. I got three hens all the same age and she was the first by about a month to come into lay.

 

Milly

[The Dogmother]

You need to bear in mind that no banties or minis will be brilliant layers on the scale of hybrids - they just aren't bred like that. I keep pure breeds for the beautiful chickens - the eggs are extra.