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[Storm]

Hi

Would like to know what would be the best first chickens to keep Bantams or Hybrid Layers. Want to have 4 chickens in the garden in an ark with an extended run and originally was thinking of having something like 4 bluebells or similar hybrids as would like to get some eggs. However now I have seen that some types of Bantam can also lay quite a few eggs so thinking that may be better? Opinions please!

[tom123]

Welcome to the forum!

 

Well with hybrids you are going to get lots of eggs for about 2-4 years and then nothing. They are usually very tame and are low maintenance.

 

With bantams you will get lots of eggs for anything up to 4-5 years. They are lovely to have around and have a real character, bantams are fantastic and I'm a big fan!

 

If I was you I would go with something like a RIR bantam or Sussex bantams or maybe Wyandottes for eggs unless you wanted more of a pet bantam then it would have to be pekins!

 

Where do you live?

 

Good Luck

Tom

[Storm]

Thanks Tom

I live in Kent. What size eggs does something like the Bantam Sussex lay compared to the large fowl version? Seen some picture of Wyandottes in Practical Poultry they are very attractive would they lay eggs all year round? My kids would love them!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Even hybrids aren't guaranteed to lay all year due to reduced sunlight, mine did the first winter and if I'm lucky I get 2 eggs a day from my rabble due to moulting and general age reasons ....... Batties are probably all "laid out", Orpingtons are moulting so is Buttercup and a good few of the others are too young or boys !!!

 

Good luck with your choices

 

Sha x

[BeckyBoo]

Hi, nothing lays continuously all year which is why they live in such contrived conditions commercially. Hybrids will generally lay more frequently during the winter - pure breeds tend to stop from about October to March. There's nothing at all to say you can't get a mixture, two breeds two hybrids. Plenty of people keep different sizes in the same run, I had a Brahma and bantams - all fine together provided you try and get them roughly the same age.

 

Enjoy choosing - it's a nightmare, you'll just have decided what you want then you'll go to get them and fall in love with something totally unsuitable and come home with her anyway!

 

BeckyBoo

[coco]

I have pure breed crosses, two silkie crosses and a light sussex cross and two ex batts. I am still doing introductions between ex batts and other girls but they are all getting on fine when freeranging. My white sussex cross lays me a brown egg everyday and is very freindly. As Beckyboo said you will have fun choosing, I went for two bluebelles and a gingernut Ranger but spotted my sussex cross then started looking around. Came back with my three girls, you'll know what you want when you see them.

[Saronne]

Thanks Tom

I live in Kent. What size eggs does something like the Bantam Sussex lay compared to the large fowl version? Seen some picture of Wyandottes in Practical Poultry they are very attractive would they lay eggs all year round? My kids would love them!

 

 

I have two Bantam Buff Sussex. Their eggs are about 38 gm compared to my LF Light Sussex girls' eggs which are about 50 gm. Both set of girls have only recently started laying. The Bantams are each laying an egg a day at present - despite the low light levels and poor weather!

 

 

Saronne x

[sjp]

i found the more i resheached breed the more i wanted went for a daisybelle and a columbine came back with a columbine,columbian black tail and a speckaldy the went for 2 pures couldn't make my mind up betwen 2 for came back with 3

[Storm]

Thanks for the help. Did speak to a breeder of Bantams yesterday who said hers hardly ever lays eggs so she has a hybrid large fowl to do that job. She also told me to be very careful about mixing them as a larger bird could tread on and kill a Bantam which has now got me worried about this. I think she breeds Pekins but I am thinking maybe not all Bantams are the same size so if I had a larger breed than a Pekin that would be ok? Also she said it might be better if I were to get the Bantams first and a bit older birds then introduce the Hybrids so the little ones were the top of the pecking order. Any other breed suggestions that would be friendly for the kids, lay eggs and would be happy living in a large forsham ark with run would be much appriciated. Thanks

[The Dogmother]

Either - I have experience of both. But hybrids are more robust and probably easier 'beginners hens'

[ajayb]

Have only kept poultry for a year, so not sure how useful my opinion is!

 

We started with hybrids, which are great confidence-builders for the novice, as they're so friendly and easy to handle. Over the year, we've added some pure breeds, which are definitely less docile but do produce spectacularly coloured eggs. At this time of year, we're only getting eggs from the hybrids, who have pretty much laid an egg a day each since they began.

 

To sum up: it depends if you want the eggs or just pets, as bantam eggs that I've seen are tiny. We give away eggs to friends & neighbours and they are very well-received gifts. I'd recommend starting off with a couple of hybrids now and adding some pure breeds over the course of the year if you're enjoying the hen-keeping experience.

[Slim]

Not had bantams so can't comment on that, However I have 3 hybrids a and 3 large breads I will alwasy go for hybrids now! They are easy to catch give lots of eggs and very frendly also easy to catch and handle. My little skyline is such a lovely bird.