Purplemaniacs Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 For some time our plan for 2012 has been to add some bantams to our feathered family. But what sort of bantams, so far we have only had hybrids and the choice was limited by what Merrydale had at the time, which was good, as making a decision is not one of my strenghts I like Wyandottes, Pekins and Silkies, would these mix together as a flock of 4 or 5? Have read Pekins can be noisy, are they so loud that it should put me off? We would like to get some eggs but that is not the main reason for getting bantams. They would live in a with extended run would 5 be ok or would one nest box be an issue? Sorry lots of questions. Thanks Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 We have a pekin bantam (did have two but one died in January). They are a little squawky but so much fun I would forgive them anything (and will be getting a couple more shortly). We also have a silkie and two light sussex bantams. The sussex bantams are good layers but they are not the friendliest of birds and rule our roost with an iron rod. The silkie is lovely temperament but a little stupid - she's good for a cuddle though I can throughly recommend silkies and pekins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I do have a soft spot for Pekins, they can be stroppy but they are hugely characterful. The feathered feet can be a problem if your run is exposed or muddy though, that applies also to Silkies who don't do well if they get wet either. If you have a sheltered run you'll be fine though. If you get all of the birds young enough then bullying isn't usually a problem and spacewise you'll be fine with most bantams. Some breeds get broody a lot which can tie up the nestbox but I find that the others work around her ok a removable improvised nestbox would be a good idea though. My choice is (of course...) Wyandottes, they are pretty sturdy and generally unflappable. Orpington bantams are super, really lovely but take up a bit more room - Australorps have a similar nature but are more slimline If you want different colour eggs then Araucanas, Leghorns, Minorcas and Anconas are all nice if a bit flighty. Welsummers and Marans should give you brown eggs and aren't as flighty Or you could go a bit unusual and have Old English Game which are lovely or Frizzles which are nice but hard to find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eve Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 ive had marrans and white sussex bantams lovely birds and lay eggs. i have 2 marran bantams at the mo with 2 new hybrids. they get on fine if that helps you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 Another vote for Wyandottes here, I love my Wyandotte bantams, they are very sweet girls and pretty good layers in comparison to my other bantams (thats not saying much) 2-3 eggs each a week and none in the summer as they are really broody most of the time. My pekin is also lovely as is my light sussex, she is top hen and weirdly my pekin is bottom as I know they are feisty girls usually. Good luck picking your new flock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted February 27, 2012 Author Share Posted February 27, 2012 Decisions.......decisions Thank you for your thoughts. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 A vote for Australorps here. My girl is beautiful and lays decent sized eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharon1 Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I have a lovely adorable wyandotte but she is always broody . I think all in all since I had her year last November I've had about 30 eggs if that. At present her latest bout of broodiness started just after Xmas and is still ongoing. My three wheaten marans are great, all three have been laying right through winter, not very noisy but one which I have called Houdini will scale any height luckily it's only into my flower bed which is cordoned off by 6ft mesh but still gets over. I keep threatening her with the scissors but she just ignores. The dark chocolate brown eggs are to die for, they just look like easter eggs, and then there's my Silver spangled Appenzeller who lets all the world know she is laying an (white) egg but is the most inquisitive of the lot, she has to have her beak into everything, even my cup o tea. does not go broody, although this species is supposed to be flighty, she is not and she is not very big, just slightly larger than a bantam and doesn't have a large appetite. I did have an Aruacana who again wasn't much bigger than a bantam, she was gorgeous, did not make much noise, wasn't flighty, didn't go broody,very friendly, only have about 4 months worth of laying eggs which unfortunately was cut short by having an impacted crop and had to be put to sleep, she laid beautiful blue eggs and I would say out of all the breeds I've have had upto now the Aruacana would probably be at the top of my list when getting more chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 I have a pekin, had 2 but one passed away, and agree with what others have said. Perfect little hens and great mothers. My fav little bantams were my millefleur sablepoots. They are stunning little birds and so friendly. Happy to be picked up. However, very , very, prone to mareks disease at any age, not just as chicks. Lost two this way Heartbreaking.Remaining 'poot seems to be resistant but I'll always be watchful for signs. Alli x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayleybug Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 im having the same dilemma but for my first chickens! all bantams look equally lovely when i look at pics and info on them, but I have narrowed it down to wyandottes, orps and light sussex, all for their looks in the first instance! some combination of those breeds are going to feature for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Oooh this is a tough one! From my little flock I'd say my Australorp girls are living up to the Australorp reputation for being very reliable layers of decent sized eggs but my Pekin girls are also doing fabulously on that front (even though the eggs are smaller) and so is Squeak, one of my D'Anvers. Kitty (Orpington) laid her first egg on Sunday and it was a lovely size too Both she and Kat are very cuddly...as are Matilda, my black Australorp girlie and Pip (my other D'Anver). Here she is a couple of weekends ago falling asleep in the crook of my arm! Dotty and Flo my Frizzles are quite aloof but I'm working on them and the Silkies (even though I've only had them a couple of weeks) seem to be as daft as brushes I love them all and feel very lucky to have such a lovely little flock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 I have a little Light Sussex Chicken of Fate (Houdini) - she's quiet, friendly, loves to be held and a fan of sneaky treats when the others aren't watching! She's cute, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 Whatever you get, be prepared for them to behave in a manner contrary to what you would expect. Silkies - they are quiet and non-diggy right? And they go broody all the time. Nope! My silkies, particularly Sioned, are noisy and a formidable digging team. So far, none of my silkies have ever gone broody (of course they will all go broody now...) Pekins - sweet, quiet? Dilys is feisty and thinks she is top chicken even though she is the smallest of the lot. She will even jump right up to try and peck one of my big girls on the neck, because she can't quite reach... She isn't diggy though - that is a plus. And watching a Pekin flap-running down the garden on her little short legs is very comical. Wyandottes - sturdy, sweet, good egg-layers? Deryn turns into a hissing monster and will attack you when she's broody, which as far as I can tell is all summer. Three eggs - broody - recover - repeat....until winter. She is a very beautiful girl, but doesn't behave as expected! My solution - get any bantam, and just be prepared to put up with her foibles. They all have their own personalities and will confound you repeatedly by not behaving acording to the book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 4, 2012 Share Posted March 4, 2012 Another vote for Wyandottes from me. I have 4 and they are all lovely, if sometimes a little noisy - but they tell me they are just practising their singing They also lay lovely little eggs and one of them started laying on New Years Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloss-Hen Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I recommend silkies as mine for the past 5/6 weeks have been laying they have also bonded with me easily and are good for cuddling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 Oh it is soooooo hard to decide and if we get little chicks they may all end up as boys I like the idea of Wyandottes too, silkies maybe, pekins maybe? Perhaps the answer is to get a mixture of chicks, would 10 be too many for a first batch of chicks? Then see which if any are girls. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
