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[pixiewish]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a bantam breed that would be good for a starter.

 

We'd ideally like to get 3.

Need to be a friendly breed so our toddler could handle them.

Easy to maintain ?fluffy feet mean more work.

Not too destructive if possible.

 

Thanks for any input

[williamspencer98]

I would definatley not recommend a Japanese Bantam. I know it sounds really cruel, but when I previously had a Japanese, she was very snooty, and never wanted you to touch her (and she has feathered feet) she was even called Posh!

 

Pekin's are very friendly, and I'd recommend getting either 2, or 4. (2's company 3's a crowd) its better to have even numbers!

 

I had a Pekin called Lucy, and she went broody but she was still friendly as ever! So was the chick!

 

Frizzle's are gorgeous too.

 

Good luck and please let me know how you get on

 

Will

[Redwing]

Pekins are lovely but have feathered feet

 

Sussex bantams are nice as are Plymouth Rocks - both are usually easy to handle

 

I do think though that the ideal bantam is the Wyandotte bantam, they are docile and easy going usually and they are nice hardy birds with a 'farmyard' shape they come in lots of different colours too so you could have three different colours

[dance in the dark]

Obviously some of the most popular bantams (or almost bantams) have feathery feet, pekins, silkies, booted etc. Or there's the Japanese bantam, but they need plenty of attention due to their tiny legs.

 

There are also bantams which have beards or crests, d'anvers, d'uccle, araucana and polish which are easier to deal with that feathery feet, but they can require extra attention.

 

Some of the other popular bantams breeds like sebright, rosecomb and game bantams can take quite good care of themselves, but they can be a bit more fragile when it comes to cold weather.

 

I would probably agree that wyandotte bantams, orpington bantams or sussex bantams are your best bet. They are readily available and from what I know quite resilient, and for bantams quite good egg layers. If you are willing to search a little more any bantam version of the more straightforward large fowl would be good. Rhode Island red, australorp, naked necks (always a talking point) etc.

 

Happy shopping!

[seraphine]

I know they have feathered feet but I'm absolutely loving our pekin chicks, so friendly and more than happy to be held/carried around by my young daughters.

[pixiewish]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I have found a localish pekin bantam, and have a contact for a possible wyandotte bantam.

 

If i got from different suppliers i guess I would need to keep them segregated for a while?

 

are the feathered feet that much extra work?

[mollyripkim]

No I dont find the feathered feet much of a problem and mine free range all day. I do check them regularly and once had to dip Gerties feet in a warm bowl of water as she had gone mad in the wet border which then dried to her feet. It was really easy and she didn't object.

[seraphine]

I would wholeheartedly recommend getting young chicks if you can - ours were 6/7 weeks when we got them. Obviously we'll have a fair wait for eggs (but then they're bantams, if eggs were my sole reason for getting chooks then I'd have got hybrids) but they're so lovely and friendly which is just fantastic for my children and we're loving watching them grow up.

[pixiewish]

Well so far I have found:

 

Chocolate opington bantams POL ready in August

Pekins ready as growers from now, but expect still to have POL for August

2 blue laced wyandotte bantams POL ready now or some 6 week pekins but unlikely to have any POL in august.

 

We were putting off getting them till august to give us plenty of time to sort out coop/run and because of holidays...

[daxigirl]

Oooo, love my Old English Game Bantie, she's chunky and solid to get hold of and very talkative.

[pips_pekins]

I have 4 bantams and can definitely recommend a Wyandotte, mine is a big softie who lays good sized eggs. I also have a frizzled Pekin and her feet are nearly always caked in mud, she is the only one that digs holes in the garden and she is not as friendly as the others. I still love her, she is very funny to watch but I won't be getting another chicken with feathered feet. I think it is a personal thing though as most people on here don't mind.

[Space Chick]

Another vote for a Wyandotte bantam as a hardy, friendly, easy to look after bantams I have four of them in my flock and they are great birds, good layers and excellent pets.

 

One follows my friends daughter around like a little puppy

[Redwing]

Most breeders will hatch March/April and so have most sellable stock in the summer so you should find that you have many more options when the time comes.

 

Roughly where are you? I know a few really good breeders in different parts of the country and others will no doubt have recommendations of people they have bought from - most bantams sales tend to be by recommendations rather than as a result of advertising

[dance in the dark]

I would totally go for blue laced wyandottes, they are one of the nicest wyandotte patterns!! Chocolate orpingtons are also beautiful, and both those breeds should be hardy, strong, and (for bantams) decent layers.

 

As for the sugggestion of Modern game, it is my dream to find some L/F modern game for myself, but finding them is like impossible, I can't even find hatching eggs!

[pixiewish]

This is sounding encouraging

 

Redwing I am in suffolk...on the essex border side. So far have been looking at breeders who have websites/advertisements on poultry pages. have to say so far they have been quite helpful with my enquiries. If you can recommend anyone local that would be great as it would be so reassuring.