CheekyPekins Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 (edited) I currently have 2 Pekins and an Orpington bantam. My husband is building a WIR (with a bigger coop) which means.... I'll have room for a couple more hens! I really like my bantam girls, as I have 2 children who are 3 and 5, so smaller hens are good Does anyone have recommendations of bantams I could add to my little flock? I'd prefer breeds which are friendly. Thanks Edited September 23, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted September 23, 2012 Share Posted September 23, 2012 Sussex bantams are nice I have large fowl and they are very friendly, no fuss and hardy birds. They are good layers and very pretty - especially the buff and speckled. Although I've never had them, I think silkies are nice and are said to be very friendly. They are very broody though. If you have a classic you should be able to put more bantams in it than three if you are building a WIR. It is suitable for 6 and some people have 8 bantams in their classic with no problems. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheekyPekins Posted September 23, 2012 Author Share Posted September 23, 2012 Thanks Zak - I'll have a nose at Sussex bantams Esp. as they're good layers too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Sussex and silkies and supposed to be lovely, I don't have bantams, but from what I hear there are some decent layers who are pretty hardy. If I were buying bantams there ones I would consider are, Australorp, Wyandottes, Araucana ( ), Faverolles, Rhode Islands Reds etc. From what I know (I have large fowl dottes and Araucanas) they are all decent layers for bantams and are less fragile that some other breeds. There are also pretty readily available. Polish bantams are also very popular, but apparently can be a bother in a mixed flock. Unless you trim their hairdo they can't see very well and are prone to bullying. This is especially a problem with them as polish have quite thin skulls... Hope all that helps! Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I would def go for Maran bantams for their loooooooooooovely dark brown eggs. In fact am going to try and source some myself next year. Alli x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I love most bantams, but my sweetest girl has to be my Rhode Island Red girly. She has absolutely no malice in her and loves to come for a cuddle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 I love most bantams too (had a bad experience with Polands and won't be keeping those ever again ) and I keep Australorps, Frizzles, Pekins, Orpingtons, Silkies, Barbu D'Anvers, Barbu de Watermael and Seramas. For egg laying I'd definitely say Australorps, for daft looks I'd say Silkies and my most friendly girls are the smaller ones...D'Anvers, de Watermael and Serama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 The games are lovely, full of personality. The OEGs are very chatty and nice and firm to pick up and the moderns are very charming, friendly, intelligent and like a cuddle. Quite good egg layers too of a surprising size for such wee birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheekyPekins Posted September 24, 2012 Author Share Posted September 24, 2012 Thanks for all the replies It looks as though I may have my work cut out, making a decision... I guess it will partly come down to what the local breeders in Somerset produce! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamspencer98 Posted September 24, 2012 Share Posted September 24, 2012 Faverolle bantams! I was looking for some when I was buying, but they didn't have any. Then I went back to the farm to get some food and they had some! I was very tempted because they're so friendly and funny to look at Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
