Pros and cons of Bantam chickens

Unlike many backyard chicken keepers, we started off with a mixed flock.

When we started calculating how much space we would need for full size chickens, we quickly realised we wouldn’t be able to give that many hens the free ranging space they needed. Space within the coop wasn’t an issue as we were building a larger one than we needed (and we haven’t replaced it since, despite going from only 3 to 10 full size hens over time).

This space limitation was how we first started looking into bantam chickens. They are at least half the size (if not smaller) than a full size hen of other breeds and still lay eggs (although not very reliably). They can make great pets for kids too, as we soon realised.

Everything we read online however told us that these chickens wouldn’t do well living with full sized hens and might get bullied a lot.

We were confident that we could keep them safe however and decided to take the risk. Plus, this was all during the lockdowns so our local choices for chickens were somewhat limited and we happened upon someone who was hatching both full sized hens and bantams.

We collected three pullets (at around 10 weeks old) and went back a week or so later to collect the bantams.

Since then, we’ve always had a mixed flock and wanted to share some pros and cons of bantam chickens with you here.

—

Pros
Bantams need less space than full sized breeds
Lower feed consumption
Good chickens for children to handle
Often friendly and sweet
Lay adorable half size eggs
Often broody, so will sit on eggs to hatch (should you want to try hatching your own chicks)
Bantam cockerels are not as noisy as full sized birds
Bantam cockerels are safer in a mixed flock than a full sized cockerel, who could hurt a bantam hen quite badly

Cons
Not reliable layers
Their smaller size can make them harder to catch
Can fly further than a full sized hen (ours have gotten over the fence before)
Can be the target of the pecking order
Easier to lose or get stuck under something (like the log pile)
Being closer to the ground means they get muddier in bad weather and can need a proper bath to clean their feathers

—

Although we have often complained that our bantam hens don’t lay very well and get broody often, something has always stopped us from getting rid of them completely as they are so cute! They have historically held their own very well with the much larger hens.

We have kept Pekin bantams, partridge bantams (named for their colouring like partridges) and lavender bantams (very lovely grey/ purple colour) so far.

Our most handsome cockerel ever (rest in peace, bless him) was a bantam and was truly a gentleman. He found the tastiest bugs for his ladies, never took advantage and still tolerated the occasional cuddle from one of the girls.

We hope this short list of pros and cons and sharing our experiences of keeping a mixed flock with bantam chickens is helpful for you, as you navigate choosing backyard chickens.

Drop us a line if you need more information about bantams.