Bantams: The Fun And Unique Chicken Breed

Brahamas

Class: Feather Legged 

Male Mature Weight: up to 38 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 34 oz.

Egg Color: Brown

These birds were derived from the standard size breed of the same name. All three types of these birds are very gentle and easy to handle. These birds all lay and hatch well.

Varieties

Light Brahmas:

These birds have a pure white body with black laced tail and hackle feathers.

Buff Brahmas:

One of the newest varieties. They have a pretty buff body and black tails and laced hackles. They are very attractive birds.

Dark Brahmas:

This breed is one of the oldest varieties of Brahmas. It has a color pattern known as silver penciled and has a greenish black sheen. Seeing these feathers shine in the sunlight is really a wonderful site.

Sultans

Class: Feather Legged Bantams

Male Mature Weight: up to 26 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 22 oz.

Egg Color: White

This bird was bred from it's standard size counterpart that has origins from Turkey (the country, not the bird). This very unusual bird has a crest, beard and muff, vulture hocks, feathered shanks, and five toes. Quite a site to behold.

Cochin Bantams:

Class: Feather Legged Bantams

Male Mature Weight: up to 32 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 28 oz.

Egg Color: Brown

These Birds are feathered down the shanks and toes and actually appear to be much larger than they are because of the elaborate plumage. They are typically gentle, good setters, and require little space. There are quite a few color varieties. We have listed the most common below.

Varieties:

White:

Both the male and female are a pure white color with bright red comb and wattle.

Buff:

The buffs have a golden color. These birds are good layers and very pleasant to look at.

Partridge:

The males saddle and hackle feathers are orange-red in color. This combined with the greenish-black body makes for a very stately nice looking bird. The female is feathered with a more mahogany brown colored and penciled with black.

Birchen:

The base color of these birds is black and it has a nice green sheen to it as well. The upper breast on both sexes is white with narrow black stripes. The males are also colored this way on their backs.

Black:

This bird has a dark black plumage that sets it apart from the other Cochins. Like most dark colored birds it gives off a greenish sheen, especially in the sunlight. The bright red comb and wattle against the black background makes this a very handsome bird.

Mottled:

A deep, greenish-black base color with many of the feathers topped in white make for a contrast that gives this bird a very unique look.

Barred:

To most people this is a very pleasant variety to look at. You have defined parallel bars that of alternate dark and white that cover the entire bird.

Red:

The entire surface of both male and female of this variety is a deep shade of red. This coupled with the bright red comb and wattle gives the bird a very handsome look.

Blue:

Blue is a unique color for a chicken. These birds often vary from a bluish-white shade to a dark navy blue.

Golden Laced:

This is one of my personal favorite varieties. Each feather is a rich, golden bay laced with a greenish-black. It makes for a very attractive, eye catching bird.

Silkie Bantams:

Class: Feather Legged Bantams

Male Mature Weight: up to 36 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 32 oz.

Egg Color: White

These birds originated in the far East. Both China and Japan claim to have bred the first ones. They have black skin and feathers that feel much like hair. They are a very unusual breed. They come in both bearded and non-bearded varieties.

White:

They are striking in their appearance with their white plumage and mulberry colored face, comb, and wattles.

Blue

They have all the qualities of the other Silkies, but will often vary more in color, like most blue birds. They have kind of a poodle look to me.

Black:

These guys are just like the name describes, black. They have mulberry colored combs, wattles and face.

Buff

They are buff colored with the same black skin as the other Silkies, and have the same mulberry colored facial features and combs. This coloring is fairly rare.

Japanese:

Class: Single Comb Clean-Legged

Male Mature Weight: up to 26 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 22 oz.

Egg Color: White

These guys carry their tails upward and higher than the head. The wings angle back and down along the sides. When breeding these chicks you often have different leg length varieties. Some will have short legs and others long.

Black Tailed White:

This breed stands out because of the contrast between the white body and the black tail feathers that are held high. The primary wing feathers are also usually black.

Black:

As the name describes, they are dark black with a neat contrasting deep red comb and wattle. They are very handsome birds.

White:

With white feathers all over the body and a red comb and wattle, these birds stand out with the typical Japanese style.

Black Tailed Buff:

This variety is very much like the Black Tailed White variety except it is a lovely buff color instead of white. This is a very pretty bird and one of the most popular Bantam varieties.

Cornish:

Class: Clean Legged

Male Mature Weight: up to 44 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 32 oz.

Egg Color: Brown

These are the smaller versions of the standard Cornish breeds. The hens lay brown eggs and the males make for a nice small meat bird.

Varieties:

White:

Pure white in color with red comb and wattle.

Dark Cornish:

Colored and built the same as it's standard counterpart. They are tightly feathered, alert and quick.

White Laced Red:

They are known for their sturdy looks and brilliant rich red feathers which are tipped in white. A very attractive bird.

Araucana:

Class: Clean Legged Bantams

Male Mature Weight: up to 30 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 26 oz.

Egg Color: Tinted

The bantam that lays the colored (Easter) egg. Their eggs are a bluish-green tint and are well known for their quality. This is one of the most popular recent breeds in the U.S. They come in different shades and color patterns just like the standard breed.

White Crested Polish:

Class: Clean Legged Bantams

Male Mature Weight: up to 30 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 26 oz.

Egg Color: White

These birds have a solid black body with a white top hat. They are non-bearded, quite small and easy to care for.

Black Rose comb:

Class: Clean Legged Bantam

Male Mature Weight: up to 26 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 22 oz.

Egg Color: White

The Rose comb is another very old variety that has a beautiful greenish sheen, majestic comb, stylish body, and is full of personality. This is a very small bantam and is used for both show and for pets.

Sebrights:

Class: Rose Combed Clean Legged Bantam

Male Mature Weight: up to 22 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 20 oz.

Egg Color: White

The Sebrights have the unique distinction of being the only chicken that is "hen feathered." This means that the male has no pointed sex feathers in the hackle, saddle, or tail. They are small birds, but are very much in demand.

They come in two predominant varieties: silver, with silver white feathers and golden, which are golden bay in color.

Hamburgs:

These bantam chickens come in 10 different varieties and all have rose combs. They are also known as Holland Hoens.

Silver Spangled Hamburg:

These guys have a very unique color. They have silver on the tips of their feathers and come in a medium size for a bantam.

Golden Penciled Hamburg:

These guys have a very unique coloring and are fairly rare. Very pretty birds.

Old English Game Bantams:

Class: Game Bantams

Male Mature Weight: up to 24 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 22 oz.

Egg Color: Brown

Red Pyle:

A very pretty bird with a red upper and lighter tale. Other varieties of this bird include the Silver Duckwing and the B.B. Red.

Belgian D'Uccle:

Class: Feather Legged Bantams

Male Mature Weight: up to 26 oz.

Female Mature Weight: up to 22 oz.

Egg Color: White

These beautiful birds came to Europe from Japan in the 17th century. They come in both bearded and non-bearded varieties. These birds have vulture hocks and many different colorings.

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