A bantam chicken may appear to be just like a standard breed, but with their small size, they require additional care and protection from the elements and predators. Before you add some bantams to your flock, here are a few things to know before bringing them home.
What is a Bantam Chicken?
A bantam chicken is a tiny chicken, usually one-quarter to one-fifth the size of a standard chicken.
Purchasing a Bantam Chicken
When purchasing a bantam chicken(s), there are several options to choose from. While hatcheries sell bantam chicks, they are sold straight run. This can be problematic for those not wanting an overrun of roosters. Bear in mind that even when hatched by a mother hen, roosters usually outnumber hens, so be sure to have a backup plan for those extra cockerels if you decide to go with chicks.
Another option is to purchase adult bantams from a reputable breeder. This is often the best choice as bantam chicks can be fragile and hard to get started.
Before purchasing from a breeder, do your research to see if the breeder is reputable. Don’t be afraid to ask for references of other bantam chicken owners who have purchased from the breeder in the past to see if they are satisfied with their chickens.
Just like standard chickens, never purchase a sick bantam chicken. Only buy from a breeder where all the birds have clean bright eyes, clear airways, and unruffled feathers.
Before introducing your bantams to the rest of your flock, be sure to quarantine them for at least a month to avoid the spreading of diseases and harmful pathogens.
Bantam Chicken Coop
A bantam chicken coop should be spacious enough for the bantams to move around in without being overcrowded. While a bantam chicken may be smaller than a standard chicken, they still require the same amount of room.
Bantam chickens are not as weather-hardy as standard breeds, so they will need to spend more time in the coop than their larger cousins. Providing extra space will keep your bantams happy and your coop cleaner.
Ideally, bantam hens should have one nesting box per hen. These hens often go broody and can be territorial about their nest. So be sure to include enough nesting boxes when planning your coop.
Perches should be two inches wide, allowing their feet to lie flat on the perch. This creates a more comfortable perching style for bantams and allows their small bodies to entirely cover their feet, preventing frostbitten toes in the winter.
A bantam chicken coop should be completely predator-proofed with no cracks or holes larger than one-half inch. Be sure to cover window openings with 16-gauge half-inch hardware cloth to keep raccoons and other predators out.
The Run
A bantam chicken requires a sturdy 16-gauge, half-inch hardware cloth roof over the run to not only keep predators out, but also bantams in. For a chicken, bantams are strong fliers and can easily scale a six-foot fence.
Like the coop, a bantam chicken’s run should be completely predator-proofed with no gaps larger than one-half inch. Attach predator skirts to the perimeter of the coop and run to prevent digging predators from accessing the coop and run.
Weather or Not
A bantam chicken should not be allowed outdoors during rain, snow or other precipitation. Never allow a bantam chicken access to the run if the ground is damp, as this can make them sick.
Bantams are not as cold-hardy as standard chicken breeds, so limit outdoor exposure to only a couple of minutes at a time when temperatures dip below 40°F.
Never allow bantams outdoors when temperatures dip below thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Consider adding a coop-safe heat source to the coop during winter when coop temperatures fall consistently below forty degrees.
Feed & Water Needs
Just like a standard chicken, a bantam chicken requires a layer feed (after hens have reached maturity), supplemental oyster shell and grit, and benefits from other nutrients such as prebiotics, probiotics, and beneficial treats such as dried black soldier fly larvae, fruit, herbs, and vegetables.
Even though they are usually thought of as an ornamental chicken, a bantam chicken still requires a nutrient-rich diet, so stay clear of the scratch for these delightful chickens.
Provide bantam chickens with fresh water at all times. Change water and rinse water fountains thoroughly before refilling twice daily. Wash water fountains once weekly with a mild dish soap before rinsing to help keep bantam chickens healthy.
House Chickens?
Despite their small size and friendly disposition, a bantam chicken should never be kept as a house pet. Even though it may be tempting to scoop up your little feathered friend and bring them into the house, like all barnyard birds, a bantam chicken will be happiest and healthiest outdoors.
Special Considerations for Bantam Chicken Owners
Because of their small size and increased vulnerability to predator attacks, never allow bantam chickens to free range.
Bantam chickens are so tiny that they can be targeted by rats. To prevent a rat attack on your flock, keep mealtimes short (around twenty to thirty minutes twice daily), clean up spilled feed and uneaten treats and table scraps daily, store feed in metal trash cans where rats and other vermin can’t access it, and be sure to keep your coop, run, and yard free of long grasses, dog and cat food, weeds, and wood piles.
Bantam chickens with feathered feet and other fancy feathered bantams need to be kept clean and dry at all times.
A bantam chicken’s coop must be cleaned weekly to prevent illness in the flock.
Bantam chickens can get sick more easily than standard breeds and are more prone to certain diseases like Marek’s disease. Vaccinating bantams against Marek’s disease and feeding a healthy, well-balanced diet is the best way to prevent diseases and keep your flock healthy.
A bantam chicken may require a little more dedication and work than standard breeds, but these little sweethearts quickly steal your heart and make the extra work worthwhile.
This article about bantam chicken care was written for Hobby Farms and Chickens magazines. Click here to subscribe.
