Best bantam breeds?

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

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I mostly keep large breed chickens but I have one remaining silver laced Wyandotte bantam. She's an old girl but still sprightly and my little boy loves her, I suspect because she's so much smaller than the big fluffies!

When we have moved house, and once we are out the other side of chicken lockdown I'd like to get him a couple more bantams. Or hatching eggs more likely as I'm going to upgrade to a bigger incubator. I may well stick to the Wyandottes as she is a nice calm bird. But I do like the look of Pekins (I'm a sucker for feathered feet). Any other bantam breeds recommended? Aiming for quiet and friendly temperament. I'm not a big fan of silkies, not sure why.
 
I’ve got into bantams (because I can have twice as many lol). My favourite is my welsummer bantam, she’s lovely-very tame. I have some light Sussex banties who look fab but who are completely feral and surprisingly good fliers for their body shape. I also love my leghorn bantams-excellent layers and come in all sorts of pretty colours but they are the Karens of the chicken world. I am not into feathered feet where I am though. @Clodagh keeps Wyandotte bantams I think? Most of my others are crosses for egg colour.
 
I used to breed Sussex Bantams specialising in Speckled, Buffs and Red. Delightful little birds, great with the children, good layers and not too prone to going broody. I had Pekins to use a broody/rearing hens but found you need to ensure they are kept out of mud otherwise they get very mucky. Silkies didn't do it for me either.
 
I do indeed have Wyandotte’s, currently in not recognised colours - porcelain, Millefleur, mottled and lemon millefleurs. They are great, calm, good layers and Broodies and pretty disease resistant.
I like pekins but few eggs and no mud.
I have Dutch as well who I love but are very trying. I’ve managed to catch most of them and put them in a fruit cage but what to with the five who sleep in next doors leylandii. Rather urgently now!
You are welcome to some eggs in the spring.
 
If I was starting again and they still exist I’d have Ameracauna’s. Mutts really but so pretty and great eggs. I think MOC is along the same lines.
 
I've got Pekin bantams and I like them a lot. Sadly, the fox has just got my bachelor group of cockerels who were living in my 'fox proof' area behind high fences and just about to be locked away due to avian flu ?Every last one gone. I'll miss you Jones, Jones, Jones, Jenkins and Grayling.

I've actually got Brahmas, not bantams, as well so we have lots of feathery feet here! They seem to cope fine over winter, but I think heavy mud would be a problem for them.
 
I just love banties! Yes have had hens (ex-battery, who were lovely), but having been given a little trio of banties who a friend couldn't keep anymore, I've gone back to them. Had them when I was a child too.

Don't ask me what mine are, I've no idea!

In the past I've experimented with getting banties which lay different coloured eggs: had a little Plymouth Rock who was a pretty little bird and she laid blue eggs! I also had some Maran hens once who laid some lovely dark brown eggs.
 
I vote for Pekin bantams too. They're gorgeous little mobile flowers. They aren't flighty at all, are reasonably hardy, very docile and easy to tame to being lap chickens. They're also excellent broodies.
 
I love buff orpington bantams we had a trio before we moved to a place we cannot keep hens I like the pekins too we had a trio of black ones
 
I have some frizzle pekins and they’re utter absurd looking wee birds! They make me laugh so much with all their nonsense! I’ve also got smooth pekins, silkies (that i’m not that fussed on) and silver dutch; they’re somewhat plain looking but so friendly- will sit up on my kids shoulders.
 

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