Minorcas-bantams or LF

[MotherOfChickens]

anyone keep them? am thinking of getting into (one!) bantam breed and love the Mediterranean poultry. Am a bit worried they might not be hardy enough for a Scottish hillside but am building a roofed permanent pen (they'll have access to grass as well).

 

[WelshD]

Both the bantams and LF are tough birds and should be ok

The one thing to near in mind are the fleshy comb, wattles and lobes may suffer in the cold. If they come through thd cold ok the lobes are likely to be marked so if you plan to show them a different approach will be needed

They are smashing birds and need more support thats for sure. I especially love the blues

Other birds maybe worth considering that are less fleshy are Pendesenca (lf) which really are as tough as old boots and the not mediterranean but equally light and charming Appenzeller

The black Hamburgh has a similar look to the minorca but a rose comb and much smaller lobes which may also be better suited

 

[MotherOfChickens]

thanks-do you keep them? The Hamburghs are nice. I'm not sure I particularly want to show but it'd be nice to have the option. How do people keep them out of the cold-would a almost completely enclosed run do it or do they need heat?

 

[Alexart]

They should be fine during the day, unless really really cold then maybe kept indoors for those days, but I'd have a nice draft free chook house that's maybe insulated a bit to protect them a bit more and a heat lamp for really cold weather, and if it looks to drop waaay below freezing then a box indoors might be an idea for them at night to stop frost bite as the cockerels do have pretty large combs! I do know someone who breeds the bantams and as far as I know she keeps hers in a normal small run in an enclosed farm yard, so fairly sheltered, she brings them into a barn for winter, and they seem to be fine, and that's in north cumbria, so guess it depends on where you live and how exposed it is.
Hamburghs are nice - I breed the silver spangled and gold pencilled varieties, they are tough little birds and good layers too of a pretty decent sized egg considering the size of bird and they'll keep laying for years as well, they are a bit more flighty than some breeds though so don't do well in enclosed runs, mine have an acre, and will roost in trees sometimes so wing clipping is occasionally needed!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

thanks. I think I'll do a bit more research (I have found a breeder of both bantam Andalusians and Minoracas up here) and take my time. we have alot of animal housing to get right for the ones I have before I take on a new breed-we moved a few weeks back and there's alot to do. Am building a permanent pen out back next spring, so may well do it with these in mind.