Read Online A Family Guide To Keeping Chickens by Anne Perdeaux - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Anne Perdeaux
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feisty). Those with feathered legs and feet are better suited to an enclosed run, although they will appreciate a chance to roam around the garden. Some can fly well. The smaller birds will be at risk from a variety of predators.
There are several breeds of true bantams – these are some of the most common:
Barbu d’Anvers – quail colour
Belgian Bearded Bantams
There are three main varieties of these charming little birds.
The Barbu d’Anvers (or Antwerp Bearded Bantam) has generous mufflingand beard but no leg feathers. It comes in many colours, lays a fair number of white eggs and is likely to go broody.
Barbu d’Uccle – millefleur
The Barbu d’Uccle is also bearded and muffled but has feathered feet and legs. It too comes in a range of colours, the most popular being millefleur. This consists of deep orange feathers with a black and white pattern – as the name suggests, like a thousand flowers. The d’Uccle also lays a reasonable amount of white eggs and is likely to go broody.
The Barbu du Watermael is the smallest, being similar to the d’Anvers but more delicate looking. It comes in a vast range of colours and makes a good pet, but doesn’t lay many eggs and frequently goes broody.
Barbu du Watermael cockerel – quail colour
Booted Bantam
Another pretty little chicken with abundant leg and feet feathers, this bantam is also known as the Sabelpoot and is available in a large choice of colours. It makes an ideal pet for children but isn’t a great layer and often goes broody.
Booted Bantams – lemon millefleur
Lavender Pekin Bantam
Pekin Bantam
These cuddly bantams are one of the most popular breeds for children. They seem to enjoy human company but can be surprisingly feisty with other chickens, fearlessly taking on much larger breeds. Pekins are widely available in many colours. Their fluffy feathers come down to their feathered feet so they are better kept in dry conditions, although they appreciate a chance to forage in the garden. They lay a reasonable number of eggs and are enthusiastic broodies.
Rosecomb Bantam
Mainly kept for showing or as pets, the defining feature of this attractive bantam is the ‘rose comb’ – a flat knobbly comb, finishing in a spike. They have distinctive white ear lobes and carry their wings elegantly low.These bantams are easy to tame and enjoy roaming around (they are good fliers), although they can also be kept in a pen.They are less likely to go broody than some bantams, but their eggs are small and they don’t lay very many.
Rosecomb Bantam
Sebright
This is a particularly eye-catching bantam, available as silver- or gold-laced (white or gold feathers with black borders). They are delightful characters but won’t supply many eggs. They enjoy foraging in the garden but are able to fly well. This breed is susceptible to Marek’s disease so make sure they have been vaccinated before buying. They are difficult to breed successfully and only go broody occasionally.
Silver-laced Sebright Bantam
Serama
This breed is becoming more popular in the UK and is included because it is the smallest breed of chicken in the world, so may be suitable if space is limited. In their native Malaysia Seramas are sometimes kept in the house and although fairly hardy, they need some protection in cold weather. Eggs are tiny (five are equivalent to one standard egg) and not very plentiful. Hens will occasionally go broody. They are confident, friendly birds, easy to tame. The breed club website says the Serama is often described as a ‘living work of art’.
Serama Bantam
Chickens Don’t Always Follow the Rules!
There are so many different types of chicken to choose from that it should be easy to find one that will exactly suit your requirements – except chickens can break the rules whenever they like.
Although chickens usually conform to their stereotypes, there can be variations, so you should be prepared for the unexpected. ‘Shadow’, my friendly
There are several breeds of true bantams – these are some of the most common:
Barbu d’Anvers – quail colour
Belgian Bearded Bantams
There are three main varieties of these charming little birds.
The Barbu d’Anvers (or Antwerp Bearded Bantam) has generous mufflingand beard but no leg feathers. It comes in many colours, lays a fair number of white eggs and is likely to go broody.
Barbu d’Uccle – millefleur
The Barbu d’Uccle is also bearded and muffled but has feathered feet and legs. It too comes in a range of colours, the most popular being millefleur. This consists of deep orange feathers with a black and white pattern – as the name suggests, like a thousand flowers. The d’Uccle also lays a reasonable amount of white eggs and is likely to go broody.
The Barbu du Watermael is the smallest, being similar to the d’Anvers but more delicate looking. It comes in a vast range of colours and makes a good pet, but doesn’t lay many eggs and frequently goes broody.
Barbu du Watermael cockerel – quail colour
Booted Bantam
Another pretty little chicken with abundant leg and feet feathers, this bantam is also known as the Sabelpoot and is available in a large choice of colours. It makes an ideal pet for children but isn’t a great layer and often goes broody.
Booted Bantams – lemon millefleur
Lavender Pekin Bantam
Pekin Bantam
These cuddly bantams are one of the most popular breeds for children. They seem to enjoy human company but can be surprisingly feisty with other chickens, fearlessly taking on much larger breeds. Pekins are widely available in many colours. Their fluffy feathers come down to their feathered feet so they are better kept in dry conditions, although they appreciate a chance to forage in the garden. They lay a reasonable number of eggs and are enthusiastic broodies.
Rosecomb Bantam
Mainly kept for showing or as pets, the defining feature of this attractive bantam is the ‘rose comb’ – a flat knobbly comb, finishing in a spike. They have distinctive white ear lobes and carry their wings elegantly low.These bantams are easy to tame and enjoy roaming around (they are good fliers), although they can also be kept in a pen.They are less likely to go broody than some bantams, but their eggs are small and they don’t lay very many.
Rosecomb Bantam
Sebright
This is a particularly eye-catching bantam, available as silver- or gold-laced (white or gold feathers with black borders). They are delightful characters but won’t supply many eggs. They enjoy foraging in the garden but are able to fly well. This breed is susceptible to Marek’s disease so make sure they have been vaccinated before buying. They are difficult to breed successfully and only go broody occasionally.
Silver-laced Sebright Bantam
Serama
This breed is becoming more popular in the UK and is included because it is the smallest breed of chicken in the world, so may be suitable if space is limited. In their native Malaysia Seramas are sometimes kept in the house and although fairly hardy, they need some protection in cold weather. Eggs are tiny (five are equivalent to one standard egg) and not very plentiful. Hens will occasionally go broody. They are confident, friendly birds, easy to tame. The breed club website says the Serama is often described as a ‘living work of art’.
Serama Bantam
Chickens Don’t Always Follow the Rules!
There are so many different types of chicken to choose from that it should be easy to find one that will exactly suit your requirements – except chickens can break the rules whenever they like.
Although chickens usually conform to their stereotypes, there can be variations, so you should be prepared for the unexpected. ‘Shadow’, my friendly
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