Japanese Bantam Chickens
One of my readers of this blog, Pamella, sent over a link to a Craigslist posting that was selling some Japanese Bantams. She wrote and said, “I sent u a posting of chickens 4 sale from craigslist in my area that u may interested in discussing in your blog”. Well here it is and thanks for the suggestion.
If the cute picture of the baby chick doesn’t appeal to you then maybe the adult bantam chickens will. I personally do not have any of this chicken breed but I have seen them at local fairs.
They are a beautiful breed. Miniature in size but not lacking in color. And from what I experienced, the size does not diminish their noise level. Very loud and shrill! You cannot deny that they are in the neighborhood if a rooster is present.
The Japanese Bantam chicken breed is a miniature sized chicken with distinct features of large comb, large wings that touch the ground, squirrel-tailed feathers and very short legs. A great show bird and good pets according to some. My pictures do not portray, but there are a variety of this small breed such as, Black, White, Black Tailed, Birchen, Mottled, others.
Here are a few other features of this chicken breed:
- Lays tiny white egg
- Good layer
- Large single comb
- Weighs approximately 1.3lbs.
- Excellent brooder and protective mother
- Generally friendly, cocks can be aggressive
- Some are fliers but tolerates confinement also
- Not suited for fowl weather due to short legs and fancy feathering
- Due to a genetic characteristic in Japanese bantams there is no such thing as a pure short legged Japanese.
- Great poultry show birds and very popular
Just the stature of this bantam rooster makes him look mean to me. He looks very proud and ready to take on anything! Very intimidating for his size.
Don’t ya just love this picture? The red barn background with the stunning white rooster. Gorgeous! But beware…check out the spurs on this dude! I wouldn’t dare turn my back on this one. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that all of the roosters in this small breed attack, but I have heard and read some stories. Maybe if I decide to take the plunge and add some of this chicken breed to my flock, I will stick mainly with the hens or either be on my guard.
As always, if there is a breed you would like me to highlight, send me a shout.
Tags: chicken breeds
September 16th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Hi Carole,
What cool photos! I have two white japanes Bantams that I received from our local zoo. I don’t know if they are a roo and hen yet, but time will tell! They are indeed tiny. They are living with the regular chickens and seem to be doing just fine. I think they are aggressive enough to take care of themselves.
Interesting post!
dons last blog post..Harvest Time?
[Reply]
September 17th, 2008 at 12:41 am
I happened to come across this blog on an unrelated search.
What I’m going to say is very serious, although it might seem that I am being insensitive, I assure you that I am not.
About 30 years ago I lived on a farm where we had about 20 laying hens. One of them escaped and the german sheppard/collie mix dog that we had killed and ate the chicken. From that point in time, the dog was always looking for a chance to sneak into the chicken house to have himself a chicken. It even got so bad that he would dig under the wall of the chicken house to get in and kill a chicken. After several of the chickens had been killed and we were unable to stop the slaughter we were faced with a dilemea — Get rid of the dog or the chickens. We gave the chickens to someone who lived about two miles away.
The moral of this story is that you must do whatever it takes to prevent your dog from killing a chicken in the first place. Once they have killed one they “acquire a taste” for killing them and will stop at nothing to do so.
[Reply]
September 17th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Itsme, Thanks for stopping in and commenting. I have experienced what you wrote about and do agree. Before moving to FL I lived on a farm and we had a german shepherd. The dog killed one of the many calves that we had so we ended up getting rid of the dog. As you stated, once they “acquire a taste” it is almost impossible to break that habit.
[Reply]
September 17th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Don, I saw your lovely little bantam chickens on your sight. Very cute! Thanks for dropping in and commenting.
[Reply]
March 19th, 2009 at 7:50 am
I have been raising gray japanese bantams for about 3 years.And i would like to say that i have not had one problem with the roosters being aggresive. they have never flogged a person and are very gentle. the only time they show agressiveness is between another rooster.they can take care of themselves.my daughter has shown them at our county fair for the past 3 years.and recieved reserve champion with her hen.
[Reply]
March 19th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Angie, Congrats to your daughter and her champion hen. I’m sure it is a thrill to her. I’m glad your roosters are not aggressive. I’m sure there are exceptions in every breed. I recently purchased an Australorp rooster because I read they were gentle. Well he was not! I couldn’t turn my back or he would be running after me. I got rid of him fairly quickly. Unfortunately this rooster has taught me not to trust any rooster no matter the breed.
Thanks for stopping in and commenting!
[Reply]
March 31st, 2009 at 9:57 pm
I want to buy a pair of dutch bantams wer can I buy this is e mail lorenzo8a@sbcglobal.net
[Reply]
April 15th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I want to buy pure japanese bantham chicken, pls. help me find 2 sts
[Reply]
April 18th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Hello,
I am looking for young Japanese Bantams in Northeast Ohio. Love this site. The info is great! five27@att.net
Cathys last blog post..Chicken Nest Box Giveaway
[Reply]
April 19th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I BROUGHT SHE SMALL JAPANESE BANTAMS CHICKS.THEY ARE GROWING VERY SLOW. IS THERE ANY THING I CAN DO TO MAKE THEM GROW FASTER.THANKS
[Reply]
June 13th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
I HAVE A TRIO OF JAPANESE CHICKENS, AND HAVE BRED THEM SUCCESSFULLY, BY JUST LEAVING NATURE TO TAKE ITS COURSE, IVE EVEN LEFT THE COCKEREL IN WITH THE HENS HE SITS THERE GUARDING THEM!BUT YES THEY ARE SMALL FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER! I FEED THEM TRUKEY POULTRY GROWER – THEY LOVE IT!
[Reply]
harvey sellers Reply:
April 28th, 2010 at 4:32 am
where do you live.. are you close to n.c.
[Reply]
Carole Reply:
April 28th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Live in NE Florida not too far from NC
[Reply]
June 25th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I have had many of the Mottled Japanese bantams over the years, and never once have I had any cock or young cock attack anyone. If anything, they are the most gentle of all the bantams I have had. The mother hens with chicks are very aggressive towards other hens and the dominant cocks would always flog the young ones, but that was usually when he was fooling around with the old man’s ladies.
Some things I have noticed:
-Easily made to be a pet, hen or rooster (will sit on my leg & eat from my hand).
-Hens tend to gorge themselves. Very greedy (I don’t like that)
-SOME hens leave the chicks at 3 & 4 weeks of age. That is too young.
-Every hen and cock will be different. Some will be very short; others larger. Some will be mostly black with few white spots; others the exact opposite.
Overall I really like this breed and despite what people say, if you can house them in colder months they are cold tolerant (to a degree).
[Reply]
September 15th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
does anybody ship bantams to st.croix,u.s.virgin islands im trying to get some bantams .if any body can help please email me. thanks
[Reply]
January 24th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
Nice web site. I enjoyed reading about particular breeds. Very useful.
[Reply]
February 1st, 2010 at 10:14 pm
I found your site by accident. I have had japanese bantams off and on for years. The birds in your photos are pretty, but not good examples of japs. Show japs have short legs, carry their tails upright- not squirrell tailed. They are not aggresive unless made that way by their owners. They are a very old breed, used as lawn ornaments by the ruling class in Japan. Some thought they were sacred.
Thanks
[Reply]
February 28th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
nice pics i myself breed several japanese bantams as well as nankins-sebrights-seramas-oeg-dutch and other rare breeds of bantams.i try to breed for show and to sell fanciers who love the bantams like we all do.
[Reply]
April 28th, 2010 at 4:29 am
i am looking to start showing bantams..would like to show japanese bantams.. is their bantam chickens close to shelby n.c. or lincolnton n.c.
[Reply]