The bantam breeds and colors are very cute, and they are fun to have in your backyard flock. Because they are small, they eat and poop less than a standard size chicken, and they need less space. But before you decide to add these little chickens to your backyard flock, you should learn everything you can about how to raise and care for them.
People who keep chickens in their yards often choose bantam chickens because they are small and have colorful feathers. However, bantams lay a lot fewer eggs than standard-sized chickens when it comes to egg production. How many eggs do you think a bantam chicken will lay? Let’s find out.
What is a Bantam Chicken?
A bantam chicken is a small chicken that looks a lot like a regular chicken. Most bantams are about a third to a quarter of the size of a standard chicken breed. A Plymouth Rock hen might weigh between 7 and 8 pounds, while a Plymouth Rock bantam would weigh about 2 pounds.
There are two main types of bantam chickens:
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True bantams: These are breeds, like Silkies and Sebrights, that only come in bantam size. They do not have a larger counterpart.
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Miniature bantams are small versions of breeds that are normally bigger, like Cochins, Wyandottes, and Brahmas.
Regardless of type, bantams are prized for their compact size and ornate plumage Their small stature makes them a good option for urban and backyard flocks with limited space
Do Bantams Lay Smaller Eggs?
Yes, bantam chickens lay smaller eggs than full-sized hens A standard chicken egg weighs about 50-55 grams. Bantam chicken eggs weigh around 25-30 grams – about half the size
The shell color varies between breeds, just like with regular chickens. You’ll get white, brown, blue, or green eggs depending on the bantam variety.
So while bantam eggs are petite, they still have the same nutritional value as regular eggs and can be used for cooking and baking. You just may need to adjust your recipes to account for the smaller size.
How Many Eggs Do Bantams Lay Per Year?
On average, a bantam hen will lay between 100-150 eggs per year. Some of the better laying bantam breeds, like the Dutch bantam, can produce up to 200 eggs annually.
For comparison, most full-sized hens lay 250-300 eggs per year. So bantams produce significantly fewer eggs than standard breeds.
The exact number depends on factors like breed, diet, living conditions, weather, age, and overall health. Well cared for bantam hens may lay up to 2-3 years, with declining production as they get older.
How Often Do Bantams Lay Eggs?
When actively laying, bantam hens produce eggs about every 2-3 days. But their laying is much more sporadic than standard breeds.
You can expect peaks and dips in production with bantams. They are strongly influenced by seasons, going “off lay” in the winter months when there is less daylight.
Bantams also have a very strong natural brooding instinct. They will stop laying altogether when broody in order to incubate a clutch of eggs. This further limits their total annual egg output.
Do Bantams Lay Year-Round?
While bantams are capable of year-round laying under ideal conditions, they generally lay the majority of eggs in spring and summer.
Egg production tends to decline or cease completely in fall and winter due to decreased daylight hours. Providing supplemental lighting can help extend the laying season. But most bantams will still lay fewer eggs in winter.
The decrease is more pronounced in true bantams versus miniature bantam breeds. Miniature bantams with commercial laying breeds in their lineage are sometimes better year-round layers.
Bantam Breeds Known for Good Egg Production
While no bantam will lay as prolifically as a full-sized hen, some breeds are regarded as better layers:
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Dutch bantams – A true bantam that lays up to 200 small white eggs per year.
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Japanese bantams – Lay 180-200 tiny white eggs annually. Known for year-round production.
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Belgian d’Anvers – A true bantam that lays up to 150 eggs per year.
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Sebrights – Beautiful gold and silver laced feathers. Lay 100-150 cream-colored eggs.
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Silkies – Not the best layers due to frequent broodiness, but lay 100+ small eggs.
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Cochins – The mini Cochins can lay up to 150 light brown eggs annually.
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Wyandottes – Both rose comb and single comb mini Wyandottes lay decently.
Tips for Optimizing Bantam Egg Production
While bantams will never match the output of full-sized hens, you can maximize their laying potential:
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Choose breeds known for better egg production like Dutch or Japanese bantams.
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Provide a balanced feed designed for laying bantam hens.
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Allow free-range access so bantams can forage and supplement their diet.
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Offer oyster shell grit to aid egg shell formation.
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Keep their coop clean, dry, and draft-free.
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Give 14-16 hours of light in winter to stimulate laying.
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Discourage broodiness and limit it to just 2-3 clutches per year.
The Appeal of Bantam Chickens
At the end of the day, bantams make delightful backyard pets rather than serious egg producers. What they lack in productivity, they make up for in charm and enjoyment. Their eggs are a colorful treat that adds variety to your egg basket, even if the overall volume is less. For small flocks or fanciers, bantams are sure to satisfy.
Types of Bantam Chickens
Bantam chicken breeds can be categorized into three different types of bantams: true bantams, miniature bantams, and developed bantams with some bantam breeds overlapping within the three types.
True bantams are bantam breeds that have no large-fowl counterpart. Miniature bantams are bantam breeds that have a large-fowl counterpart. In terms of size, though, they are not really “miniatures” because their heads, tails, wings, feathers, and eggs are all bigger. Then there are developed bantam breeds, which are bantam breeds that have been created through selective breeding for a specific appearance or function.
Technically, all miniature bantams are developed bantams as well, but not all true bantams are developed bantams. Here are some breed examples for each type of bantam:
- American Game bantam, Bearded d’ Anvers, Bearded d’ Uccle, Booted bantam, Dutch bantam, Nankin, Rosecomb, Sebright, and Serama are all true bantams.
- Miniature Bantams: Orpington, Polish, Brahma, Plymouth Rock
- Developed Bantams: Belgian, Pekin (Cochin), Japanese
The American Poultry Association (APA) further classifies recognized bantam breeds based on type or physical appearance. Each recognized bantam breed has a breed standard that outlines how every bird in the breed should look in terms of appearance and color (variety).
The APA classifies recognized true bantams, miniature bantams, and developed bantams into the following six classes:
- Modern Game– all modern game bantam types
- Game– Old English Game bantams and American Game bantams
- Bantam breeds with a single comb and no feathers on their feet or shanks are called single comb clean legged.
- Small breeds of chickens that have a rose comb and no feathers on their feet or shanks are called Rose Comb Clean Legged.
- Feather Legged: bantam breeds like the Booted bantam, Silkie, Brahma, and Cochin have feathers on their legs and feet.
- All Other Comb Clean Legged: bantam breeds that aren’t in the other groups (Ameraucana, Polish, Buckeye, Houdan, etc.)
The American Bantam Association (ABA), which was founded in 1914, is another group that support the breeding, showing, and selling of all types of bantams. Its members are bantam breeders. Some bantam breeds are recognized by the ABA but not by the APA, and vice versa.
There are also different varieties within each breed of bantam. A variety refers to a subdivision of a recognized breed based on plumage color or patterns, comb style, facial feathers, or weight. Variety most often refers to different colors of bantams within a breed. The different varieties that bantam breeds can come in are based on the breed’s standard. Some miniature bantam breeds have different recognized varieties than their large-fowl counterparts.
A few examples of bantam breed varieties include the bantam barred Plymouth Rock, the bantam silver-laced Wyandotte, or the bantam white Silkie.
How to Care for Bantam Chickens
Caring for bantam chickens is pretty much the same as caring for large-fowl chickens, just on a slightly smaller scale. Bantam chicks still have the same brooder needs as standard size chicks. Adult bantams still need a safe and secure coop and a nutritious, balanced diet. Make sure you know how to set up a brooder for your bantam chicks and have a safe chicken coop ready for them when they are ready.
Since bantams are smaller than standard size chickens, they don’t require as much space when it comes to making a brooder or building a chicken coop and run. Here are the space requirements for bantam chickens:
- Coop Space: 1-2 square feet per bantam
- Enclosure or Run Space: 2.5-4 square feet per bantam
- Nesting Boxes: 10”x12”x10”
- Roosting Space: 4-6″ per bantam
You should supply one nesting box for every four to five bantam hens in your flock. Despite being small, bantam chickens are often excellent flyers, so it’s important to keep roosts raised at least one and half feet to two feet off the ground (with many bantam breeds preferring roosts that are even higher)!
In general, two bantam chickens can be raised in the same amount of space required by one large-fowl chicken. However, the more space you can offer your bantams the better off they will be (including both coop space and enclosure or run space).
When it comes to feeding bantams, bantam chickens eat less food on a daily basis than standard size chickens. In general, you can plan on one bantam chicken eating about one pound of feed per month on a similar diet as standard size chickens. Bantam chicks should be started on chick starter feed and switched to layer feed once they reach laying age (around 20 weeks of age). They should always have access to fresh, clean water. Since bantam chickens are smaller, they often benefit from crumble type feeds or mash feeds, which have smaller feed particles that are easier for small beaks to manage.
You can feed your bantams the same table scraps and treats that are safe for large-fowl chickens too! However, since bantams are smaller, they don’t need as many treats or table scraps as large-fowl chickens. Since they eat less feed on a daily basis, that also means that treats and table scraps should be scaled back proportionately.
Please remember bantam chickens are often not as hardy as standard size chickens. They are more sensitive to heat stress and especially cold stress. It is a good idea to choose cold hardy bantam breeds, like Orpingtons or Brahmas, if you live in northern regions that experience cold winters. Likewise, choose heat tolerant bantam breeds, like Leghorns or Polish, if you live in a warm, southern region.
The characteristics and disposition of different bantams will depend on the bantam’s breed. However, most bantam versions of common standard size chicken breeds tend to be more docile, friendly, and calm than their large-fowl counterparts. Some true bantam breeds are known to have more flighty, active dispositions, such as the game bantams who were originally bred for cockfighting. Bantam hens are known to readily go broody and will set on either bantam eggs or standard size chicken eggs! Some breeders keep bantam hens just for the purpose of incubating and hatching eggs from different chicken breeds.
Bantams are slow to reach production maturity. Despite being smaller, they often take longer to reach full maturity than their large-fowl counterparts. Bantam hens may start laying well after they are 20-24 weeks of age. Many bantam breeds are not as productive layers as their large-fowl counterparts. Since bantams are smaller than standard size chickens, that also means that their eggs are smaller. About three bantam eggs equals two standard size chicken eggs. Miniature bantam breeds lay eggs that are slightly larger than true bantam breed eggs. Miniature bantams also tend to lay better than true bantam breeds. True bantam breeds and some developed bantam breeds are usually poor layers and will only lay seasonally in the spring.
Bantam Chickens Breeds, Egg Laying, Size and Care Guide
FAQ
Which bantam lays the most eggs?
High yielding bantam varieties include:Ameraucana (4 eggs per week)Brahma (3 eggs per week)Sussex (4 or 5 eggs per week)Plymouth Rock (3 or 4 eggs per week)Australorp (4 to 5 eggs per week).
What chicken lays 350 eggs a year?
The ISA Brown chicken breed is known for laying the most eggs, with some individuals reaching 350 eggs per year. These hybrid chickens are popular for backyard farming due to their high egg production and docile nature.
How many bantam eggs to one chicken egg?
Generally, it takes two bantam eggs to equal the size of one standard chicken egg.
How often should bantam chickens lay eggs?
Depending on the breed, bantam hens can lay between 50-200 eggs per year. Miniature bantam breeds are better layers than true bantam breeds. You should know that the eggs your bantam flock lays will be smaller, so you might need a few more to make a big omelet for breakfast!
How many eggs do bantam chickens lay a year?
About 200 eggs are laid by a bantam chicken every year, but some breeds only lay 50 eggs. These include the Japanese, Pekin, and Sebright Bantam. The eggs are cream-colored, but some breeds, like the Easter Egger Bantam, make pastel eggs in many colors.
How many eggs do Japanese bantam chickens lay?
Japanese bantam chickens can lay up to 140 eggs in their first year but 80 is a more realistic number. The tendency is to produce eggs in flushes of 12 to 16 and then take a break of a week or two. Japanese bantams are seasonal layers and rarely if ever produce eggs in winter. This translates into about three eggs a week.
Do bantam chickens lay eggs?
The egg color is cream-tinted, but some, such as the Easter Egger Bantam, produce colorful pastel eggs in various colors. Once a Bantam chicken starts laying eggs, it will lay every other day for about four to six months. Then, they will stop producing while they shed their feathers (molting). Don’t worry, as they will get a new set of feathers.
Are Bantams good egg layers?
Yes, some are, and some aren’t (like all types of chickens). You can see the chart below for which bantams are good egg layers. The best egg laying bantams lay at least 200 eggs a year, so it’s best to keep these breeds, if you’re keeping them JUST for the eggs (but I doubt you are).
When do Bantam eggs start laying?
Bantams start laying eggs at 22-28 weeks old. Bantam eggs are one-third to half the size smaller than regular chicken eggs, but they taste the same as regular chicken eggs. Easter egger, Dutch, Brahma, Sussex, and Cochin are the best egg layers, laying between 200 and 300 eggs a year. Bantams are excellent layers.
How many Bantam eggs do you need?
Though many bantam varieties will lay plenty of beautiful eggs, the size of said eggs will be smaller than average. This can mean that for every standard egg in cooking, two or even three bantam eggs will be needed to fill the gap. Many bantams also retain the broody trait and are known to fiercely guard their eggs.