Bantam chickens are an interesting category in the chicken world. We’ll go over the ins and outs of bantams.
Bantam chickens are a popular breed known for their small size and prolific egg laying abilities. But when it comes to egg production how many eggs can you expect a bantam hen to lay on a daily basis? In this comprehensive guide we’ll explore the nuances of bantam egg laying to help you understand what to expect from these petite poultry birds.
An Overview of Bantam Chickens
Bantam chickens are small versions of regular chickens, about a quarter to a third the size. The name “bantam” comes from the Indonesian port town of Bantam, where European sailors first saw these tiny birds in the 1600s.
While bantams come in over 400 varieties, they can be grouped into three main types:
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True Bantams – Naturally small breeds like Japanese, Sebright, and Silkie bantams.
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Miniaturized Bantams – Miniature versions of standard breeds like Cochins, Orpingtons, and Plymouth Rocks.
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Developed Bantams – Breeds created specifically from bantam stock like Belgian d’Anvers and Pekin.
Along with their small size, bantams are loved for their pretty feathers, ability to live in small spaces, and friendly personalities. While they don’t lay as many eggs as regular chickens, the fact that they do is still pretty amazing given their size.
Typical Bantam Egg Production
The average bantam hen lays about 3-4 eggs per week. This translates to roughly 1 egg every 1.5 to 2 days on average. Annual egg production ranges from 100-200 eggs depending on the individual hen.
However, egg laying frequency can fluctuate quite a bit in bantams. True bantams and breeds like Silkies tend to be on the lower end, producing around 100 eggs per year. Breeds like Plymouth Rock bantams may produce up to 200 eggs annually.
During their first year, bantam hens reach peak production from 6-18 months of age. Egg laying declines as hens get older. Seasonal factors like decreased daylight also impact production in winter.
When compared to standard chicken breeds that lay up to 300 eggs a year, bantam egg production is noticeably lower. But given their petite size, their egg output is still remarkably prolific.
Factors That Influence Bantam Egg Production
Many variables affect how often bantam hens lay eggs. The major factors include:
Breed
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Some breeds are naturally better layers like Plymouth Rock bantams.
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True bantams and broody breeds lay less. Silkies average about 100 eggs per year.
Age
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Peak laying of 3-5 eggs per week occurs between 6-18 months of age.
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Production declines as hens get older, especially after 2 years old.
Seasonality
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Decreased daylight in winter can lower production.
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Providing artificial light helps maintain egg laying cycles.
Diet & Health
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A nutritious diet with at least 16% protein is essential.
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Stress, illness, parasites, malnutrition, and lack of water depress egg laying.
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Free access to clean water and calcium supplements support egg production.
Broodiness
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Broody hens stop laying completely to incubate a clutch. This reduces annual egg totals.
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Some breeds like Silkies have a strong maternal instinct and go broody frequently.
As you can see, many elements influence bantam egg laying frequency. Understanding these factors allows you to take steps to maximize productivity in your petite flock.
Size and Color of Bantam Eggs
Not only do bantam eggs have less volume, they are also much smaller than regular chicken eggs. The average bantam egg weighs:
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25-35 grams – About 1/3 the size of a large egg.
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1.75-2.5 ounces – Roughly 2 inches long by 1.5 inches wide.
Two to three bantam eggs are equal to one large chicken egg when cooking. If you look at different breeds, the shells can be white, brown, blue, olive green, and other colors.
Despite their petite size, bantam eggs are rich in nutrients and flavor. The yolk to white ratio is higher than commercial eggs. The vibrant yolks make beautiful baked goods.
Tips for Optimizing Bantam Egg Production
While bantams lay fewer eggs than big breeds, you can take steps to help your mini hens reach their full potential:
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Select breeds known for better egg production like Plymouth Rock bantams.
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Provide at least 14 hours of daylight especially during fall and winter.
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Feed a quality layer feed with minimum 16% protein and access to calcium.
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Ensure hens get adequate exercise, space, and nesting boxes. Reduce stress.
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Discourage broodiness by removing eggs and limiting nest access.
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Introduce younger hens around 18 months old to maintain egg numbers as old hens age.
With proper care, nutrition, lighting, and breed selection, even bantam chickens can deliver a bountiful supply of petite but perfect little eggs. Raising these small but prolific layers is deeply rewarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bantam eggs equal a large chicken egg?
About 2-3 bantam eggs equal one large chicken egg in volume and nutritional content.
Do bantams lay eggs every day?
Typically no, the average bantam lays an egg about every 1.5-2 days, or 3-4 eggs weekly. Daily egg laying is uncommon.
What is the rate of lay for bantams?
Most bantams average around 3-4 eggs per week, which equals about 100-200 eggs annually. But productivity depends heavily on breed, age, season, diet, and health.
Why do bantams lay fewer eggs than standard chickens?
Primarily because bantams are not bred specifically for maximum egg production like commercial laying breeds. Their small size also limits total egg output.
How can I get my bantams to lay more eggs?
Optimize diet, provide supplementary lighting to extend daylight, reduce stress, prevent broodiness, introduce younger hens, and select productive breeds like Plymouth Rock bantams.
Are bantam eggs as nutritious as large eggs?
Yes, bantam eggs are very nutritious and rich in flavor. Their higher yolk to white ratio actually increases the vitamin and mineral content per ounce.
Common Characteristics of Bantam Chickens
Even though there are many different breeds of bantam chickens, they share a number of similarities.
Because of their colorful and fancy feather patterns, these chickens are often kept for their looks. They do, however, are still practice to have around. People keep them for their eggs, but they can eaten, as well, like any old chicken. They will produce much less meat, but some say it is just the right size for 2 people to enjoy a meal.
I will note that we had a few silkies (roosters) that we butchered and planned to eat. Once plucked, what was left was a blue alien-looking creature. I couldn’t convince anyone that they wanted to eat it. I have not tried other breeds of bantams, so I cannot say if the experience will be the same with the others. Anyway, back to topic at hand….
As just mentioned, bantams are beautiful, ornamental birds. They are diverse as their larger cousins. Bantam breeds range in varieties from having a single comb or rose comb, feathered legs or clean legs, to a wide range of color combinations and patterns.
Despite their names, some miniature bantams, meaning they have larger counterparts, do look a bit difference than their larger namesakes as the proportions as not miniaturized to scale, such as the Orpington, Polish, Brahma, Plymouth Rock. The bantam breeds tend to have larger tail and wing feathers in regards to their bodies.
True bantams are one of a kind bantam breeds that do not have any larger equivalent. Meaning they are not just are not a miniature chicken of full-size chickens. They are as unique as they are beautiful. Some examples of these are Bearded d’Anvers, Booted bantam, Dutch bantam, Nankin, Rosecomb, Sebright, Serama.
Where standard chicken breeds are measured in pounds, bantams are measured in ounces. Due to their small size, typically bantams weigh less than 2 lbs and about a quarter of the weight of their larger cousins. They can range anywhere from 6 to 12 inches tall, depending on the breed.
It takes about the same length of time for bantams to mature (20 weeks) as standard chicken breeds. Egg production varies within Bantam breeds. Depending on the breed, egg laying can be anywhere from 50 to 200 eggs per year. Like regular chicken breeds, the production decreases at 2 to 3 years of age.
Bantam eggs are about half the size of a medium-sized chicken egg. If baking with them, it takes roughly 3 bantam chicken eggs for every 2 regular chicken eggs for recipes. People who don’t eat a lot of eggs like bantams because they can keep a few in their yard without getting too many eggs.
As with regular sized chicken breeds, the disposition of each bantam breed varies.
Many miniature bantams are calm and friendly, while many true bantam breeds are flighty.
Bantam breeds tend toward broodiness. Their brooding instinct is so strong that, when they get the urge to go broody, they will sit on any egg… their own or even large eggs like turkey eggs. They fiercely protect their chicks and will mother whatever they have hatched.
Because bantam breeds aren’t as tough as other chicken breeds, it’s best to pick one that does well in your area. Some cold hardy options are orpingtons and brahmas and some heat tolerant ones are leghorns and polish. The larger breeds can handle being outside of their element much better than the bantams can.
As far as how much space is needed in your coop, typically, you can figure 2 bantam chickens for every standard sized chicken. One nesting box will be fine for 4 to 5 bantam hens and roosting space needs only to be 4 to 6 inches per bird. You can either look at it that you need half as much space for bantams as compared to standard breeds, OR, you can have twice as many. (The struggle is real!)
Bantams can fly. Although they do fine in confinement, you may find some venturing out over your fence to forage and explore. Not all do this, but you may end up putting a cover net over your run to keep them in. Because they are small, they are good targets for hawks, so a cover over your chicken run may be needed for protection as well.
Background of Bantam Chickens
The name bantam is from the city of Bantam in Indonesia where sailors picked up native small chickens for their journey. In time, any small breed of poultry became known as bantam.
Bantam chickens are not really a breed of chicken. The term bantam refers to the size of the chicken. There are actually many different breeds of bantam chickens and they come in a wide range of colors and patterns.
Some bantam chicken breeds have larger lookalikes, but that doesn’t mean they share the same bloodlines. Some are the miniatures of larger breeds and some have no matching larger twin. Examples of this are the Silkie and Sebright that are unique and can only be found as bantams.