Mary Allen
At just over 500 grams, bantams are real dwarfs and popular pedigree chickens. Due to their low weight, they are of no economic importance. But her appearance fascinates breeders all over Europe.
Contrary to what their name might suggest, bantams originally come from Japan. Progenitors of this breed, which is not a dwarfing of a large breed, could well have occurred in the “Bantam” area of Java. The first animals are said to have reached England at the end of the 15th century, where they were soon able to win many friends. The English contributed decisively to the overall appearance of the Bantams today.
The first bantams were imported to Germany at the end of the 19th century. And already in 1909 the special association was founded, which is committed to the spread and breeding of the breed. The black color was the first and is still the most common color today. Not long after the founding of the special club, other colors were bred. Today 17 colors are recognized. In Switzerland, bantams, like almost everyone
other breeds too, less and less often. At the club show 2018 in Geuensee LU, around 57 animals in nine different colors could be seen.
Round Lines
Probably the most striking breed feature of the Bantams is the tail section of the rooster. This is unique in the breed poultry world and should be as round as possible. The long and wide main and secondary sickles, which are semicircular, form the so-called compass stroke. The control feathers are also very broad and slightly fanned out. This breed has other specialties on the head. The small, wide head is adorned with a rose comb. This should end in a straight line in a mandrel. The large earlobes are as round as possible, pure white and required from thick tissue. Deposits of a different color will be penalized with a point deduction.
In general, bantams should not have any corners. The full, arched chest, the back and of course the tail are well rounded. Due to the slender body, the medium-high stand and the protruding chest, the animals appear very elegant and proud.
The black bantams come closest to the ideal of the breed. They often show the described characteristics in an excellent form. Even the Gesperbert are already very far in today’s breeding status. This could be due to the fact that black animals can be mated very well with the sparrows. The cocks are then often a bit too dark, but the hens can be exhibited again in the F1 (first generation of offspring). A problem of the barred ones often lies in the barring of the sickles. The drawing, especially in the main crescents, is usually spongy or non-existent. In addition, the roosters tend to develop a brown tinge in their plumage at an early age.
Many other colors already show very good characteristics in terms of color and markings, but cannot yet keep up with the formal requirements, especially in the area of the tail feathers. However, the committed breeders strive to change this over the years, and at large shows some breeders show that this is also possible.
Breeding and Good Fliers
Bantams are very curious and active bantams. Despite their small stature, the accommodation should not be too small. The animals are very peaceful among themselves. Nevertheless, one should not keep the young cocks together until they are of the exhibition age, if one wants to exhibit cocks of this breed with pure white earlobes. Due to small power struggles among the young roosters, it can quickly happen that small injuries occur in the earlobes. These do not turn white again after healing, but red like the rest of the complexion.
Bantams lay relatively well. The hens are very willing to breed and often begin with the first breeding attempts before they are one year old. The hens are excellent mothers and lead the chicks very safely. After just one to two weeks, the hen and her chicks go to raised sleeping places at night. Due to their low weight, the animals are relatively good fliers, which should also be taken into account when building the accommodation. The mesh size of the fence should also be chosen so that it can be avoided.
Bantams are no more difficult to rear than other breeds. The chicks usually hatch on the 20th day from the eggs, which weigh around 28 grams. The animals, which are active right from the start, have to be kept busy early on, as they quickly get bored and then tend to feather pecking. Lettuce, various grasses, carrots and also styrofoam can serve as employment. However, such employment opportunities should only be offered about 14 days after hatching, as the chicks should first get used to the chick food.
Bantams are almost fully feathered after just a few weeks and can then explore the escape and burglar-proof run. There they grow over the next six to eight months into show-ready cocks and hens. Ideally, the hens and roosters should be separated at six to seven weeks and allowed to grow up separately. So the hens have their peace and the plumage does not suffer from the early cravings of the cockerels. In the group of young roosters, it is also advisable to let an old rooster run along. This ensures arbitration in power struggles. And so the primal dwarfs in the Hahnengruppe have been quiet for a long time.