Keeping chickens is a good way to get good organic eggs, meat and fertilizer. They even make great pets, some are really tasty, and others make really good pets.
Most chicken fanciers though tend to end up collecting Bantam Chickens which are a much smaller version of the bigger chickens.

BANTAMS

You get many sizes of chicken breeds they come in Large and standard varieties. Which are anywhere from tall chickens that easily see on top of a barrel to the smaller ones that come up to a person’s calf.
Most varieties of standard chickens have smaller counterparts which are called Bantams.
A Bantam is a breed of bird that is anywhere from a half to one-third the size of its larger counterpart.
Unless the chicken is a true Bantam. A true Bantam breed is a breed that only comes in Bantam size and has no larger version of the breed.
I have put together a list of some of my favorite Bantams that are also good for first time Bantam owners.

OUR TOP 10 BANTAM BREEDS

Silkie


The Silkie is a Bantam that is usually in a class of its own, in some countries they are even classed as a large fowl. They are the most wonderful Bantams to own. They are good around kids as they are quite tough little birds. They are friendly, hardy, inquisitive and can be quite playful and fun to have around.
These little balls of fluff have their own unique appearance and style with the white fluffy feathers. They have pretty blue faces with an unusual beak, a poofy crest on top of their heads and their legs and feet are also covered in feathers.
They are always my first choice of Bantams chickens. They do lay eggs, but they are very small kind of like quail eggs. Some Chicken Fanciers have been known to enjoy them. Read More

Belgian Bearded d’Uccle Bantam


The Belgian Bearded d’Uccle has the sweetest of temperaments. This little honey is quite lively and friendly. They are a lot alike the Booted Bantam only they have a beard where the Booted Bantams do not. They both have feathered legs that make them look like they are wearing fluffy boots. This beautiful Bantam comes in an array color with the Mille Fleur being the most popular. They do lay eggs as well but Tiny Bantam ones much like the Silkies do. They lay about 2 to 3 of these a week.
They are also considered as a True Bantam as they do not have a larger chicken breed counterpart.Read More
 

Belgian d’Anvers Bantam


The Belgian d’Anvers is another true Bantam breed. These perky little Bantams are relatively low maintenance Bantams and make a great starter chicken. They are very sociable little birds who hold themselves with a regal bearing to them. This breed is said to be quite an old breed as the finding of it go back over 300 years. They come in a whole variety of magnificent colors and the hens tend to lay a fair amount of small Bantam sized eggs usually white or light brown in color. They will between 2 to 3 eggs a week.Read More

Booted Bantam


The Booted Bantam looks just like the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle Bantam breed. It just does not have a beard.
They also come in a little less color variety than the d’Uccle. But they still have quite an array of feathery colors and patterns to choose from. They are also a true Bantam breed and are quite rare to find these days. There are various Booted Bantam clubs that can help with information and places where a person might find them.
The hens lay about 2 tiny Bantam sized eggs per week of a tinted/cream color.
They have wonderful perky personalities that will live up any flock. Do not let their size fool you as these little chickens do not let another walk over them. Then hens also get quite broody, so they make excellent little brood hens and great mothers/foster moms.Read More

Japanese Bantam


The Japanese Bantam have the shortest legs out all the Bantam breeds and are quite an ancient true Bantam breed. Their legs are also clean meaning they have no feathers on them. They have a widespread tail which fans out beautiful feathers that curl on the rooster and stand up straight on the hens. They come in many color variations. But my favorite has to be the Black Tailed White variety. They are so beautiful with the white body feathers leading to what looks like a waterfall of beautiful flowing black feathers. And a Japanese fan of black feathers on the female’s tail.
These Bantams look shy and or timid or sometimes a little standoffish. But their looks belie their fun personalities. These little chickens are easily tamed and handled, they also love getting up to mischief.
The hens do not lay a lot of eggs only about 1 per week of a tiny bantam size which is either tinted or cream in color.
But the hens are excellent brood hens and mothers/foster moms.Read More

Sebright Bantam


The Sebright comes in two laced colors which are Gold or Silver. Their laced pattern on their plumes is really beautiful. Plus, they have such a straight up posture with their wings facing downwards, their tail feathers are usually pointing up and they hold their heads high. This creates a perfect U-shape between their neck and tail feathers.
They are a true Bantam breed with a difference in that the males and female of the breed both have the exact same coloring.
They are not very good egg layers only 1 a week which are tiny Bantam sized eggs! They are not even good sitters, but they make a great pet and show bird.
They can be quite assertive in their ways but are not aggressive they just do not like to be pushed around and will the other birds know it. They are quite easy to handle if tamed correctly.Read More

 

Serama Bantam


The Serama Bantam is known as the smallest chicken in the world. These Malaysian Bantams are really cute and look like toy chicken soldiers. Their straight-up stance where they head nearly touch their tail feathers with their wings pointing straight down nearly to the ground. Makes them look like they are standing to attention. Only the white variety is recognized in America by the American Poultry Association.
They are very friendly, calm and not very noisy. Even the rooster’s crow is not very loud. They are quite docile too and easy to handle.
They lay quite a few Tiny Bantam sized cream/tinted eggs of up to 4 per week.
Just their little stance alone makes them a great pet or showpiece to have in one’s garden.
There are a few breeders’ clubs in and around America for more information on this breed.Read More

Sultan Bantam


Sultan Bantams are the Sultans favorite garden ornamental chickens since the Ottoman Empire. These true Bantams have their own chic style of feathering from the pure white poofy heads with a full fluffy crest of feathers. To the tip of the designer feathered feet all in the purest of white. Even their beaks are white. Their V-Shaped pinkish red comb makes them look like they are wearing a tiara.
These royal birds are excellent show birds as they have a very calm and serene demeanor.
They are also one of the true Bantam breeds for ornamental and or show purpose. They do lay eggs but only about 1 small white egg. They are also not very broody so will not sit on their own eggs. If you have an intention on breeding them, you would have to either invest in a brood hen or lamps to hatch their eggs. But if you are looking for a breed that is uniquely different the Sultan is one to look into. They are really quite tame and will hop into a person lap for a cuddle, chat or on your shoulder for a ride. Did I mention the Sultan is also unique in that it is one of the few Bantam breeds to have 5 toes instead of 4!Read More

Rosecomb Bantam


The Rosecomb Bantam chicken is a true Bantam and comes in many different color variations. My favorite is the Black color variety. They are stunning with their pure black glossy plumes, red combs, wattles and faces. The black coloring makes their white ear-lobes really stand out.
The Rosecomb is quite a difficult Bantam to raise but if raised correctly can be a lot less finicky and skittish. They are an excellent show bird with the typical soldier stand with the wings pointing down and the neck high as is the tail feathers.
They do tend to like flying so you may want to get their wings clipped on a regular basis or have a completely covered run. But the reason I put them on this list is that they like to be self-sufficient like the larger fowl. They will also stand their ground and not back down either.
They do lay eggs but only about 1 per week that are tiny Bantam sized cream/tinted in color.Read More

Dutch Bantam


The Dutch Bantam chicken is a lovely little chicken. They have such sweet friendly natures but are a little high strung and nervous at the same time. They make me laugh sometimes as they can sometimes be what I would imagine someone strung out on too much coffee to be like. Nervous, jittery and jumpy.
But they too are true Bantams that come in a variety of very beautiful colors. Mine is the Blue Light-Brown variety. They have the typical downward facing wings, but their postures are a combination of the large fowl and Dutch Bantams.
They do lay up to 2 Tiny Bantam sized eggs a week that are Light Brown in Color. They are also really good brood hens and mothers/foster moms.
These lovely Bantams I would recommend for the beginner Bantam chicken owner.

If you are new to owning chickens, looking to starting out before making a choice of chicken breed it is best to have a clear vision as to what you are wanting to get out of owning chickens. Are you looking for fresh eggs, a pet, etc? For advice on keeping chickens see our “The first-time chicken owners starter guide”.