The town that I live in has a very small population. Unlike other communities, we don’t have zoning. Since we are located in a rural area, many individuals in our town raise different types of animals. We have people that raise and train Bird Dogs, have Pigeons, Sheep, Rabbits, and Chickens. It is not unusual to hear a Rooster crowing at different times of the day, especially early in the morning.
There are several individuals that raise a different type of chicken. They are often refereed to as Banty’s or Bantam Chickens. These individuals usually get the eggs and incubate them until they hatch. Then they will raise them until they reach a certain size. They then sell them or trade them at different shows or markets. In case you don’t know what a Chicken Show is, it is a place where individuals bring their chickens to show and be judged. They receive trophies and different colored ribbons. They usually pay an entry fee to enter their chickens. However, the fee is usually pretty low. Deals are made at these shows in relation to selling or trading the chickens.
A Banty (Bantam) chicken is a miniature type of chicken. They are usually about one fifth to one quarter the size of a regular size chicken. It is not unusual to find people that have pictures and porcelain images of this type of chicken in their homes.
This type of chicken is popular for show because of their different colors and feather patterns. The colors are very exotic and different from regular chickens. Because they are so small, they are great for backyard pets. They can survive very easily in smaller backyards. They are easy to feed and water and require very little maintenance. Individuals that raise this type of chicken put heating lights in their chicken houses to keep the little ones warm in the winter time. It is not unusual to see them all congregate together under a light for warmth.
It takes about 3 to 4 eggs to reach the size of a normal chicken egg. The Banty Hens are said to be calmer than a regular hen. The smaller Banty Roosters are said to be much more aggressive than their counter part. When they get aggressive they get a puffed up look that can appear rather funny.
Many County and State Fairs throughout the United States have contests for them just like other types of Farm Animals. The winners at county Fairs usually advance to the big State Fair for judging. Individuals that are used for judging have been around this type of chicken for sometime. They have to know what they are looking for in their judging.
There is a web site dedicated to the Bantam Chicken. It can be found at www.bantamclub.com . It is called the American Bantam Association. The association has been in existence since 1914. They have a set list of objectives and all kinds of information for people that raise Banty’s. They even have a Master Exhibitor Program.
Most individuals that raise Banty’s (Bantam) chickens do it as a hobby. If anyone is interested in starting this hobby, I would recommend that they consider several things. First, visit someone that raises Banty’s and talk to them about care and setting up a pin for them. Second, start small and over time gradually enlarge the number of Banty’s you have. Third, be sure it is okay with your community and neighbors, as they can be noisy. Fourth, use the web site above as needed.
