Bantam Chicken
A bantam chicken is a small domestic chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus, kept either as a true bantam with no large-fowl counterpart or as a miniaturized form of a standard breed. Bantams occur in many body types, comb styles, feather patterns, and colors, from plain black or buff birds to barred, duckwing, crele, laced, and mille fleur varieties. They are popular in exhibition and small backyards because they take less space than large chickens and have strong visual variety, but they are not one uniform breed.
Bantams lay small eggs and provide less meat, so they are usually chosen for hobby flocks, youth poultry projects, broody hens, or ornamental breeding rather than high production. Their housing should still be secure: small birds are easy prey, and many bantams fly better than heavy breeds. Feather-footed varieties need dry litter, while crested or heavily bearded birds may need extra attention to vision and cleanliness. Buyers should ask whether the birds are true bantams or bantam versions of a named breed, since temperament, hardiness, and show requirements differ widely.
Colors: Barred, Birchen, Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Columbian, Crele, Cuckoo, Duckwing, Gold, Gold Laced, Laced, Lavender, Mille Fleur, Mottled, Partridge, Penciled, Porcelain, Red, Silver, Silver Laced, Spangled, Splash, Wheaten, White
