Burmese

The Burmese is a very rare ornamental bantam chicken, usually called the Burmese bantam in poultry circles. It is historically associated with small fowl from Burma, now Myanmar, but modern birds are maintained mainly by specialist breeders in Britain and elsewhere. Descriptions commonly place it among true bantams, with a compact body, feathered legs and feet, and dark plumage, most often black. Because the population is small, details can vary between lines and standards.

This is a breed for patient keepers rather than general egg production. Feathered feet need dry bedding and clean runs, and the small body size calls for protection from rats, cats, and larger chickens. Breeding programs should avoid narrowing the gene pool further, so exchanging stock and keeping simple records can be more important than chasing quick show results. Anyone sourcing Burmese chickens should confirm that the birds match an established bantam standard, as the name can be confused with ordinary village chickens from Myanmar.