any small chicken breeds recommended?

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im looking into getting 3-4 small breed bantams
can anyone recommend any types?

easy enough to look after, and arent escape artists ;)

they would be kept in this coop
http://www.chickencoopsdirect.com/chicken-coop.htm
 
Hi,
You could go for a small type of hybrid, they lay well, can easily be tamed and are not great fliers. Hybrids are available in many places, you can choose from black rock, warren, ISA browns and many more.
Otherwise you can go for a small egglaying purebreed, I keep wyandotte bantams.
Bantams are less ground churning than their large counterparts, but still lay a good amount of eggs.
 
You would keep 3-4 true bantams in that size coop but anything bigger only two and only if they did'nt mind confinement, they are not very roomy for larger birds.

A lot depends on what you want from the birds, mainly for eggs, pets, mobile garden ornaments etc.
 
they will be primarily as pets.
any eggs will be a bonus.
they will get free range access to the garden daily, but do want small type birds. ;)

i've seen bantams on gumtree, silkies and some other kinds as well.

2-3 would be my maximum, i dont want them feeling cramped in.
 
The house you are looking to buy is tiny, and agree maybe a couple of "true" bantams.. ie those which do not have a large counterpart for example Dutch bantams or Seabrights, maybe a couple of pekins.

There are a lot of these types of houses on the market.. imported from China and are quite cheap. If you can run to something bigger then I would highly reccommend it, keeping chickens in a small area can lead to behavioural problems such as feather pecking and boredom.

Generally speaking the run recommendations I have read are around 1 metre sq of run space per bird, although ideally 2 metre sq would better in my opinion.
 
If you just want cute and fluffy pets with eggs if and when then may I suggest Pekins (not that I'm biased at all) they don't mind confinement and are very friendly, as are most of the true bantams.
 
I'd avoid Silkies and their crosses or they will spend most of their time broody.
 
how about a heavy bantam breed as less likely to escape.
iv got pekins, only the chicks go off playing in next doors garden but my orpington bantams even when tiny didnt bother but even though bantam breed still not tiny. but they are a calm plasid breed
 
English Leghorns lay like mad. Our second year and easily 200 eggs each at 47 -52 grammes. White are easier to find then brown. But so flighty! Our 5 foot fence is no problem to fly over and I've reluctaly had to clip a wing on each. Didn't clip enough first time and they still got over, and the three have a 35 square metre run. Advantage is they are too fast for any predator so safe (if you have trees for them to fly into) from a daytime fox.
 
I have to say I love the silkies - have just bought three and they are delightful little characters. These are just pets and are so cute whereas my chucks are basically for eggs although I love them too! Two of my chucks are warrens and even though their wings are clipped they still manage to escape their run into the garden lol
 
i agree with Foxy, this coop is far too small for more than two birds of any size. Until you've kept chickens, you probably don't realise how much they poo, and if you have them in a small space, things get extremely messy very fast, especially over the winter. Letting them out in the garden is good, if you don't mind them scratching around and making a mudbath of it in winter especially, but you need to be very sure it's safe not only against foxes but also cats if you want small bantams. i think a better bet is to go for a freestanding coop in an enclosed run, giving a minimum of 2 sq. metres of run per bird. You and the birds can move around more easily in a run like this, and as it's not going to be very big (6 sq.metres for 3 birds) you may be able to roof it to provide better shelter. You still have the option of letting them out when you're around and the weather's nice. A free standing coop will be easier to keep clean, especially if you get plastic instead of wood, which will also last for ever without treatment or leakage. Have a look at Green Frog Small Chicken Lodge, which would be good for up to 3-4 bantams or 2-3 larger hens. See http://rarebreedpoultry.webs.com/ecofriendlyhouses.htm
 
If you have a small house you do need very small bantams. The smallest breeds are Sebright and barbu d'Anvers. Sebright are a bit flighty but D'anvers though thy fly well and can be spooked by dogs and other animals are very tame with humans, and enjoy being cuddled. These would be easy to let out into the garden when you are there, and are even happy in the house, sitting on your lap. A bit larger but very decorative and tame are Japanese which like the D'anvers come in several pretty colours. These latter are good 'garden' chicken.'
 
I have decided to go with a couple of silkies, after alot of reading up on all the breeds, I keep coming back to the silkie ;)

Im not buying that chicken coop, but am converting a kennel/run combo for the chickens instead

the kennel part is 4x4 and will hold the roost and nesting box etc
and the run part is 6x4 and is covered in, useful for winter!
and on good days, they will be allowed out to freerange :)

Im going to a poultry fair on Saturday, have been told there are reputable silkie breeders there.
 
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