chickens or bantams

[hawthorns]

which type of bird is easier to keep

[di]

We used to have bantams & now have chickens;in our experience although one of the bantams used to follow me around the chickens are much friendlier~may just be our experience?Don't know if it's true but I was told that Bantams eggs although smaller contain more nutrients~I think higher in omega 3~but you'd have to check this out.Also "heard" bantams are better flyers than chickens due to their size but ours never attempted to get out from the garden.

[Hilary B]

If you are considering a cockerel you DO NOT want bantams! The most aggressive cockerels I have met were all bantams, and indeed the 'bantam cock' is a common nickname for a small and aggressive person. Yes Bantams do fly better, when they have any reason to wish to fly....

[steelsy]

We chose Bantams purely because our friend had some we could buy from him, really easy to keep - and very friendly and affectionate.

[Ashbylife]

We've got bantams, mainly cause we were worried about space were told that being smaller they'd have plenty of space in the ark (though we're planning on letting them roam a bit as soon as the mesh arrives). They are brill, great characters though still a bit wary of us after 3 weeks.

[JILLY JACKSON]

hi,yes bantams are very sweet jaunty little things ,i have three silkie cross pekins .Once again the temperament depends on not just breed but upbringing.mine are very friendly and easy to handle.So far i only have had problems with what they came with,worms and scaly leg.Both easily treated.I would also strongly agree with Hilary b not to get a bantam cockeral.i have not had one myself and i know that silkies and pekins are very friendly,But i have seen how aggressive other bantam cockerals can be dont know what breed they were .Yes they can fly! these three havent as they seem to have all they want in our garden,but i had a black bantam years ago that flew over three gardens!

[Birdie Wife]

Er, bantams are also chickens! I presume you mean "should I get bantams or large fowl?" - but then I'm just a pedant! I keep both - large fowl tend to be more docile but many bantams are more friendly as they have been bred with families in mind - many people keep pekins and silkies as pets and eggs are a welcome bonus!