What is a good fast-maturing bantam breed of chickens that make good show stock?

Question

I am already starting to think about what breed of poultry I want to do for the county fair next year. I want to do a bantam breeding pen again.

Two years ago I did Silkies. This last year I did Standard Cochins. I don't want to do either of them again, even though I love the Silkies. I want something clean-legged and interesting looking. Also, nothing of the Asiatic class, since they mature slowly. They have to be hatched after January of that year, so they have to be almost mature by July.

I was thinking Polish bantams or Japanese Buff. Or doing Japanese Buff for bantam and then Polish for standard breeding pen.

Also, I might do an egg laying pen. What breeds are good for that? (besides leghorns and rhode island reds)

Thanks!

Answer 1

I love silkies too :-) The mille de fleur are beautiful bantams, but they have feathered legs. The dominic bantam version are interesting looking and are clean legged. There is an ameraucana bantam version, they are not as exciting to look at as the polish cresteds, but their eggs are cool.

Depends on what you are looking for your egg laying pen. If you're looking at number of eggs, nothing beats leghorns. If you're looking for variety, the bantams w their blue eggs or cuckoo marans for their chocolate-brown eggs would be an idea.

Answer 2

Ok i have been around chickens all my life and i raise and show bantams my advice would be the Old English Bantams they are very striking in apperance and mature fast i have a 2 month hen right now that is almost completly featherd out