Bantam Ducks are bright and varied

Bantam ducks, like bantam chickens, are the miniatures of the breed. They range from the small Mandarin and Wood ducks, maxing out at 24 and 25 ounces respectively and popular Call ducks at 26 ounces to 30-ounce East Indie ducks and Mallards, which top out at 40 ounces. Those are the maximum Standard sizes...

If it walks like a duck…

Ducks! Colorful and varied, good producers, effective pest foragers, attractive. Some quack more than others – they call them Call ducks  for a reason – but many owners enjoy that sociability. Husbandry is different from that for chickens, but once you have them set up, they are no trouble. Take a look...

Rhode Island Red chickens: The state bird

Rhode Island Reds remain one of the most popular breeds, for small and for commercial laying flocks. The Rhode Island Red is the official bird of the state of Rhode Island. John Crowther, described in Willis Grant Johnson and George O. Brown’s 1912 edition of Harrison Weir’s The Poultry Book as “a...

Crazy about Bantam Chickens

“As a hazel-nut is to a walnut, a Brussels sprout to a cabbage, an Austin to a Cadillac – so is a Bantam to a regular chicken,” writes Eva Le Gallienne in Flossie and Bossie,her 1949 novel about two bantam hens in a barnyard. It’s out of print, but you may be able to find a copy at your local...

Bantams are Mini-Chickens

Bantams are mini-chickens,  miniature versions of large fowl. They are separate breeds from their larger cousins. They are just like full-size chickens, but only one-fifth to one-quarter the size. “They are easier to handle and lay beautifully,” said Doris Robinson, director of the joint American...

History of the Cochin Chicken Breed

Cochin Chickens arrived in England from China in the 19th century and have been a sensation ever since. Their soft, fluffy feathers, covering them down to the feet and beyond, are irresistible. Cochin chickens are one of only three chicken breeds in the American Poultry Association’s Asiatic class....