New Hampshire Bantams are the bantam version of the full sized breed. They have a single comb and lay pale brown eggs. New Hampshire Bantams originated in the United States and are a relatively common breed. Their bodies are much shorter and more compact than Rhode Island Red Bantams. The plumage color of both the male and female is primarily chestnut red with black tails. The male's hackle and saddle plumage is lustrous, golden bay while the head, back, wing shoulders and wing bows are brilliant, reddish bay, which gives the male a darker plumage color than the female. Standard weights at maturity are male-34 oz, and hen-30 oz.
New Hampshire Bantams
by Edgar Mongold
"The New Hampshire bantam has beauty, charm and a natural appeal that attracts attention wherever seen. This combination coupled with vigor and early maturity makes it ideal for anyone interested in raising a backyard flock or developing a strain for exhibition purposes.
Combining the best of the Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red and Wyandotte, this breed has achieved a shape of its own. This shape allows for a high amount of production without sacrificing early maturity or the ability to feather quickly.
The body of the male should be deep, full and moderately long with the keel extending well to the front of the breast. The neck and tail are of medium length with the tail well spread and carried at an angle of forty-five degrees above horizontal. The single comb and wattles should be moderately large, this trait contributes to early maturity and high production. The overall appearance should be one of alertness and vitality.
The body of the female should also be deep and full but of medium length, with the keel extending well to the front of the breast. The neck and tail should be of medium length with the tail well spread and carried at an angle of thirty-five degrees above horizontal. The comb, single, should be medium in size as are the wattles. Again the appearance is one of alertness and vitality.
The weight of the New Hampshire bantam is that of a dual purpose bantam breed and surpluses can be used to supplement the family table. The cock should weigh 34 ounces, the hen and cockerel 30 ounces and the pullet 28 ounces. The body capacity that this weight allows will produce a nice sized egg and a carcass worth butchering.
The color of the male is a work of art, its hackle is a golden bay, the saddle a golden bay slightly darker than the hackle, the back a brilliant deep chestnut red and the body a medium chestnut red all contrasting with the black of the tail.
The female although more somber, presents a pleasing picture, contrasting a medium chestnut body is the black of the tail and the black ticking in the lower hackle feathers.
Like its counterpart, the large fowl New Hampshire, it also retains the ability to forge and hustle for its food. Its disease resistance and hardiness makes it a pleasure to raise.
Scattered in a field of green grass with the sunlight reflecting off of them, a flock of New Hampshire bantams is quite a sight. This sight has stopped many an individual at my place, perhaps the finest tribute to their beauty and charm."
