[looe-looe-belle]

Hello everyone, 

Even though I am looking forward to keeping chickens, or hens for laying eggs. I have a liking for bantams too!!

Does anyone know what the Polish bantams are like in nature/temperament? and how often they lay eggs?

Also, are the eggs smaller than chickens? and do they taste the same?

Thanking everyone who helps in advance!!! 

[themagicaltoad1]

Don't know anything about polish bantams but bantam eggs taste the same as full size chicken eggs, they're just smaller.

[grenhouse]

I had some polish bantams a couple of years back. I had a very scatty cock, and a hen with a lovely temperament. Both a little flighty though. OK layers of nice small eggs.


Steve

[Caralou]

I adored my little Polish cock bird but sadly he was a little too loud for the neighbours. If well handled they are lovely. Blackie would perch on my shoulder and preen my hair and his little lady would follow you hopefully for treats   The eggs are tiny but taste just the same as large fowl eggs and they lay probably 3 or 4 days a week in the summer months  

[looe-looe-belle]

I see, so they dont lay as often as normal hens then.

What about the Polish Frizzle?...thats a chicken isnt it?...not a bantam?...does this lay eggs?...or is the Polish Frizzle just a fancy chicken and bred only for looks?

[Caralou]

Frizzle refers to the feathering on the bird http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGD/Friz/BRKFrizzles.html as opposed to a different breed.

You will find that most bantams lay only in the spring/summer/early autumn months and less often than the larger fowl and again pure breed in large fowl lay less often than hybrids that are designed to lay lay lay for two years solid.

What are you after in a bird and I'm sure that some of the keepers here can point you in the right direction for your perfect breed 

[looe-looe-belle]

Hi

Thanks for that! I am looking for something pretty that lays every day or nearly every day....so I suppose the Polish Bantams would be out - also, their eggs are smaller and apparantly they are quite flightly - or so I have heard.

[GrannieAnnie]

Also omelette making would need more eggs and take longer to crack them all!!   

Here are some of the pure breeds.  From the Omlet website

http://www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/breeds.php?breed_type=Chickens

And here are some of the hybrid colours, although different breeders and rearers call the birds by slightly different names!

http://www.merrydalepoultry.co.uk/POL_Hens.htm

[looe-looe-belle]

Many thanks GrannieAnnie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was brilliant to see all the species!! Did you see the chicken program tonight (thursday) on bbc2 about chickens???..........was really good.

[GrannieAnnie]

Yes we did watch it.  It was pretty good, but there seemed to be a lot about Jane from the Battery hen Welfare Trust!  I think it was a glorified advert for her!!!  

But they did say there are over 200 breeds of domestic chicken, so you've got a lot to choose from!!!