Bantam Rooster Question

Hi Permie Friends and Chicken Enthusiasts!

This spring, my husband and I started our brand new flock of 6 hens. (2 Ameraucana, 2 Barred Rock, 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes) We have discussed the pros and cons of having a rooster in the flock, but are still unsure what would be best for us in our situation. We live in a suburban area on a quarter acre plot. Our neighbors are close. Town rules say we are allowed to have a rooster, but we also don't want to cause any noise issues with our (very close) neighbors.  

This leads us to pose these questions:
Are there any fundamental differences (behavioral, noise level, etc etc) in bantam roosters compared to the typical full-sized rooster?
What are the advantages (if any) of having a bantam rooster?
Will a bantam rooster work well with full sized hens?

If any of you have experience with this particular situation, I'd love to hear from you! Thank you in advance!

Best,
Christopher

Hi, Christopher

Why a rooster?
Why a Bantam?

From what I understand a Bantam rooster can fertilize eggs of regular size hens though they may have poor results or no results.

So if you want to increase the size of your flock a regular size rooster would be better.

Do you actually need a rooster at all?  The hens will lay eggs just fine without one.  

Personally I don't really like the sound of a bantam rooster crowing - they sound silly and high pitched to me.  I prefer a full, deep-voiced crow.  

I think a banty rooster would be a great choice for living close to others... I don't have to worry about the noise/neighbor issue and keep a full size roo, I love keeping a rooster with my girls and IF I had to keep peace with neighbors I'd try a bantam. Someone close has a bantam roo and a standard roo and I almost never hear the bantams crow. If it is very quiet and still I'll hear him, but I hear the big guy a lot.

I have two bantams. One crows a lot and the other is quieter. Noise level is more dependent on breed and personality than size.

Anne Miller wrote:Hi, Christopher

Why a rooster?
Why a Bantam?

From what I understand a Bantam rooster can fertilize eggs of regular size hens though they may have poor results or no results.

So if you want to increase the size of your flock a regular size rooster would be better.

Hi Anne,

Thanks so much for your input.

We aren't 100% committed to getting a rooster. We could certainly accomplish our goals of eggs and meat without one.

A friend of mine said that she has experienced the same thing you mention: low or no fertilization with bantam roosters and full sized hens. This is one of the bigger reasons we would want a rooster, so I guess bantam roosters would not be a good fit for our situation.

I absolutely love my bantam rooster but I wouldn’t say he’s quieter. I do have a bantam/Java mix that is around 11 lbs. He is quite frankly the best rooster I’ve ever seen. He has a small harem of 4 to 5 hens and will protect them at all costs. And his male offspring will be decent meat birds although not as heavy as a “broiler”. He keeps my girls as safe as possible in a free range situation. Quiet he is not.

Jessica Chambers wrote:I absolutely love my bantam rooster but I wouldn’t say he’s quieter. I do have a bantam/Java mix that is around 11 lbs. He is quite frankly the best rooster I’ve ever seen. He has a small harem of 4 to 5 hens and will protect them at all costs. And his male offspring will be decent meat birds although not as heavy as a “broiler”. He keeps my girls as safe as possible in a free range situation. Quiet he is not.

Wow! Thanks for your input, Jessica!

The photo is great! It took me a second to see the diamond back rattler in the lower left hand corner! Yikes!

Cool huh? She was trapped in wire. A relocator came and got her she was unharmed.