Hi: I was just given four Japanese Bantams. I have never owned any chickens before. We built them a coop and they have a large pen (run) so that they can be outside. I'm feeding them laying mash and table scraps. Their food and water is changed daily. The hens are already laying for us. We've received 7 eggs since Friday. There are 3 hens and 1 rooster. Right now, we're keeping them confined to the coop. Questions: 1) How long should I keep them confined? We want to make sure that they know the coop is theirs. 2)Am I feeding and caring for them properly?

These chickens will never be shown. We will just have them as pets (?) and for egg production. I just want to make sure that I'm caring for them properly. Thanks for any info.

It usually only takes chickens a few days to acclimate to a new coop and readily return at night. I would give them a week and open the door. Just be sure they are securely closed up at night so you are not raided by some nocturnal predator, such as raccoon, possum, house cat, owl, weasel, or others. Another thing to look out for is over-feeding. I don't give my birds more than they can clean up in a few hours. Otherwise they can get too fat and suffer from that. Try to be sure the protein percentage is at a very minimum of 16% for good health. Provide roost space at least a couple feet off the ground and they will stay cleaner and get some excercise. Watch for external parasites--check and dust their underside regularly (monthly)with 5% Sevin garden dust if you find mites or lice. Good luck with them!

I'm new to the chicken game but have raised Bantams this year from eggs. Looking to enter into the Fair in this area but do not know what kind of Bantams I have? Is there a really good source book on chickens, or poultry for that matter that has actual pictures of the different breeds

We in the fancy humorously refer to what you are doing as "name that breed." If you were actually considering showing your birds, you would start by studying the American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection so you could responsibly select a breed that suits you--then make a resonable purchase of some that have a chance of being showable. The Standard is the best source book for breeds, and nobody showing a bird should be without access to one. If you think you have Japanese Bantams, or wish to get some, contact me by e-mail and we can discuss the breed and its specifics.

Hi,
My name is John Orlowski. I am just getting started in Japs. I am sucessfully raising show leghorn bantams(as my name applies). This is for John de. I am a very successful at the shows i go to, to name a few: Richmond Poultry Breeders show, Northeast Poultry Congress, Boston Poultry Expo, Connersville All Waterfowl Show, Delmarva. I am taking on Japs as a second breed. I am gettign very good stockbirds from my good friend Paul Kroll. Could you send me some info on Japs.

Thanks John

I am raising Japanese Bantams. I have a hen that is sitting on a batch of eggs with chicks in them, what do I do when they hatch? Will the other chickens peck at them? I can't have that, these chicks are by my champion rooster and out of my champion hen and their getting older. Help!

I have a hen that is laying very large eggs for her size, is it safe? Thank You for any advice.

It's perfectly safe for her to be laying large eggs, and if it wasn't there wouldn't be anything you could do for her. Sometimes you will see blood on them, but it is more common for pullets than older hens. You may want to keep an eye out for her though, in case she can't pass an egg. If this happens, you'll find her more than likely sitting in the corner, not eating or drinking. She may also be panting or out of breath. I don't think that'll happen, though, she should be fine. You'll be surprised of the sizes of eggs some chickens can lay.

About you're other question... it would be a good idea to remove the other chickens. Sometimes they may peck at the broody hen and drive her off her nest, or kill the chicks. When and if they hatch, they can stay with their mother if it is warm enough, but they shouldn't be where it is drafty or wet. Good Luck!

Oatman

Hello, My Name is Rachel!
My husband and I have just started raising Japanese Bantams. In April we received our first batch of chicks in the mail. All of the chicks are doing well, except one who has lost use of its left leg. What should we do, and is this contagious to the other chicks?

hi, My name is Johnnie and i am about to buy some silkie chickens. can you help me by giving me some diagrams of a chicken coop suitable for 5 chickens and i would also want to know if the male silkie will crow loudly as i fear that my neighbours might not like it.

please help me!
cheers

Johnnie,

You might try seekig advice from the American Silkie Bantam Club. Their needs are significantly different from the Japanese Bantams.

Johnde

Most bantam hens will hatch any eggs. And likely you can slip day old Guinea keets under a settting hen to raise, after she has been setting for a week or more. Most of these things are an individual decision--know your hens- most will hatch and raise most anything--some will fly off and be "offended". Usually successful , but not a certainty! Good luck, CJR

Can a Japanese Bantam be owned and raised in a suburban house? How much room does a Japanese Bantam need? Hold cold can it get before you need to bring them inside?

Japanese Bantams can be raised in a suburban setting, as long as nobody objects to the males crowing. A trio of adult Japanese Bantams can live nicely in a 2'x4" pen as long as there is a roost above the floor with adequate height for excercise. I generally bring my birds indoors (verus open air coops) when the expected overnight temperature is below 25 farenhiet.

I have a single japanese bantam that I found in my work parking lot about a 8 months ago. We built her a coop and she was laying eggs all the time. About 6 months ago she quit laying and we thought it was just too hot for her.(we live in florida), but since then, nothing. Is there anyting I can do to get her to lay eggs again? Also is having only one chicken a bad thing? do chickens need companionship?

Does anyone know what the average price is for an A quality Serama? Thanks.

Lauren,

You should probably look for a Serama discussion group for specific interests in Seramas. This site is dedicated to Japanese Bantams. I had Seramas for a while, but I gave them away in favor of my favorite breed. I am sure there are many who can share ideas about Malaysian Seramas, but they will not likely be reading these messages.

I am in 4-H and would like to show Black Japs. I just start to raise poultry and would like to learn more about them and start breeding and hatching my own chickens. I have about 12 chickens right now. One of them is my Black Jap Rooster and I would like to get some more of these birds to show at the county fair. But I don't know where to get show quality Black Japs. Can you help me find some and give me some pointers on them? Thank you, Gina

JAPANESE SILKIE CHICKENS
hi i am interested in buying some japanese silkie chics i have found a man w/ some but i would like some pics of them before i get them i raise white silkies rihgt now but am looking to breed splash silkies
thanks
sierra

another question
i also wondering how old until the chicks lay eggs??
thank you
sierra

Since there is no breed in the US named Japanese Silkie, you are most likely referring to Silkies. Try looking up Silkie or American Silkie Bantam Club. There are Silkie-feathered Japanese and Europe and UK, but not in the US. Japanese Silkie is a common misnomer for Silkie. Most chickens lay eggs between 4 and 10 months.

John deSaavedra

Can some with the Standard of Perfection please email me or post here the standard for White Japanese Bantams?? I loaned mine to my 4H club poultry leader and he "lost" it. Any help would be hugely appreciated!

American Poultry Association Standard of Perfection

Standard for Japanese Bantams


STANDARD WEIGHTS

Cock……….26 oz. Hen………22 oz.

Cockerel…...22 oz. Pullet……..20 oz.
SHAPE—MALE

COMB: Single; large, firm, and straight on the head; evenly serrated, having five distinct points.

BEAK: Strong; well curved.

FACE: Surface smooth; skin fine and soft in texture.

EYES: Large, round, and prominent.

WATTLES: Large; smooth.

EAR LOBES: Large; smooth.

HEAD: Rather large and broad.

NECK: Rather short; curving prominently backward, with abundant hackle flowing well over shoulders.

BACK: Very short; saddle feathers abundant.

TAIL: Very large and well-spread in profile; carried very erect and sufficiently forward of the perpendicular as to almost touch the back of the head. Main tail feathers – wide and very long, standing well above the top of the head. Main sickles – very long, upright and slightly curved. Lesser sickles and coverts – moderately upright and slightly curved.

WINGS: Large, long; points decidedly drooping.

BREAST: Very full, round, and carried low.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body rather short, deep, and compact – fluff short.

LEGS AND TOES: Legs set well apart; straight when viewed from the front. Lower thighs medium size and short. Shanks very short and smooth. Toes straight, well-spread; four in number on each foot.



SHAPE – FEMALE

COMB: Single; large*, firm, and straight on the head; evenly serrated; having five distinct points. *this description pending correction to read small to medium by the Standards Committee.

BEAK: Strong; well curved.

FACE: Surface smooth; skin fine and soft in texture.

EYES: Large, round, and prominent.

WATTLES: Medium size; well rounded.

EAR LOBES: Medium size and smooth.

HEAD: Rather large and broad.

NECK: Short and well curved.

BACK: Very short.

TAIL: Large, well spread in profile; carried forward of perpendicular.

WINGS: Large, long; points decidedly drooping.

BREAST: Full, round; carried low.

BODY AND FLUFF: Body rather short, deep, and compact. Fluff short.

LEGS AND TOES: Legs set apart; straight when viewed from front. Lower thighs medium size; short. Shanks very short; smooth. Toes straight and well spread; four in number on each foot.


VARIETIES

The APA recognizes six varieties since these dates:

Black – 1883

Black Tailed White – 1874

Black Tailed Buff – 1982

Gray – 1914

Mottled – 1947

White – 1883 All sections of feathers are to be pure white. Eyes should be reddish bay, feet, shanks, and beak yellow. Face, comb, wattles, and ear lobes, bright red.

could someone tell me the standards on the black-tailed whites from the standard book.

oh ya, and general Disqualifications of the breed, thanks!

Is a red comb and wattles a disqualification in the Silkie Bantam breed?

Hey- I've had my 2 white japs for about a year. my hen use to lay eggs about every other day, but she hasn't been laying egg now for probably about 6 months or more. can any one tell me why or how I can get ehr to start laying again?

hens usually take a break from laying every year or two and they may stop laying for as long as they feel is nesesary to regain nutrients. Also the weather has an effect on them (like if it is really cold out). But I have found that by using gound red pepper and a red heat lamp, I can get my birds to start laying again in a few days. you can try to see if it'll work or you.
I wasn't sure if you had a pair of white japs, but if you keep the pair seperate from other birds do you think I could buy eggs from you when she starts laying again? I've been looking for some white japanese eggs.

alaina you feed them the red ground pepper and they eat that? new to the game, please explain
thank you

Im getting some silkies i need to build a coop, any suggguestions? i wanna show them in 4-h i think* can any1 tell me about a silkie book that is good 4 starters?

im only 10... my mom knows im asking around and everything so im good. I already no wat www.silkiechikens.com tells about so im looking for breeding info could anyone tell me were i can take my silkies 2 vet...? when ur silkie gets mites wat do u use? adams flea and tick spray?

Can anyone tell me when I can expect my Japanese bantams to start laying? They were purchased at a hatchery May 13, 05 as day old chicks. Also, how many roosters are too many? since they can't sex day old bantams, I had to take straight run. I hate to get rid of some of the roosters, as they are so cute and proud, but have 10 chickens and 3 are roosters. Too many? Thanks. Please answer to
MckinnJudy@wmconnect.com

I was wondering as I am new to Silkies,How do you tell the roosters from the hens? I think I have alot of roosters, they are crowing in the mornings. And as for them laying, Mine will just barley get into the house I built for them, Do they nest on the ground? There is 10 of them and I think there are only 4 Hens, not for sure but I think. They all stay together most of the time. Do I need to seperate the hens and roosters? Is there any Books that I can get this information from?

HELP , I have a bantam (pekin) that is due to hatch a single egg early next week 6th March, and the cockerel is still in the coop with her , I noticed today when I checked if she was ok he attacked her ! was this a jealousy issue or something more serious ...should I seperate them I only have i cockerel and the Hen.
I am very new to keeping Bantams.
thanks from the UK