Freeholder
This too shall pass.
I finally compared the size of the eggs from my bantam hens to large store-bought eggs, and was surprised that the ratio is a little less than 2:1! Five large eggs filled a one-cup measure; it only took about 7 1/2 of the bantam eggs to fill it. These are large bantams -- Buff Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds. Smaller bantam hens will undoubtedly lay smaller eggs. But I'm pleased with the size of these eggs. The hens are also very good layers -- at least, at this time of year. The real test will be seeing how well they lay through this next winter.
I've hatched out 18 chicks from these guys -- my rooster is Buff Orpington, and all the chicks that have hatched appear to be from the Rhode Island Red hens, so they are crosses. Will be interesting to see how the pullets from that batch turn out. I'll be crossing them with a Silkie rooster (I mainly want the bantams for broody hens, but want to get rid of the silkie feathering).
Kathleen
I've hatched out 18 chicks from these guys -- my rooster is Buff Orpington, and all the chicks that have hatched appear to be from the Rhode Island Red hens, so they are crosses. Will be interesting to see how the pullets from that batch turn out. I'll be crossing them with a Silkie rooster (I mainly want the bantams for broody hens, but want to get rid of the silkie feathering).
Kathleen