Standard vs Bantam Chicken Breeds

Whether you are new to chickens or adding to your flock, choosing between bantams and standard-sized breeds can be difficult. While both can make great additions to your flock, they differ in several important ways.

Let’s break down the key differences so you can decide which is the better fit for your setup and needs.

Size

While standard-sized birds can vary in size, with some breeds getting upwards of 10 lbs, bantams will always be much smaller.  They are typically ¼ to ⅓ of the size of standard breeds.  Their compact size is one of the main reasons people are drawn to them.

Space Needed

Standard-sized breeds require at least 2-3 sq feet of space in the coop and 5+ sq feet in the run.  Bantam-sized breeds don’t need as much room, and you can often fit more in the coop due to their mini size. 

Hardiness

When it comes to handling tough weather conditions, size matters.

Standard chickens tend to be more cold-hardy, while bantams are generally less resilient due to their smaller size. This means bantams may need extra care and protection in colder and very hot climates. 

Egg Size and Production

Standard-sized chickens will lay anywhere from medium to jumbo eggs, and certain breeds will lay an egg every day of the week. While our Green Queen bantams can give you 4-6 eggs per week, most other bantam breeds will lay 2-4 eggs per week. You can expect small eggs from bantam-sized breeds.

Price

While most would assume that a smaller bird means a smaller price, it is the opposite for chickens. Standard-sized breeds are much easier to sex at hatch and are produced in larger volumes, which makes them lower in cost.  The bantams are very small at hatch, making them more difficult to sex. With the lower production rates of the bantams in general, they are in high demand and can be hard to find, causing a higher price. Bantams are commonly used for youth exhibition and showing, due to their friendly nature as well. 

Both standard and bantam chickens have their advantages. If you’re looking for productivity—especially eggs and meat—standard breeds are the way to go. But if you want smaller, charming birds with personality and don’t need large eggs, bantams might be a perfect fit. At the end of the day, the right choice depends on your space, climate, and what you want out of your flock.