Old English Game Bantam chicken
Old English Game Bantams are a true bantam, not a miniature of the large fowl, and one of the most widely exhibited bantams in Britain.
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The Old English Game Bantam is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Hard Feather class. Its origin is given as Great Britain. It appears on the RBST Watchlist as a priority breed, so keepers of pure stock help conserve it.
It is kept in bantam form. Recognised colours: Black-Red (partridge bred), Black-Red (Wheaten bred), Blue-Red, Blue-Tailed (Wheaten hen), Brown-Red, Crele, Cuckoo, Furness, Blue-Furness, Spangle, Silver Duckwing, Golden Duckwing, Blue Duckwing, Lemon Blue, Pile, Brassy-Backed Black, Brassy Backed Blue, Splashed, Ginger-Red, Blue-Grey, Self White, Self Black, Self Blue, Muffs, Tassels. Typical adult weights: bantam cock about 620–740 g and bantam hen about 510–620 g.
Expect roughly 100–160 eggs a year, with cream/tinted shells. It is mainly kept for exhibition or as an ornamental bird.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, rbst.org.uk, poultrykeeper.com. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Hard Feather
- Also known as
- Old English Game
- Origin
- Great Britain
- Kept for
- Exhibition or ornamental
History
Developed during the 20th century as a separate, much smaller and rounder bird than large Old English Game; they have their own club and standard.
Appearance
Short-backed, broad-breasted and compact, with tight glossy feathering. Many colours, including black-reds, blue-reds, brown-reds, crele, cuckoo, furness, spangle and duckwings.
Recognised colours
Black-Red (partridge bred), Black-Red (Wheaten bred), Blue-Red, Blue-Tailed (Wheaten hen), Brown-Red, Crele, Cuckoo, Furness, Blue-Furness, Spangle, Silver Duckwing, Golden Duckwing, Blue Duckwing, Lemon Blue, Pile, Brassy-Backed Black, Brassy Backed Blue, Splashed, Ginger-Red, Blue-Grey, Self White, Self Black, Self Blue, Muffs, Tassels
Size and weight
- Forms
- Bantam
- Bantam cock
- 620–740 g
- Bantam hen
- 510–620 g
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 100–160
- Egg colour
- Cream/tinted
- Notes
- Lays roughly 100–160 small tinted eggs a year; hens are reliable sitters.
Temperament
- In short
- Lively; cocks combative with each other
- Keeping notes
- Lively and confident; cocks spar with each other but they are easy to tame.
Hardiness
Hardy
Broodiness
Frequently broody; good mother
Flying
Strong flyer
Suitability
- Beginners
- Suitable for beginners (unconfirmed)
- Good to know
- Robust birds that cope well on free range.
Conservation status (RBST)
A priority breed on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist, listed as Old English Game.
Breed club
- The Old English Game Bantam Club, breed-specific
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
Some details are still being checked. In particular: beginner suitability.
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