japanese bantams

[lsittloh]

Getting to redo my chicken coop-need advice on how to set up breeding pens and show pens for japanese bantams

[ritterhahn]

There are several good books on the Japanese bantam -- amazon.com is a good place to look.

If you want information from a community (and such a thing is one of the nicest aspects of the poultry fancy, sharing and learning from fellow admirers) try the national or local club for the breed – The Japanese Bantam Breeders Association is a good beginning.

I am no expert in the husbandry of Chabo, but the short legs they have would mean you would need to pay careful attention to the flooring of their enclosure – lots of dry bedding changed fairly often for exhibition stock. I remember hearing that they stand closer confinement better than some other breeds; they are extremely vulnerable to predators – a smallish cage well constructed is preferable to a large run with many gaps for enterprising predators to exploit.

If you have trios, a 6x4 enclosure would suffice for rudimentary comfort. Raised on wire, you would have extensive damage to the plumage of the lower wings, under carriage – litter is probably best. Cages covered to avoid the muck rain brings – again the short legs. If you live in areas with extreme cold, remember their large combs tend to suffer from frostbite – good ventilation and low perches for winter seasons would be good: birds that can properly perch tolerate the cold better than birds hunkering on the floor when all else is equal; ventilation that mitigates the increases in moisture that can cause such havoc with fowl if they are hermetically sealed up in cold weather.

Good luck,

Richard

[lsittloh]

ok thanks I think I have it figured out,I saw a picture in backyard poultry magazine that will fit my plan