The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: macgro7 on September 17, 2019, 08:13:27 pm

Title: Japanese bantam
Post by: macgro7 on September 17, 2019, 08:13:27 pm

Does anyone keep Japanese bantams?
Saw them in Melton Rare Breed sale last Saturday and fell in love!
Beautiful little birds!
Anyone has any experience with them?
I heard they carry a gene that prevents 1/4 of them hatching properly

Title: Re: Japanese bantam
Post by: chrismahon on September 18, 2019, 08:04:45 am

These are called 'Chabo' in Japan and come in a large range of colours. They do carry a lethal gene which prevents 25% from hatching but apparently they come in two distinct leg lengths- if you breed long with short there isn't a problem, but long with long or short with short and there is. Plenty of info on the www.poultrykeeper.com (http://www.poultrykeeper.com) site. There is also a well established breed club which may have more info.

Title: Re: Japanese bantam
Post by: doganjo on September 18, 2019, 09:26:02 pm

Sounds a bit like our 'bobtail' gene in Brittanys.  Breed long tail to short tail fine, breed short tail to short tail and 25% don't implant - the double bobtail gene.  However, it is wrongly termed lethal since they are never alive.

Title: Re: Japanese bantam
Post by: macgro7 on September 18, 2019, 10:59:50 pm

Sounds exactly like Dexter cows actually!
Beautiful birds.
I've spoken to the breed society and am going to pick up a trio in next week  :fc: