If you love chickens but don’t have a lot of space, you might be interested in raising small chickens. These minature chickens are not only adorable, but they also have some advantages over their larger counterparts. They eat less, produce less waste, and can be more friendly and easy to handle. They are also perfect for urban or suburban settings where space is limited.
When choosing a chicken breed for your backyard coop or farm, there are many factors to consider, including the breed’s temperament, egg production, meat production, hardiness, and feathering.
Small chicken breeds are favoured by many chicken keepers around the world their smaller space requirements and smaller appetite.
But just like any other chicken breeds, they have their own pros and cons.
In this article, we will explore 10 small chicken breeds that are great for a backyard flock. We have ranked these 10 breeds from smallest in weight (No. 1 being smallest).
What this article covers
This is a long article, so below are some quick links. Click any of them to go straight to that section – or just carry on reading for the full guide!
- Serama
- Dutch Bantam
- Japanese Bantam
- Sebright
- Old English Game
- Barbu d’Anvers
- Rosecomb
- Cubalaya
- D’Uccle
- Booted Bantam
Pros and Cons of Keeping Small Chickens
Largest Chicken Breeds For Sale (where to purchase)
Shopping list of items needed to look after small chicken breeds
1. Serama
The Serama chicken is the undisputed champion of the smallest chicken breeds in the world. This tiny bird weighs only 6 ounces (170 grams) on average and stands no taller than 10 inches (25 centimeters). It originated in Malaysia, where it was developed as a true bantam breed, meaning it has no large counterpart.
✔ The Serama chicken is a stunning bird with an upright posture, a puffed-out chest, and a long tail that often reaches over its head.
✔ It comes in many colors and patterns, and each bird has its own personality.
✔ The Serama chicken is very friendly and docile, making it a great pet for children and adults alike. It is also a fairly good egg layer, producing up to 120 small eggs per year.
However, the Serama chicken is not without its drawbacks.
❌ It is very sensitive to cold and wet weather, so it needs a warm and dry shelter.
❌ It is also prone to some genetic defects that can affect its fertility and hatchability.
❌ It is not a good meat bird, as it has very little flesh on its bones.
2. Dutch Bantam
The Dutch Bantam is another true bantam breed that originated in Europe. It weighs about 20 to 21 ounces (570 to 590 grams) and stands about 12 inches (30 centimeters) tall. It has a slender body, an upright carriage, and a long tail that curves upwards. It comes in many colors, such as black, white, blue, silver, gold, and partridge.
✔ The Dutch Bantam is a lively and active bird that loves to forage and fly.
✔ It is very hardy and adaptable to different climates and environments.
✔ It is also a good egg layer, producing about 160 small eggs per year.
✔ It has a sweet and gentle temperament, making it a good choice for families with children.
❌ The Dutch Bantam is not a good meat bird, as it has very little meat on its frame.
❌ It is also very flighty and can easily escape from low fences or predators.
❌ It can be noisy at times, especially during mating season.
3. Japanese Bantam
The Japanese Bantam is one of the oldest and most popular bantam breeds in the world. It weighs about 21 ounces (600 grams) and stands about 10 inches (25 centimeters) tall. It has a short body, short legs, and large wings that touch the ground. It has a large single comb and wattles that contrast with its small head. It comes in many colors and patterns, such as black-tailed white, black-tailed buff, mottled, frizzled, and silkie-feathered.
✔ The Japanese Bantam is a beautiful and elegant bird that attracts attention wherever it goes.
✔ It is very friendly and sociable with humans and other chickens.
✔ It is also a decent egg layer, producing about 100 small eggs per year.
✔ It can live for up to 13 years if well cared for.
❌ The Japanese Bantam is not a good meat bird, as it has very little meat on its body.
❌ It is also very susceptible to cold and wet weather, so it needs a warm and dry shelter.
❌ It can be difficult to breed due to its short legs and large wings that interfere with mating.
4. Sebright
The Sebright is a unique bantam breed that was created in England by Sir John Sebright in the early 1800s. It weighs about 22 ounces (625 grams) and stands about 9 inches (23 centimeters) tall. It has a compact body, a rose comb, and feathered legs. It comes in two colors: gold-laced and silver-laced.
✔ The Sebright is a striking and elegant bird that has a distinctive lacing pattern on its feathers.
✔ It is very active and alert, but also friendly and docile with humans and other chickens.
✔ It is not a good egg layer, producing only about 60 small eggs per year. It can live for up to 10 years if well cared for.
❌ The Sebright is not a good meat bird, as it has very little meat on its bones.
❌ It is also very sensitive to cold and wet weather, so it needs a warm and dry shelter.
❌ It can be very difficult to breed due to its rose comb gene that causes high mortality rates in chicks.
5. Old English Game
The Old English Game is an ancient bantam breed that originated in England as a fighting bird. It weighs about 22 to 24 ounces (625 to 680 grams) and stands about 10 inches (25 centimeters) tall. It has a muscular body, a pea comb, and long legs. It comes in many colors and varieties, such as black-breasted red, brown-red, silver-duckwing, golden-duckwing, and white.
✔ The Old English Game is a proud and spirited bird that has a strong personality.
✔ It is very active and agile, but also aggressive and territorial with other chickens.
✔ It is a good egg layer, producing about 160 small eggs per year.
✔ It can live for up to 15 years if well cared for.
❌ The Old English Game is not a good meat bird, as it has very little meat on its body.
❌ It is also very susceptible to parasites and diseases, so it needs regular health checks and treatments.
❌ It can be very noisy and disruptive, especially during mating season.
6. Barbu d’Anvers
The Barbu d’Anvers is a true bantam breed that originated in Belgium. It has a round body, a rose comb, a short beak and a large beard. It comes in various colors and patterns, such as black, white, blue, quail and millefleur. It weights in at 24 oz. (700 g).
✔ It is a friendly and lively bird that can be kept as a pet or for eggs.
✔ This breed lays about 160 small white eggs per year.
✔ They are good mothers and good sitters.
❌ They are very small chickens that are vulnerable to predators and diseases.
❌ They are sensitive to cold weather and need more protection.
❌ They are hard to find and expensive compared to larger breeds.
❌ They may be bullied by larger chickens if kept together.
7. Rosecomb
This is another true bantam breed that has a long history in Europe. It has a large rose comb, white earlobes and a short tail. It is mostly black in color, but can also be found in blue, white and buff. It is a calm and docile bird that can adapt to different environments. The Rosecomb weighs around 22 – 26 oz. (625 – 740 g).
✔ It lays about 100 small white eggs per year.
✔ Rosecombs are gorgeous, ornamental, tiny, cute, friendly, pleasant voices, and big attitude.
❌ Hens are not great layers.
❌ They can be difficult to rear and males can suffer from poor fertility due to the rosecomb trait.
❌ Egg hatchability and chick viability can also be poor.
8. Cubalaya
This is a bantam version of a Cuban breed that was developed from Spanish, Asian and African chickens. It has a distinctive appearance with a long tail that curves over its back, a pea comb and feathered legs. It comes in various colors, such as black, white, red and blue. The Cubalaya breed weights in at 26 oz. (750 g).
✔ It is a hardy and active bird that can forage well and tolerate heat.
✔ It lays about 150 small tinted eggs per year.
✔ They are good foragers and can find their own food.
✔ They are good brooders and mothers that can hatch and raise their own chicks.
❌ They are noisy and may not be suitable for urban settings.
❌ They are aggressive towards other chickens and may need to be separated.
❌ They are slow growing and not very productive in meat or eggs.
❌ They are rare and hard to find compared to other breeds.
9. D’Uccle
This is another Belgian bantam breed that has a similar look to the Barbu d’Anvers, but with feathered legs and feet. It has a single comb, a short beak and a large beard. It comes in many colors and patterns, such as porcelain, mottled, lavender and cuckoo. This breed weights in at 26.5 oz. (750 g).
✔ It is a sweet and gentle bird that can be kept as a pet or for eggs.
✔ It lays about 160 small white eggs per year.
✔ They have a cute and fluffy appearance.
✔ They are good mothers and good sitters.
❌ They are very small chickens that are vulnerable to predators and diseases.
❌ They are sensitive to cold weather and need more protection.
❌ They are rare and hard to find compared to other breeds.
❌ They may need extra care for their feathered legs and feet, which can get dirty and matted.
10. Booted Bantam
This is the largest of the bantam breeds on this list, but still smaller than most standard chickens. The Booted Bantam weighs 30 oz. (850 g). It originated in Germany and has long feathers on its legs and feet, giving it a boot-like appearance. It has a single comb, white earlobes and a short tail. It comes in various colors and patterns, such as black, white, silver and spangled.
✔ It is a friendly and curious bird that can be kept as a pet or for eggs.
✔ They are quiet and calm birds.
✔ It lays about 150 small white eggs per year.
✔ They are good flyers and can escape predators.
❌ They are very small chickens that are not suitable for meat or eggs.
❌ They are sensitive to cold weather and need more protection.
❌ They are rare and hard to find compared to other breeds.
❌ They may need extra care for their feathered legs and feet, which can get dirty and matted.
Pros and Cons of Keeping Small Chicken Breeds
Small chicken breeds have some advantages and disadvantages compared to larger breeds. Here are some of them:
Pros:
✔ They take up less space and can be kept in smaller coops or cages.
✔They eat less feed and produce less waste.
✔ They are easier to handle and transport.
✔ They are more suitable for urban or suburban settings where noise and space are limited.
✔ They are more colorful and diverse in appearance.
✔ They are more friendly and sociable with humans and other animals.
Cons:
❌ They lay smaller eggs and fewer of them.
❌ They are more vulnerable to predators and diseases.
❌ They are more sensitive to cold weather and need more protection.
❌ They are more prone to bullying by larger chickens if kept together.
❌ They are more expensive and harder to find than larger breeds.
Conclusion
Small chickens can be a great choice for anyone who wants to keep chickens as pets or for eggs, but has limited space or resources. They are also fun to watch and interact with due to their unique personalities and looks.
However, they also have some drawbacks that need to be considered before getting them. They require special care and attention to ensure their health and happiness.
If you decide to get some of these smallest chicken breeds in the world, make sure you do your research and prepare well for their needs.
Small Chickens (For Sale)
Cackle Hatchery supplies and delivers over 200 varieties of chicken breeds. To purchase large chicken breeds including the breeds discussed above, check out current supplies and prices here.
