JAPANESE BANTAM

This tiny historic breed is said to have originated before the 1600s from China. It is a true bantam, which means it was never bred as a standard-size chicken. However, it has a gene that makes a quarter of its eggs unfertile. On the plus side, the hens are great broody mothers, so a three-quarters hatch rate is still good. They do not do well in cold and are prone to frostbite.

• Origin: China
• Purpose: Broody, show
• Climate: Cold intolerant, heat tolerant
• Temperament: Calm, docile, friendly
• Average weight: 1.1 to 1.3 pounds
• Egg color: White to pale brown
• Egg production: 80 to 160 per year
• Feather color: White, buff, black-tailed buff, black, silver gray, tricolor, wheaten, blue red, brown red, dark gray
• Comb type: Single