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Chapter XLII. 
BANTAMS OTHER THAN GAME. 
Bantams always have had — and, we suppose, always will have — their supporters and admirers — and there is 
much to be said in their favour. Bantams are now bred in every shade of colour markings, and variety of 
shape and form — long-legged, short-legged, some with their bodies actually touching the ground, some 
feather-legged, others clean-legged, some single-combed, others pea-combed, some strawberry-combed, others 
rose-combed, and some without those appendages at all. 
Bantams require but limited space to thrive and do well, and on these grounds alone make it practicable 
to keep one or other of the varieties, where keeping larger Poultry is quite out of the question, and offer 
inducements to those persons who require a hobby, which would not be possib'e to cultivate under ordinary 
circumstances. Their food is an inexpensive item, and for exhibiting purposes as great, or a greater, leturn 
may be obtaimd from them under this head than from the larger varieties of Poultry. The eggs they lay 
are by no means to be despised, the hens laying eggs far larger in proportion than the major breeds. There 
is, of course, a difficulty in rearing the young chickens, though, as adult stock, all bantams are extraordinarily 
hardy, and there is little fear of the market being overstocked, as to breed high-class specimens of any of 
the varieties is by no means such an easy task as would appear. 
In feeding Bantams, the supply should be liberal, and of the very best quality, though care should be 
exercised in not over-feeding. They have a predisposition to gorge themselves if allowed to do so, thus 
becoming too fat either for breeding or Show purposes. The chickens require a little more attention than 
larger Fowls, and should be fed with a little, and often. The adult birds, with the exception of one or two 
varieties, do better in confined runs, and when kept under these conditions, must have a plentiful supply of 
green food provided. Where grass runs are at command, this may wholly, or in part, be dispensed with. 
Ripe fruit of all descriptions is an .excellent change for them, and does them an amount of good. Bantams 
may be fed with the whole of the recognised Poultry foods, with the exception of whole corn, the latter 
being too large for their tiny crops, often, when it is fed them, causing crop-bind. Grit, gravel, and pure 
water are just as essential to their welfare as to other Fowls ; and if a little of the Douglas Mixture Tonic is 
added to the drinking water for about a week at a time, during moulting, or severely wet weather, much 
marked benefit will be noticeable in their condition. 
Many admirers of the Bantam family have the idea graven on their minds that all Bantams should be 
of one uniform size and weight. This is an erroneous impression, as to breed some of the varieties to the 
small scale, say, of the Black Rose-comb, would be entirely out of proportion to the breed that they are 
miniatures of, besides often, by this means, completely destroying fecundity. In our opinion, to which we 
have given years of thought and study, we think that one-fifth the Standard weight of the breed, of which 
they are the prototypes in miniature, should be the correct weight, the bird being in good health, flesh, and 
condition, not over-fat, or ridiculously thin. The Standards here given for these points will remedy any 
likelihood of a bird passing the Judge, which fail in either case. 
In mating Bantams for breeding, much the same plan as directed for the larger birds will be the best 
com-se to pursue, from two to four hens, according to the vigour of the cock, being sufficient. In-breeding 
in Bantams is extensively followed, but at times crossing becomes absolutely necessary; and though, in all 
probability, the first cross with alien blood will not turn out satisfactorily, persevere, and breed back the pro- 
geny to the parents, when good results will, likely enough, be obtained. In breeding Game, or Indian Game 
Bantams, the cockerels, if well developed, should be dubbed at about six or seven months" old. The pullets 
