How to Raise Bandie Roosters

Bantam roosters are miniature chickens. They are easier to raise than larger chickens because they eat less and require smaller living quarters. Many chicken breeds, such as the Ameraucana, come in two sizes--standard, which is the larger size, or bantam. A few breeds, such as the Chinese Silkie, are bantams only. Raise bantam, or bandie, roosters if you have limited space.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper towels
  • Plastic container or box
  • Clamp light
  • Red light bulb
  • Baby chicks
  • Chick starter
  • Feeder
  • Waterer
  • Small pen
  • Adult pellets
  • Chicken coop(s)
  • Straw
  • Incubator, optional
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Instructions

  1. Chicks

    • 1

      Lay three layers of paper towels in a large plastic container or box at least 4-feet-square. This is a temporary shelter and will hold five baby male chicks. Keep the chicks in the container for approximately two months until they grow feathers. Place the container in a bathroom or a warm shed.

    • 2

      Clamp a light from the hardware store to the top of one corner of the box. Use a red light bulb to keep the chicks warm. Red is used so that the chicks can sleep at night with the light on. Place your chicks inside the box. You can purchase male chicks from specialized hatcheries that will sex the babies for you. Many local breeders sell chicks that are not sexed, so you will not know their gender until after three to four months.

    • 3

      Place chick starter into a feeder and set it in the box. Fill a waterer and place it in the box. As the paper towels become soiled, replace them with fresh paper at least once a day. Always be sure the chicks have fresh water and food.

    • 4

      Handle your chicks at least once a day for 20 minutes so that they will become accustomed to humans. This will ensure that you have friendly roosters. Without handling, they may grow up to be aggressive.

    • 5

      Play with your chicks in a sunny spot outside once their feathers have grown. Place them inside a small pen. Supervise them closely; bandie chicks are easy prey. Switch to adult pellet food at this time and turn off the clamp light during the day. If the weather is warm, you can dispense with the heat light. Continue taking the chicks outside when it is warm.

    Adults

    • 6

      Place the roosters into your chicken coop. For five bandie roosters, you will need a house that is approximately 10 square feet. Be sure the coop is in a remote area away from neighbors unless they don't mind the crowing. Bandies are less noisy but they still crow at dawn and during the day.

    • 7

      Add another smaller coop in your yard if the bandie roosters are fighting. Roosters have a pecking order and an alpha rooster will show dominance. Let the roosters choose which coop they prefer to use.

    • 8

      Place straw on the floor of the coop to keep it clean. Change it every other week. Continue to feed the roosters adult pellets and always provide clean water.

    • 9

      Let your roosters loose in a fenced yard if they do not have a run. Bandie roosters are territorial and will always go "home" in the evening. They like to eat fresh grass and insects. Bandies will not ruin a garden like standard breeds may.

    • 10

      Allow your roosters to mate with any bantam hens you may have. You can hatch chicks in an incubator if you wish. If there are females around, the roosters may fight over them. However, usually the alpha rooster does most of the mating. The optimum mating ratio is one rooster for every 10 hens.