BOOTED BANTAM CHICKEN

Some of the oldest and most common bantam chickens described in history were often
feather-footed. In AD 60, the noted Roman farmer Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella
described such birds in his writings.

In the 1600s, bantams arrived in the Netherlands and Germany from South China and possibly Burma around the same time the Chabo (Japanese) bantams came to Europe. Early Booted Bantams appear in period artwork of the Dutch Golden Age painter Adriaan van Utrecht around 1640. In the United States, the Belgian d’Uccle and Booted Bantam Club writes, “Mr. E. C. Aldrich, Hyde Park, Massachusetts, was breeding the Booted Bantam as early as 1836.  The breed was admitted to the American Poultry Association’s Standard of Perfection in 1879 in the White Variety only.”

Booted Bantams are now among the oldest pedigreed bantams in the Netherlands and are closely linked to the Belgian Bearded D’Uccle. Unlike the D’Uccle, Booted Bantams do not have beards; they also tend to be a bit larger.

Booted Bantams have single combs with red earlobes. Their wattles are moderately long, as are their legs. Their necks are relatively short and they have very short backs with tails held high. The feathers of the feet should be up to four or more inches in mature birds and very rigid. They have well-developed “vulture hocks” which the American Poultry Association (APA) defines as “a formation of stiff, straight, and long feathers growing from the lower part of the thighs and projecting backward and downward.”

Males are 26 oz. (738 grams) and females are 22 oz. (624 grams). APA standard colors include White, Mille Fleur, Porcelain, Black, and Self Blue. American Bantam Association (ABA) standard colors include Black, Blue, Buff, Golden Neck, Gray, Mille Fleur, Mottled, Porcelain, Self Blue, and White.

Booted Bantam chickens do very little scratching or digging so their impact on gardens or plantings will be minimal. However, they will peck on occasion, so low-hanging vegetables or fruits may be impacted. To keep the leg and foot feathers in good condition, birds should be given access to a grassy run that is cut regularly and kept short. Alternatively, they can also be housed in three to four inches of soft sand. In the coop, they can be kept on loose straw. Prevent wet or muddy spots in the enclosure since Booted Bantams are not very tolerant of humidity. Keeping these birds on hard ground or long grass will result in the destruction of feathers on their feet. Booted Bantams should have low perches they can simply step up on. Coop doors should be at least a foot wide to ensure their feathers are not ruined as they go in and out.

Booted Bantams are very hardy and easy to raise, but will need protection from the cold. The biggest challenge is providing the right housing and run material to ensure the quality of feathers on their legs and feet.

Did you know:

Heritage breeds are being raised on more than 4,000 farms, ranches, and backyards across America.  Still, new breeders must be recruited to protect and expand rare livestock and poultry populations.  America’s farmers are aging; future generations of breeds need future generations of breeders.  That’s why Livestock Conservancy microgrants now include a Youth Division to encourage tomorrow’s breed stewards.  Click here to invest in the future with a gift today.