Japanese Bantam

Looks how to spot one

feathers

A true bantam with no large counterpart, the Japanese Bantam has extremely short legs due to hereditary chondrodystrophy, a broad chest, and a large upright tail that rises well above the head. The comb and wattles are proportionally large. The tail is carried slightly forward of the perpendicular, a unique trait for this breed. Frizzle, Silkie and hen-feathered variations exist.12

Personality what they are like

Japanese Bantams are alert, curious and active, but with gentle handling they become calm and tame, making them delightful pets and show birds. Hens are protective and excellent mothers. Roosters can be friendly but may show some spirit.243

Daily activity how busy a day looks

They are active foragers and good flyers, so need a secure, covered run with space to scratch, peck and dust bathe. Low perches provide exercise and help keep feathers clean.543

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Because their wingtips and underside drag on the floor, keep the coop clean with dry litter to prevent feather damage. Provide roosts so they can fly up and stay cleaner. In cold climates, protect their large combs and wattles from frostbite with supplemental heat.524

Home where they are happiest

A clean, warm, draft-free coop with solid flooring is essential. Wire floors will fray feathers. Provide about 2 square feet per bird inside the coop and 5 square feet per bird in a covered run. They are not cold tolerant and need protection from predators, as their small size makes them vulnerable.423

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Feed a complete chick starter (medicated in wet climates) until maturity, then an 18-20% protein crumble. Offer dark greens and occasional scratch grains as treats, but avoid too much starch. Keep them lean for health.2

Company who they like around

They are sociable and do well in small flocks, but because of their tiny size they should not be kept with larger, more aggressive breeds. Gentle handling from a young age helps them become tame and pet-like. They are not known to be venomous or protected.53

The story where it all began

The Japanese Bantam, known as Chabo in Japan, is one of the oldest true bantam breeds. Its exact origin is unknown, but mitochondrial DNA suggests it was developed from fighting chickens (ancestors of Shamo breeds). The earliest recognisable depiction in Japanese art dates from the early 1600s, and a short-legged chicken in a 1660 painting by Jan Steen is believed to be a Chabo. Japan was closed to foreign trade until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, after which the breed was exported to Europe and the United States. It reached the UK in the 1860s and was described in William Tegetmeier's The Poultry Book in 1867. A breed society formed in 1912. In Japan, they were kept as living garden ornaments by the aristocracy. Today they are popular worldwide as ornamental and exhibition birds.12

Recognised by the official bits

American Poultry Association (APA)

Listed as a single comb clean-legged breed; nine colour varieties recognised1

Entente Européenne (EE)

Lists forty-two colour varieties, of which twenty-three are recognised1

Poultry Club of Great Britain (PCGB)

Classified as a true bantam1

Australian Poultry Standards (APS)

Classified as a true bantam, softfeather light breed1