Dutch Bantam chicken farming is a very old practice. Because it is a very old breed of domestic chicken. And the breed is one of the true bantam chicken breeds, without any standard size. Today the breed is very popular as ornamental birds.
The Dutch Bantam chicken breed was originated in the Netherlands during the seventeenth Century. The ancestors of this breed were picked up by Dutch sailors, who took birds from the East Indies for supplying eggs and meat during their journeys.
Those earliest predecessors are thought to have been some of the earliest domesticated chickens, being domesticated from the jungle fowl in Indonesia. The Dutch Bantam chicken breed was first shown in the United States in the early 1950s.
But the popularity of the Dutch Bantam chicken breed did not take off until a second importation in 1969. The breed is recognized by both American Poultry Association and American Bantam Association. And the Dutch Poultry Club recognized the breed by 1906.
Today, the Dutch Bantam chicken is still one of the most popular chicken breed in it’s home country. And it is also popular in the United Kingdom, Germany, and is gaining popularity quickly in the United States and South Africa.
The Dutch Bantam chicken breed also has grown in popularity as exhibition poultry bird throughout the world. The breed is also known as Hollandse Kriel.
However, commercial Dutch Bantam chicken farming can be a very good business if you can easily sell ornamental birds in your area. The ornamental birds are generally sold at a very high price in the market. So you will probably be able to make good profit from commercial Dutch Bantam chicken farming business.
How to Start Dutch Bantam Chicken Farming
Dutch Bantam chickens are smaller in size, but they are relatively strong and hardy animals. So starting commercial Dutch Bantam chicken farming business will be relatively easy.
Here we are trying to describe more information about starting and operating a successful Dutch Bantam chicken farming business from purchasing birds to caring and marketing.
Purchase Chickens
First of all, you have to purchase very good quality, healthy, active and disease free birds for starting your Dutch Bantam chicken farming business. Purchasing good quality birds is very important, because good quality birds ensure good production and maximum profits.
You can purchase either mature birds or day old chicks depending on the price and availability in your area. The mature birds are generally sold at very high price in the market. But the day old chicks are much cheaper. So we recommend starting with day old chicks.
You can purchase the chicks from any of your nearest poultry chick suppliers, chicken breeding centers or any existing Dutch Bantam chicken farms. Just ensure that the chicks are healthy and active. You can also search your local online classified websites.
Housing
Arranging a very good housing facility is very important for Dutch Bantam chicken farming business. Because a good house not only helps the birds to stay healthy, but also helps them to stay free from all types of predators and adverse weather conditions. So try to make a good, comfortable and secure housing system for your birds.
The type of the house can be any depending on the availability of the materials and also on your budget. It can be of full concrete setup or you can build the house with low cost and easily available materials (such as bamboo or wood). Just ensure that the house is good and comfortable for your birds.
Install good ventilation system while building the house. Good ventilation system is a must, because it removes harmful gases from inside the house and keeps your birds healthy.
Make the house in such a way so that you can easily clean the house. And ensure flow of sufficient amount of fresh air and light inside the house. As a bantam breed, the mature Dutch Bantam chickens will require not more than 3-4 square feet of housing space. But as they are ornamental birds, so arranging more space per bird will be good.
Feeding
Feeding the birds with very good quality, healthy and nutritious food is the most important part of Dutch Bantam chicken farming business. Because good food not only helps the birds to stay healthy, but also helps them to grow better and produce more.
You can feed your chickens either with ready-made/commercial poultry feeds or you can prepare the feeds of your own. Just ensure that the food is good and nutritious for your birds.
Never feed your chickens with contaminated feeds. And always try to provide them with enough clean and fresh drinking water as per their demand.
The Dutch Bantam chickens are good for raising in both confinement and free range system. But raising them in free range system will help you to reduce feeding costs. And at the same time it will help to produce better quality products.
Breeding
Like many other domestic chicken breeds, the Dutch Bantam chickens are also naturally very good breeders. They will breed easily and produce enough fertile eggs for hatching if you keep good ratio of hens and roosters in your flock. Generally, one mature rooster is enough for breeding around or up to 10 hens.
Caring
Taking additional caring will be good for the birds along with feeding good foods and arranging good housing facilities for the birds. Monitor your bird’s health on a regular basis for any signs of diseases or illness and take necessary steps as soon as possible if you notice anything uncommon. Vaccinate them timely and always try to keep good contact with a vet in your area.
Marketing
Marketing chicken products is not a problem. Because both meat and eggs of chicken have very good demand and value in the market. But the market of ornamental birds is different. So before starting this business, determine whether you can easily sell your birds in your area or not.
If you can market ornamental birds easily in your area, then you can start this business. But if you can’t, then you should start with other breeds.
These are the common steps and ways for starting and operating a successful Dutch Bantam chicken farming business. Raising these birds is really very easy. Hope this guide has helped you! Good luck & may God bless you!
