Bantam Cochin

Looking for a sweet compact sized companion? Look no further than the bantam cochin. Imagine a plump little cloud hovering just above the grass, following you about, scratching and cooing when bugs and treats are discovered. These darlings are dutiful layers of smaller sized cream eggs.

If size constraints of your yard are a concern, these birds are an excellent choice. They are not as destructive on landscaping as our larger sized birds and they make excellent gardening companions. They are straight forward and have lovely temperaments. They are easy to raise birds that are darling from the moment they are chicks all the way up into their senior years. Coming in both smooth and frizzle feathers, our group of bantam Cochins are a dynamic group of all sorts of colors. From black, to blue to splash and sometimes Millie fleur. These lovelies could be a complete looking flock on their own.

Cold hearty as well as heat tolerant, they can move through 4 seasons in the yard with you. Make sure they have a cozy coop for the winters and shade in the summer to make them most comfortable.

Cochins are a breed that do not reveal their gender upon hatch. Each chick is sold straight run meaning there is a 50/50 chance of each chick being male or female. Males are even tempered and have a crow that matches the size of their body which is . . . petite!

If you have a feather type preference between frizzle or smooth, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your request at time of shipment/pickup of your chickies.

Quick Breed Stats:

Egg Color: cream

Cosmetic Egg Bloom: sometimes the eggs can have a pink tint (eggs will always have the normal protective bloom when laid)

Egg Size: bantam sized

Egg Texture: smooth

Egg Production During Spring and Summer: moderate – low 2-4 eggs when not being broody

Meat Production: not suited for meat or high egg production. This breed is best kept as companions and pets.

Heat Tolerance: very good if shade is provided

Cold Tolerance: not very high, would need ample protection from snow.

Disposition: extremely patient, sweet, smart and curious. Complete lap chicken Will come running for treats.

Weeks to Maturity: 22

Free Range Ability: not very predator wise, best to keep an eye on them when free ranging or have them in a mixed breed flock for protection.

Likelihood They Will Want To Hatch Eggs: high

 Chicks sold straight run $20 each 

Bantam Cochin

A plump little cloud of a chicken — sweet, smooth or frizzled, and made for small backyards.

Bantam Cochins originated in China — the original Cochin chickens were imported to England in the 1840s and caused a Cochin craze that helped launch the modern chicken-fancy hobby. The bantam version was developed afterward, and today they’re one of the most beloved companion breeds in the world.

Imagine a plump little cloud hovering just above the grass, following you around the yard while you garden. That’s a Bantam Cochin. We offer ours in both smooth and frizzled feather types, and in black, blue, splash, and Mille Fleur coloration. They’re patient, smart, deeply social, and perfectly sized for small backyards or families with children.

Quick Breed Stats

What Makes Our Bantam Cochin Different

• Available in both smooth and frizzled feather types — request at order.
• Four color varieties: black, blue, splash, and Mille Fleur.
• One of the gentlest, most patient breeds — ideal for families with young children.
• Bantam size: low impact on landscaping, fits comfortably in small yards.
• Exceptional broody mothers — they’ll hatch and raise eggs of any breed reliably.
• Roosters have a small crow proportional to their body — far less audible than standard-size roosters.

Care Basics

• Feather-shanked: keep the run dry. Muddy conditions can cause foot problems.
• 2 sq ft of coop per bird, 4-5 sq ft of run minimum.
• Not predator-wise — keep them in protected runs or supervised outside.
• In hot climates provide shade and water; in cold, keep the coop draft-free.

Pricing

Shipping is a flat $70 for up to 25 chicks via overnight USPS Express. Seasonal minimums: 10 chicks March-May and October, 6 chicks June-September. Local farm pickup is free with no minimum (we recommend at least two chicks so none is brooded alone).

Pair Your Bantam Cochin With

• Bantam Silkie — another lap-chicken bantam for tiny-yard flocks
• Bearded d’Anver — pint-sized urban-friendly breed alongside the Cochin
• Serama — for the smallest companion combo possible
• Alchemist Egger — for a standard-sized frizzle alongside the bantam

Common Questions

Are Bantam Cochins good with kids?

Exceptionally. They’re one of the few breeds we recommend for households with toddlers — they’re slow to startle and tolerant of being held.

Will my chick be smooth or frizzled?

You can request a feather type when you order. We’ll do our best to match — frizzles are slightly more limited in availability, so order early.

Do Bantam Cochins lay many eggs?

No — 2-4 small eggs a week is typical. Bantam Cochins are companion birds first, layers second. If egg production is your primary goal, look at our Sage Eggers, Azure Eggers, or Heritage Welsummers.

Are they good free-rangers?

Not really. Cochins are not strong free-rangers and aren’t predator-wise. We recommend keeping them in protected runs or only allowing supervised outside time.