Japanese Bantam

     The Japanese Bantam, or the Chabo, is a Chicken breed that was first introduced to Europe in the 16^th century. It was developed in Japan as early as the 7^th Century probably from Indo-Chinese stock. The Japanese Bantam is one of the true Bantam chickens, and it has very short and clean yellow legs. It has also a relatively long tail which is carried high and points well forward. Japanese Bantams have also red earlobes, and relatively large single combs and wattles.

     Japanese Bantam hens lay few eggs (approximately 100 egg per year) and these tend to be very tiny indeed. They go broody quite easily, and are also very protective mothers to their chicks which hatch after 20 days of incubation. Unfortunately, due to genetic issues 25% of Japanese Bantams’ embryos will die in their shells. The other 50% of the embryos will then be short-legged. The remaining 25% will have legs that are longer than what most breeders want. Long-legged Japanese bantams that are bred to each other will never produce short-legged offspring.

     A lot of color-varieties are recognized for the Japanese Bantam, with the standardized colors including; birchen-grey, black-mottled, black-tailed buff and black-tailed white. Other color-varieties such as; blue, black, white, buff columbian, cuckoo, barred and grey are common as well. There are also frizzle-feathered and Silkie-feathered varieties for the Japanese bantam.

     For a very long time, the Japanese Bantam has been highly prized in its country of origin, as a purely ornamental bird. It has been designated as a natural monument in Japan, and was serving as a living ornament in the landscaped gardens of the wealthy people. Japanese Bantams also gained much popularity around the world, and are being kept by fanciers as showy birds, or pets.