German Bantam

The German Bantam is characterized by a body that is roughly twice as long as it is high, creating a horizontal, cylindrical (walsvormig) silhouette. The back is long and straight, transitioning smoothly into the tail. They possess a single comb with a blade that slightly rises away from the neck. Their earlobes are white and heart-shaped, and their eyes are a vibrant red. The legs are fine-boned and typically grey-blue. Roosters weigh approximately 23-25 oz (650-700g), while hens weigh 19-21 oz (550-600g). Their plumage is tight-fitting, emphasizing their sleek, elegant build.

Despite their small size, German Bantams are excellent layers for their class, producing around 160 eggs per year. The eggs are white to cream in color and have a minimum hatching weight of 1.1 oz (30g). Hens have good laying power and are known to be reliable broodies and attentive mothers. Their chicks are generally vital and easy to raise, especially when allowed to forage in open spaces.

Roosters are distinguished by their rich, well-developed tail plumage, featuring long, well-curved main and secondary sickles that broaden at the base. Their neck and saddle hackles are abundant, falling over the shoulders. Hens display a more pronounced, slightly raised breast line and a very horizontal carriage. In the wild color variety, hens show a warm dark brown plumage with fine black peppering, while roosters are far more colorful with brown-red hackles and a glossy black breast.

This breed is hardy and robust, having been developed for semi-wild conditions in large parks. They are not sensitive to weather and do not require elaborate housing. However, they are excellent flyers and highly active, meaning they prefer large, open spaces. If kept in small enclosures, covered runs are recommended to prevent them from flying over high fences.

The German Bantam comes in a vast array of colors. The Wild Color (Wildkleur) is traditional, but they are also recognized in Partridge, Porcelain, Columbia, and Buff Columbia. In the black variety, a velvety, non-greenish black is preferred for the body, though a slight green sheen is allowed in the rooster's ornamental feathers. The Blue and Blue-Silver Partridge varieties require careful judging to ensure a pure blue tone without peppering.