How to select the right pen for your fowl

To raise fowl, you need a good pen. It is a place that protects the fowl from bad weather, bad predator or even bad people. Some people can build a pen because it is cheaper than buying at poultry store or order through online.



There is some condition for a good pen:

1. The construction should be strong so the predator cannot enter the pen easily. 
2. The pen should be safe for the fowl. Some pen can harm to the fowl. For example, there is some nail inside the pen. It can injure the fowl.
3. If the fowl need stand. It should soft so it will no harm the fowl toes.
4. The pen is wide enough. Do not put the fowl at small pen because it will torture the fowl.The fowl may hit the head to the pen. It can be a seriously injured.
5. The pen has feeder and waterer.
6. The pen is easy to clean. The good pen has a base below the cage. We can pull it and clean it.
7. The roof should be able to cover from heat and rain.Be Sure there is no hole in the roof.

Dutch Bantam Profile

Dutch Bantam is the most famous Bantam in the world. This bird is risen for ornamental bird. Hence with its name, it is originated or domesticated in Dutch or Holland. The height is only 20 cm. The cock is only 500 grams and the hen is only 400 grams weight. The cock has long wide curve tail. The comb is red blood single.  The cock has bigger comb than the hen. Dutch bantam has many color variation such as red partridge, green partridge, gray, black, and others.

The bantam is different with common bantam because in its tail and wing. Common bantam has vertical tail and near-vertical wing. On the other hand, the tail and wing of dutch bantam is similar like domesticated chicken.

Some story said that the Dutch trader imported the bantam from South East Asia. I believe it is  Java Island origin bird because Java was under Dutch East India company or VOC occupation. It is descendant of Gallus Bankiva or red jungle fowl which is from Java and Sumatra.

A Dutch bantam hen is a prolific layer that can lay up to 160 eggs per year. The eggs is light brown or cream color which size is smaller than common chicken.The hen will hatch its egg. The dutch hen is also the best mother so you can entrust them to keep their chick. Due, the prolific and the size, this bird is suitable for backyard pet. You do not need to use large backyard for raising this bird.

Photo by steve p 2008

Read also : famous bantam heritage breed