Japanese Bantam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Japanese Bantam ,also known in many parts of the world as Chabo, is a breed of chicken originating in Japan. They are a bantam breed, with large upright tails that often reach over the chicken's head. The wings angle down and to the back along the sides.
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[edit] History
This little chicken has graced the gardens of the Japanese aristocracy for well over 350 years. Historical evidence suggests that the Japanese Bantam originated in Southeast Asia, where it is still raised today. They enjoy a high degree of popularity in Malaysia, and are very common in Java, which is now part of Indonesia.
Japanese Bantams began to appear in Japanese art around the year 1635, right about the time Japan closed its shores to outside trade. It also appears in Dutch art of the same era. This suggests to me that Dutch spice traders probably carried the Chabo as gifts to the Japanese from the Asian spice ports; likely from Java, which part of Dutch colonial area on that time. The very word "chabo" originates in Java as chabol (Cebol) , where it means "dwarf" and applies both to humans, and to the short-legged Chabo chicken. In Japan, the word would drop the "L," as no speaker of Japanese would be inclined to pronounce it.
[edit] Characteristics
They have wonderful personalities, and will gladly ride around on your shoulder or be pet and held. Japanese Bantams are also good foragers, and will pretty much feed themselves if they have a large enough area to do so.
[edit] Variations
There are different kinds of Japanese Bantams which include Black-Tailed-White, White, Buff, Black-Tailed-Buff, Grey, Blue,Barred, Black Breasted Red, Black Japanese, and many more. These are usually referred to BTW, BTB, etc. These chickens have been known to live for up to 13 years with proper care. As with most other chickens, even though the birds are very docile and friendly, do not put too many males together or they will fight.
[edit] Genetics
All of these types of bantams have one characteristic that most other chickens do not. Japanese bantams carry a gene which carries a short-leg length and another that carries normal leg length. If two birds are mated, each parent transmits both factors to the offspring's egg. 25% of embryos will receive double short-legged genes, this pure short-legged condition is always lethal. 50% of embryos will receive one short-legged gene and one normal-legged gene, and as the short-legged gene is dominant, these will appear short-legged. 25% of embryos will receive double normal-legged genes and will have longer legs than most breeders wish. If these birds were mated together they would never produce short-legged Japanese bantams.
[edit] References
- Ohio National Articles. Ohio National Articles.
- Japanese Bantams Article. About Japanese Bantams.
- Japanese Bantams Main Page. Central Pets's Japanese Bantams Article.
