Description
Crele Old English Game Bantam Chicken
Breed History and Origin
If the Standard Old English Game Chicken is too large for your property, the bantam version offers the same traditional characteristics in a smaller size. At Cackle Hatchery®, we offer the Crele Old English Game Bantam, a miniature version of this historic European breed. This variety was recognized by the American Standard of Perfection in 1976 within the Game Bantam class. Cackle Hatchery® Poultry Breeding Farm has been developing its bloodline of Crele Old English Game Bantams since 1982, maintaining the breed’s classic form and coloration.
Appearance and Breed Characteristics
Crele Old English Game Bantam chickens are known for their distinctive crele (barred red and black) feather pattern, giving them a unique and attractive appearance. Like other Old English Game Bantams, they have a compact body, upright posture, and refined structure typical of game birds. Mature hens typically weigh about 22 ounces, while roosters average around 24 ounces. Pullets generally weigh about 20 ounces, and cockerels about 22 ounces. Their traditional coloring and balanced build make them a popular choice for exhibition.
Egg Production and Performance
Crele Old English Game Bantam hens lay small cream or lightly tinted bantam-sized eggs, and egg production is considered poor. This breed is primarily valued for ornamental and exhibition purposes rather than egg production.
Temperament and Flock Suitability
This breed is active and alert, with the spirited nature typical of Old English Game Bantams. While they can become manageable and occasionally tame with regular handling, they are best suited for poultry keepers familiar with more active breeds. Their small size allows them to do well with limited space and feed. Fertility percentages generally range between 40–55%, with a recommended mating ratio of nine females to one male. Hens are setters and may go broody. They typically prefer roost heights of three feet or higher.
Backyard and Exhibition Use
The Crele Old English Game Bantam is primarily an ornamental and exhibition breed, valued for its unique coloring and traditional game bird structure. It can also be kept as a backyard pet by those who appreciate active, smaller chickens.
Customers interested in a larger version of this breed may also like the Crele Old English Game Fowl Chicken https://www.cacklehatchery.com/product/crele-standard-old-english-chicks/
You may also like Old English Bantam Surplus Special https://www.cacklehatchery.com/product/old-english-game-bantam-special/
Crele Old English Game Bantam Chicken FAQs
What color eggs do Crele Old English Game Bantams lay? They lay small cream or lightly tinted bantam-sized eggs.
Are Crele Old English Game Bantams good egg layers? No. Egg production is considered poor as they are primarily ornamental.
Are Crele Old English Game Bantams tame? They can become manageable with handling, but they are naturally active and alert birds.
Do Crele Old English Game Bantams go broody? Yes. They are setters and may go broody to hatch eggs.
Availability
Available Low Availability Unavailable
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Rachelle Donato –
Some of the healthiest and best colored Crele OEGBs I’ve ever bought/ordered! Not only are they beautifully colored, but they also got the excellent temperaments to match! I’m so excited to see them in the show pen this coming spring! (Photo from when they were just 5 months old.)
melindashafer01 –
I ordered 3 of these and they are awesome. I only have them as pets so they go outside during the day in a protected run but sleep inside at night. Very sweet and better behaved then my dogs. They love to be around you and even sit on my shoulder when I’m doing chores. Beautiful birds, they are 5 months old now and still as sweet as babies.
jlisbym1a –
Ordered our birds sometime in June. Great little birds, from the time they could walk they wanted attention. We lost two of them in the past few weeks, we didn’t think that we had hawks, but we do. As soon as they become available, we will order more.
Cackle is and will aways be our hatchery of choice. Always, good communication and fast shipping.
Jeanine Hoff Lubben –
Absolutely love this bird. So pretty, very chill, and the company has been great to work with. Highly recommended!
lassiedail –
I love these very sweet, attractive little bantams! My favorite small bird. I was thrilled that I could order just females. They are hardy and I highly recommend them. Thank you Cackle!!
1of8bibliophiles –
These are the friendliest of all my bantams. They were such tiny chicks! I ordered a pair and the male did not survive but Cackle sent me an extra female who did. Those adorable little girls perch together at night and approach me in the run for treats while the Cochins and others stay away. Cackle is very generous with extra chicks and I have been very happy with all that I have received.
kimrosemarie72 –
I am updating my review as they shipped me a new box of chicks and they arrived healthy !
kimrosemarie72 –
This is my first time ordering through this company and it has been a terrible ordeal. My chicks arrived dead so I emailed them right away with pictures. All (Roxanne) she told me was wait till Monday and contact again with how many were alive. Then proceeded to go on and on how to give the this and that in their water. I did what she said knowing it was useless because the remaining were in a BAD way.Oddly now I cant get any response from anyone!
Cackle Hatchery (store manager) –
I am very sorry that we had failed communications with the email system. I am pleased that we were finally able to make contact and get your reshipment scheduled. Please keep us updated on the new arrivals.
juliespore –
I ordered 3 female crele chicks and 1 cockerel. They are all very sweet and friendly. They are gentle and come to you to be held. The little cockerel is 3 weeks old and his comb is already showing. He is also very gentle and mild mannered. Great birds !
whittnio –
I ordered a wonderful little crele OEGB cockerel and he turned out wonderful. His comb showed at 2 weeks! He has a stellar personality and loves to be held. He isn’t aggressive at all and tolerates multiple roosters in my mixed bantam flock. He also crowed at 6 weeks and isn’t loud at all. A truly wonderful little chicken!
Erica Warren –
I love my two little game hens. Mind you I keep chickens more as pets than for the eggs. Which is good cause these girls lay only every few days. That being said, they are far and away my favorite in my flock. Very curious, very friendly birds. Mine are 9 months old and I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a peep out of them. They follow you around. They are also great flyers and quite fast, so keep that in mind and clip them if necessary. Mine are herded or easily picked up when needed.
Spencer C –
Crele OEGB Very Friendly!
PURCHASED 10 SR, received 10 females & 2 males. A tad timid but very friendly and will eat out of hand. Males are protective but not aggressive. Great pet quality, highly recommend for small egg laying pets. They consume very very little feed. Lay a couple eggs a week. More docile than I expected,
Robinson –
Great little birds, customer service not as great
Last May I ordered 15 straight run Crele Old English Game Bantams. I received 17 happy, healthy chicks and raised every single one. They thrived from day one and were a total pleasure–friendly and active from the start. My only problem is the fact that of the 17, 14 were roosters! I realize I ordered straight run, but this is pretty much an autosexing breed. I guess someone ordered pullets the same week and I got the leftover roosters. Fortunately, I was able to place all the extra roosters and I now have a beautiful rooster and three little hens.
Barbara –
Very Sweet Bantams
Creles are very sweet bantams. My rooster & girls let me hold them with no anxiety. This breed of rooster doesn’t crow very loud; he makes for a good neighbor.
Joseph January 2016 –
Thank You
I want to thank you for my bantam old english chickens. I have never had chicks that love me so much. I treat them as though they are my children. They like to be held and kissed. I really love them. Thanks again. If I need more I will order from you folks again.
John New York July 2010 –
Cackle Hatchery
I recently received my order of Old English Game Bantams. The order consisted of four varieties totaling 36 chicks. They all arrived in excellent condition, perfectly strong and healthy. In a short time they were busy eating, drinking and scampering around. I am really pleased with them! A very satisfied customer.
Mary Kansas May 2010 –
Many Thanks
I am very pleased to report that the 4th order has arrived like the rest. All healthy happy vigorous and ready to go. The orders prior to this one have lived and been healthy for the first 2 weeks. Please keep up the good work. Also Superior Customer Service. Again Very Pleased AAA++service. Thanks to you all!!!