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Since most of the breed information online is American, I thought it interesting to use breed information from the UK Standard when I could find it.
ANDALUSIAN
Uses:
Exhibition, rare breed conservation.
Origin:
Mediterranean. Eggs: 160-200 large white eggs per
year.
Weight: Cock: 3.2-3.6Kg, Hen:
2.25-2.7Kg.
Bantam Cock: 680-790g Bantam
Hen: 570-680g
Colour: Blue with black
lacing.
Useful to Know: A rare breed but good layer of large
white eggs. As with all blue birds, there is wastage in getting blue plumage
since black and splash birds will also be produced. In addition to this, it is
hard to get the right ground colour.
The
Andalusian Chicken came to the UK around 1846 when some birds were imported from
Andalusia, Spain. Whilst they laid a good number of large white eggs, many of
the original birds were not blue-grey and it was some time before Andalusians
looked as they do today.
It is thought that they were crossed with Spanish (giving them the white ear lobes and the large combs).
Andalusians first appeared in Germany in 1872 when they were imported from England and they reached American Standard of perfection in 1874.
British Poultry Standard weights for the Andalusian chicken are rarely achieved.
There have been a number of Andalusian breed clubs formed over the years but from 1939 until 1969 there was no breed club for fanciers until "The Rare Breeds Society" was formed.
Currently there is only a handful of breeders in the UK and the Andalusian is
considered a rare breed. There are never normally more than about a dozen birds
exhibited at the major shows.
Breeding Hints
There is a high wastage rate creating the blue plumage (Blacks and Splash are also produced). The ideal plumage is hard to achieve, many birds do not have the right ground colour, or lacing. Black females with desirable features can be mated with lighter blue
males and splash hens with darker blue males if breeding numbers are
limited.
ARAUCANA
Uses:
Exhibition / Eggs. Eggs: 170-200 Green / Blue.
Origin: Chile, South America.
Weight:
Cock: 2.7 - 3.2Kg Hen: 2.25 - 2.7Kg.
Bantam Cock: 740 - 850g Hen: 680 - 790g
Colours: Black, Black-Red, Blue, Blue-Red, Crele, Cuckoo,
Golden Duckwing, Lavender, Pile, Silver Duckwing, Spangled, White
(Standardised).
Useful to know: When crossed with any other
breed, the offspring will lay a green / blue egg.
The Araucana comes from South America and are named after the Araucano tribe of
Native South Americans. There are records of blue egg laying chickens in South
America going back to the 1520's. They first appeared in Europe at the World
Poultry Congress in The Netherlands in 1921, exhibited by Prof. Castello who
imported them around 1914. These were rumpless birds with pea combs and tufts of
feathers growing near their ears and laid blue eggs. Rumpless birds had an
advantage in the wild because predators struggled to catch them! There has been
much argument from that day to this between American and European breeders as to
what the Araucana should look like since the original birds Prof. Castello
exhibited turned out to be the result of a cross of two breeds. The mistake was
corrected at the next Poultry Congress in 1924 but it was already too late,
fanciers had well and truly established the Standard and had put in a lot of
work to meeting this standard. Original birds had beards. When showing Rumpless
Araucanas, they are required to have beards in the U.K. In other countries,
beards are also permitted, however in the U.S. they will be disqualified for
having them.The original birds also had single combs which are now a
disqualification at shows.
Breeding Hints
If two birds with ear tufts are mated, only a few chicks will hatch since embryos that carry two ear tuft genes are lethal. It is best to mate a good example of a bird with ear
tufts to a bird without tufts or with smaller ear tufts or just one ear tuft to
get the best results. A number of embryos that have one ear tuft gene can have
head deformities.
Exhibition / Eggs. Eggs: 170-200 Green / Blue.
Origin: Chile, South America.
Weight:
Cock: 2.7 - 3.2Kg Hen: 2.25 - 2.7Kg.
Bantam Cock: 740 - 850g Hen: 680 - 790g
Colours: Black, Black-Red, Blue, Blue-Red, Crele, Cuckoo,
Golden Duckwing, Lavender, Pile, Silver Duckwing, Spangled, White
(Standardised).
Useful to know: When crossed with any other
breed, the offspring will lay a green / blue egg.
The Araucana comes from South America and are named after the Araucano tribe of
Native South Americans. There are records of blue egg laying chickens in South
America going back to the 1520's. They first appeared in Europe at the World
Poultry Congress in The Netherlands in 1921, exhibited by Prof. Castello who
imported them around 1914. These were rumpless birds with pea combs and tufts of
feathers growing near their ears and laid blue eggs. Rumpless birds had an
advantage in the wild because predators struggled to catch them! There has been
much argument from that day to this between American and European breeders as to
what the Araucana should look like since the original birds Prof. Castello
exhibited turned out to be the result of a cross of two breeds. The mistake was
corrected at the next Poultry Congress in 1924 but it was already too late,
fanciers had well and truly established the Standard and had put in a lot of
work to meeting this standard. Original birds had beards. When showing Rumpless
Araucanas, they are required to have beards in the U.K. In other countries,
beards are also permitted, however in the U.S. they will be disqualified for
having them.The original birds also had single combs which are now a
disqualification at shows.
Breeding Hints
If two birds with ear tufts are mated, only a few chicks will hatch since embryos that carry two ear tuft genes are lethal. It is best to mate a good example of a bird with ear
tufts to a bird without tufts or with smaller ear tufts or just one ear tuft to
get the best results. A number of embryos that have one ear tuft gene can have
head deformities.
ASIAN HARDFEATHERS
Uses:
Originally Cock Fighting, now exhibition. Eggs: 80-100 white /
tinted.
Origin: Asia.
Weights: From 0.5
Kg (Nankin Bantam) to 5Kg (Malay)
Colours:
Mainly Light and Dark Red / Black but some White, Spangled and Pile.
Useful to Know: A gap between primary and secondary feathers
(known as split wing) is often acceptable when showing Hard Feather breeds. Hard
feather birds plumage should not be washed before showing or it will be spoilt.
Many of these breeds have an in-bred desire to fight.
The Asian Hardfeather category includes breeds like Asil (or Aseel in the US),
Nankin-Shamo Bantam, Belgian Game, Malay, Rumpless Game, Ko-Shamo Bantam, Tuzo,
Shamo, and Yamato-Gunkei. We have grouped them together until we have more
articles and photos when we will split them out into individual
sections.
'Hard Feather' birds are the game varieties together with the Asian Hard Feather birds. Hard Feathered birds are named because their feathering is very tight and they often don't have a great deal of feathers, especially around the neck area.
The Malay is the tallest breed of chicken (shown right) and can reach up to 90cm tall whilst the Ko Shamo has neck hackles that end before the bottom of the neck and there is bare skin on the breast. The Asil (that originated in India) is the oldest known of the
Asian Hard Feather. These are powerful, muscular birds that were purposefully
bred for cock-fighting. A serious defect in the UK Poultry Standard is 'Lack of
attitude'...need we say more!
The Asian Hardfeather
Club was founded in 1999 to cover all the Asian Gamefowl breeds, and has had a
strong membership ever since.
Breeding Hints
Take care with males during the breeding season as some can be very aggressive.
AUSTRALORP
Uses:
Dual purpose utility meat and eggs. Eggs: 200 - 250 tinted /
brown.
Origin: Kent, U.K.
Weight: Cock:
3.85 - 4.55Kg, Hen: 2.95 - 3.6Kg.
Bantam: Cock:
1.02Kg Max, Hen: 2.95-3.6Kg
Colours: Black, Blue, White (Standardised UK).
Useful to Know: Docile and a good choice to have around with
children. Available in Bantam size.
The
Australorp is frequently overlooked by many poultry keepers yet, it has
so many good things going for it! It is a hardy bird that is happy free ranging,
is docile and good with children (even if a little heavy to lift up, but does
exist in a bantam version) and is a good egg-layer as well as being a reasonable
size white skinned meat bird. Being fast growers, they reach point of lay at
about 20 to 22 weeks of age. The Australorp like the Orpington will generally
not fly very high, making fencing easier.
Australorps are a large, soft-feathered bird and have either glossy black feathers with a lustrous green sheen, or slate blue with dark lacing. The white is very seldom seen. They have a single comb that is moderately large and upright, with five
points and a very dark beady eye. Bantam varieties also exist in this breed.
They have 4 toes and feather free legs. Look after these girls and they will lay
around 200 to 250 eggs in a year for you (depending on the strain) without
artificial lighting. Fortunately the breed has not been altered much, unlike the
Black Orpington amongst others that has over the years changed from a utility
bird into a show bird. Their eggs are medium sized and light brown in
colour.
Some stories that have emerged from when the breed was being developed in Australia claim that a hen laid 364 eggs in 365 days. In 1922-23, six hens set a world record by laying (on average) 309.5 eggs each during a 365 day egg laying trial. When the breed was brought to the UK, the amazing egg laying records were not achieved and it was
thought that either the UK climate was to blame, or the best egg laying stock
was not sent.
Dual purpose utility meat and eggs. Eggs: 200 - 250 tinted /
brown.
Origin: Kent, U.K.
Weight: Cock:
3.85 - 4.55Kg, Hen: 2.95 - 3.6Kg.
Bantam: Cock:
1.02Kg Max, Hen: 2.95-3.6Kg
Colours: Black, Blue, White (Standardised UK).
Useful to Know: Docile and a good choice to have around with
children. Available in Bantam size.
The
Australorp is frequently overlooked by many poultry keepers yet, it has
so many good things going for it! It is a hardy bird that is happy free ranging,
is docile and good with children (even if a little heavy to lift up, but does
exist in a bantam version) and is a good egg-layer as well as being a reasonable
size white skinned meat bird. Being fast growers, they reach point of lay at
about 20 to 22 weeks of age. The Australorp like the Orpington will generally
not fly very high, making fencing easier.
Australorps are a large, soft-feathered bird and have either glossy black feathers with a lustrous green sheen, or slate blue with dark lacing. The white is very seldom seen. They have a single comb that is moderately large and upright, with five
points and a very dark beady eye. Bantam varieties also exist in this breed.
They have 4 toes and feather free legs. Look after these girls and they will lay
around 200 to 250 eggs in a year for you (depending on the strain) without
artificial lighting. Fortunately the breed has not been altered much, unlike the
Black Orpington amongst others that has over the years changed from a utility
bird into a show bird. Their eggs are medium sized and light brown in
colour.
Some stories that have emerged from when the breed was being developed in Australia claim that a hen laid 364 eggs in 365 days. In 1922-23, six hens set a world record by laying (on average) 309.5 eggs each during a 365 day egg laying trial. When the breed was brought to the UK, the amazing egg laying records were not achieved and it was
thought that either the UK climate was to blame, or the best egg laying stock
was not sent.
BELGIAN BANTAMS
Uses:
Exhibition. Eggs: 200 - 250 tinted /
brown.
Origin: Belgium.
Weight: Cock:
680-790g max, Hen: 570-680g max.
Colours:
Various
Useful to Know: A true bantam, so they have no large
counterpart. Whilst not difficult to keep or rear, varieties with feathered feet
must be kept mud free.
The Bearded Belgian Bantam is a very old breed of true bantam. In Britain,
there are 5 varieties standardised: Barbu d'Anvers, Barbu d'Uccle, Barbu de
Watermael, Barbu d'Everberg and Barbu de Grubbe. First arriving in England in
1911, fanciers from Belgium exhibited them at the Crystal Palace show where they
attracted significant attention and it wasn't long before fanciers took to the
breed. Originating in different areas of Belgium, the translation of Barbu is
"Bearded" so the breed names are "Bearded from..." Anvers, Uccle, Watermael,
Everberg or Grubbe. The Barbu d'Everberg is a Rumpless Barbu d'Uccle and the
Barbu du Grubbe is a Rumpless Barbu d'Anvers. They follow the standard of the
d'Uccle and the d'Anvers however they do not have a tail. The tail feathers
should be covered with saddle feathers as the lower back. Barbu d'Uccle has
feathered legs and has a single comb and the d'Anvers has clean legs and a rose
comb. The colour varieties available in Belgian Bantams are very different to
other breeds with exotic names such as Porcelain, Millefleur and Quail. There
are many different colour varieties available.
Exhibition. Eggs: 200 - 250 tinted /
brown.
Origin: Belgium.
Weight: Cock:
680-790g max, Hen: 570-680g max.
Colours:
Various
Useful to Know: A true bantam, so they have no large
counterpart. Whilst not difficult to keep or rear, varieties with feathered feet
must be kept mud free.
The Bearded Belgian Bantam is a very old breed of true bantam. In Britain,
there are 5 varieties standardised: Barbu d'Anvers, Barbu d'Uccle, Barbu de
Watermael, Barbu d'Everberg and Barbu de Grubbe. First arriving in England in
1911, fanciers from Belgium exhibited them at the Crystal Palace show where they
attracted significant attention and it wasn't long before fanciers took to the
breed. Originating in different areas of Belgium, the translation of Barbu is
"Bearded" so the breed names are "Bearded from..." Anvers, Uccle, Watermael,
Everberg or Grubbe. The Barbu d'Everberg is a Rumpless Barbu d'Uccle and the
Barbu du Grubbe is a Rumpless Barbu d'Anvers. They follow the standard of the
d'Uccle and the d'Anvers however they do not have a tail. The tail feathers
should be covered with saddle feathers as the lower back. Barbu d'Uccle has
feathered legs and has a single comb and the d'Anvers has clean legs and a rose
comb. The colour varieties available in Belgian Bantams are very different to
other breeds with exotic names such as Porcelain, Millefleur and Quail. There
are many different colour varieties available.
BOOTED BANTAMS
Uses:
Exhibition, rare breed. Eggs: 150 - 180
tinted.
Origin: Germany, The Netherlands Great
Britain.
Weight: Cock: 850g, Hen:
750g.
Colours: Black, White, Blue, Lavender, Cuckoo, Black
Mottled, Buff Mottled, Gold Millefleur, Silver Millefleur, Lemon Millefleur
& Porcelain standardised in the UK. Many more colours are found on the
continent.
Useful to Know: Known as Sabelpoot in the
Netherlands where it is a very popular breed. In Germany they are called
Federfüßige. Classified as a Rare Breed in the UK.
Bantams
with feathered feet have been written about since the 1600s. The present day Booted Bantam was developed between Germany, The Netherlands and Great Britain. The blacks and whites have always been seen as British in origin- being smaller and more compact than the other colours. Although classed as a Rare Breed, the Booted Bantam has a strong
following especially from the backyard keeper, most notably in the Lemon
Millefleur colouring. The breed is becoming more popular on the show bench with
numbers increasing all the time. The Booted Bantam should have a short and
compact body with a prominent breast. Large, long wings should be carried at and
almost resting on the vulture hocks. The tail should be full and held
upright.
The breed is a good layer
of small, tinted eggs. Being small and easily tamed they are an ideal breed for
small children. Booted Bantams are best kept indoors if kept for exhibition
purposes to help keep their 6 inch long foot feathers in the best
condition!
Exhibition, rare breed. Eggs: 150 - 180
tinted.
Origin: Germany, The Netherlands Great
Britain.
Weight: Cock: 850g, Hen:
750g.
Colours: Black, White, Blue, Lavender, Cuckoo, Black
Mottled, Buff Mottled, Gold Millefleur, Silver Millefleur, Lemon Millefleur
& Porcelain standardised in the UK. Many more colours are found on the
continent.
Useful to Know: Known as Sabelpoot in the
Netherlands where it is a very popular breed. In Germany they are called
Federfüßige. Classified as a Rare Breed in the UK.
Bantams
with feathered feet have been written about since the 1600s. The present day Booted Bantam was developed between Germany, The Netherlands and Great Britain. The blacks and whites have always been seen as British in origin- being smaller and more compact than the other colours. Although classed as a Rare Breed, the Booted Bantam has a strong
following especially from the backyard keeper, most notably in the Lemon
Millefleur colouring. The breed is becoming more popular on the show bench with
numbers increasing all the time. The Booted Bantam should have a short and
compact body with a prominent breast. Large, long wings should be carried at and
almost resting on the vulture hocks. The tail should be full and held
upright.
The breed is a good layer
of small, tinted eggs. Being small and easily tamed they are an ideal breed for
small children. Booted Bantams are best kept indoors if kept for exhibition
purposes to help keep their 6 inch long foot feathers in the best
condition!
COCHIN
Uses:
Originally utility: eggs / meat now exhibition, rare breed.
Origin: China.
Eggs:
150 - 200 small, tinted.
Weight: Cock: 4.5 - 5.1Kg,
Hen: 4.1 - 5Kg.
Colours: Black, Blue, Buff,
Cuckoo, Partridge & Grouse, White. (Standardised UK).
Useful to
Know: There are no bantams in the UK. The rest of the World have
bantams that are called Pekin Bantams in the UK. Cochins are docile and
friendly, large birds that are slow to mature. A good layer of small eggs
(despite their size). A good broody.
Cochin
chickens were originally imported into the UK from Cochin-China, a French Colony
that is present day Vietnam around 1843. They are in fact unrelated to the birds
we know as Cochins today and all they left was their name. They were large birds
with feathered feet. In 1847, some large feather legged birds were imported from
Shanghai. Poultry keepers were used to calling these large feathered legged
birds from Asia Cochins or China-Cochins and this was how they became named,
even though they were technically unrelated to the original Cochins that were
imported.
The 'new' imported Cochins were very similar to what we have today but there was less foot feathering and their colours were not stable but on arriving in the UK, the Buff
Cochin was soon stabilised, shortly followed by Partridge.
The Cochin Bantam came from a different place (Peking) in China and was really quite different to their larger counterparts. In the UK was renamed to the Pekin Bantam after much debate over many years. Around the rest of the World, Cochin Bantams are very similar in appearance to the British 'Pekin Bantams.
Breeding Hints
Partridge Cochins require
double mating to get the correct colour and markings. There are very few
cockerel breeders left, most preferring to breed pullets for show. White Cochins
are easier to breed than the correct colour Buff, or Partridge but like many
other Whites do need a shaded run to stop them going brassy in colour. During
their moult, stop feeding maize and grass (there is a pigment that colours the
feathers) to keep the feathers white and stop them from turning cream. Due to
their feathered feet, birds should not be kept in a muddy run.
Originally utility: eggs / meat now exhibition, rare breed.
Origin: China.
Eggs:
150 - 200 small, tinted.
Weight: Cock: 4.5 - 5.1Kg,
Hen: 4.1 - 5Kg.
Colours: Black, Blue, Buff,
Cuckoo, Partridge & Grouse, White. (Standardised UK).
Useful to
Know: There are no bantams in the UK. The rest of the World have
bantams that are called Pekin Bantams in the UK. Cochins are docile and
friendly, large birds that are slow to mature. A good layer of small eggs
(despite their size). A good broody.
Cochin
chickens were originally imported into the UK from Cochin-China, a French Colony
that is present day Vietnam around 1843. They are in fact unrelated to the birds
we know as Cochins today and all they left was their name. They were large birds
with feathered feet. In 1847, some large feather legged birds were imported from
Shanghai. Poultry keepers were used to calling these large feathered legged
birds from Asia Cochins or China-Cochins and this was how they became named,
even though they were technically unrelated to the original Cochins that were
imported.
The 'new' imported Cochins were very similar to what we have today but there was less foot feathering and their colours were not stable but on arriving in the UK, the Buff
Cochin was soon stabilised, shortly followed by Partridge.
The Cochin Bantam came from a different place (Peking) in China and was really quite different to their larger counterparts. In the UK was renamed to the Pekin Bantam after much debate over many years. Around the rest of the World, Cochin Bantams are very similar in appearance to the British 'Pekin Bantams.
Breeding Hints
Partridge Cochins require
double mating to get the correct colour and markings. There are very few
cockerel breeders left, most preferring to breed pullets for show. White Cochins
are easier to breed than the correct colour Buff, or Partridge but like many
other Whites do need a shaded run to stop them going brassy in colour. During
their moult, stop feeding maize and grass (there is a pigment that colours the
feathers) to keep the feathers white and stop them from turning cream. Due to
their feathered feet, birds should not be kept in a muddy run.
DORKING
Uses:
Rare breed conservation. Traditionally utility: meat.
Origin: U.K. Eggs: 120 - 170 large cream /
white.
Weight: Cock: 4.55 - 6.35Kg, Hen:
3.6 - 4.55Kg.
Bantam: Cock: 1130 - 1360g,
Hen: 910 - 1130g.
Colours: Cuckoo, Dark
Red, Silver Grey, White (Standardised UK).
Useful to Know:
The dorking produces a very fine white meat. The weight of the Dorking varies
considerably between different country's breed standards. The British Poultry
Standard being the heaviest.
The Dorking Chicken is one the oldest English breeds of chicken, named after the
town of Dorking in England. It is distinctive having an extra hind toe. Birds
with this extra / fifth toe were mentioned in many historical texts, even as far
back as Roman times. A Roman writer mentioned birds with five toes in AD47 that
were found in England by the Romans but it wasn't until after the 1850's in
Surrey, Kent and Sussex that the plumage patterns began to stabilise, most
probably thanks to farmers who wanted to deter chicken thieves, making their own
colour of birds recognisable.
Dorkings, were a popular table bird but also became a popular exhibition bird up until the First World War. By the end of the Second World War, their popularity had declined and it is thought that only a handful of breeders remained. As their show qualities were improved, so their table qualities were lost. During this period, farmers were switching to hybrid
crosses that were faster growing and offered better returns.
The Dorking remains hard to find. Whilst it also exists in a bantam version, breeders are few and far between. The breed is in desperate need of more serious breeders to increase
their numbers.
Dorkings are fairly calm and docile, are good foragers and don't tend to scratch as much as other breeds. Hens go broody easily and make good mothers. Males have large combs - care should be taken in cold weather to prevent combs freezing.
Rare breed conservation. Traditionally utility: meat.
Origin: U.K. Eggs: 120 - 170 large cream /
white.
Weight: Cock: 4.55 - 6.35Kg, Hen:
3.6 - 4.55Kg.
Bantam: Cock: 1130 - 1360g,
Hen: 910 - 1130g.
Colours: Cuckoo, Dark
Red, Silver Grey, White (Standardised UK).
Useful to Know:
The dorking produces a very fine white meat. The weight of the Dorking varies
considerably between different country's breed standards. The British Poultry
Standard being the heaviest.
The Dorking Chicken is one the oldest English breeds of chicken, named after the
town of Dorking in England. It is distinctive having an extra hind toe. Birds
with this extra / fifth toe were mentioned in many historical texts, even as far
back as Roman times. A Roman writer mentioned birds with five toes in AD47 that
were found in England by the Romans but it wasn't until after the 1850's in
Surrey, Kent and Sussex that the plumage patterns began to stabilise, most
probably thanks to farmers who wanted to deter chicken thieves, making their own
colour of birds recognisable.
Dorkings, were a popular table bird but also became a popular exhibition bird up until the First World War. By the end of the Second World War, their popularity had declined and it is thought that only a handful of breeders remained. As their show qualities were improved, so their table qualities were lost. During this period, farmers were switching to hybrid
crosses that were faster growing and offered better returns.
The Dorking remains hard to find. Whilst it also exists in a bantam version, breeders are few and far between. The breed is in desperate need of more serious breeders to increase
their numbers.
Dorkings are fairly calm and docile, are good foragers and don't tend to scratch as much as other breeds. Hens go broody easily and make good mothers. Males have large combs - care should be taken in cold weather to prevent combs freezing.
DUTCH BANTAM
Uses:
Exhibition / Ornamental.
Origin: Holland.
Eggs: 80 - 160 tinted.
Weight: Bantam Cock: 500 -
550g, Hen: 400 - 450g.
Colours: Gold
Partridge, Silver Partridge, Yellow Partridge, Blue Silver Partridge, Blue
Yellow Partridge, Blue Partridge, Red Shouldered White (Pile), Cuckoo Partridge
(Crele), Cuckoo, Black, White, Blue, Lavender. (Standardised UK).
Useful to Know: A true Bantam. Hardy. Can make a good broody
but only covers a small number of eggs. Good temperament and can become quite
friendly.
Dutch
Bantams were developed in Holland during the 1880's after birds were imported
from the Dutch East Indies on ships that carried them to supply meat and eggs
whilst at sea. Stories say that the local peasants were required to give any
large hens eggs that they had to their land owner so they took a liking to these
birds since they laid such small eggs that they could keep for themselves.
Dutch Bantams are true
bantams (they do not have a large variety counterpart) and are one of the
smallest bantams. The first imports into the UK were not until the early 1970's
and soon became very popular in the UK. It was Easter 1982, that the Dutch
Bantam Club was formed, taking over from the Rare Poultry Society, at a meeting
at Malpas and Whitchurch Poultry Show. At the time, this was the largest one day
show in the country. The secretary of the Rare Poultry Society at the time was
Richard Billson who is the president of the Dutch Bantam Club to this day.
In the U.S. they arrived
much earlier (around 1945) but appear to have died out in the 1950's. They were
re-imported during the 1970's and soon became popular. The American Dutch Bantam
Society was formed in 1986. Dutch Bantams are popular in Switzerland. They
arrived there in 1968 and a breed club was formed in 1982.
The British Standards for
the different colours of Dutch Bantams were accepted by the Poultry Club of
Great Britain over a number of years but it is thought (can anyone confirm this
for us??) that the Gold and Silver were Standardised before the Club was formed
in 1982. They first entered the American Poultry Standards in 1992.
Dutch Bantams are called
Hollandse Kriel in Holland, Naine Hollandaise in France and Holländische
Zwerghühner in Germany.
Exhibition / Ornamental.
Origin: Holland.
Eggs: 80 - 160 tinted.
Weight: Bantam Cock: 500 -
550g, Hen: 400 - 450g.
Colours: Gold
Partridge, Silver Partridge, Yellow Partridge, Blue Silver Partridge, Blue
Yellow Partridge, Blue Partridge, Red Shouldered White (Pile), Cuckoo Partridge
(Crele), Cuckoo, Black, White, Blue, Lavender. (Standardised UK).
Useful to Know: A true Bantam. Hardy. Can make a good broody
but only covers a small number of eggs. Good temperament and can become quite
friendly.
Dutch
Bantams were developed in Holland during the 1880's after birds were imported
from the Dutch East Indies on ships that carried them to supply meat and eggs
whilst at sea. Stories say that the local peasants were required to give any
large hens eggs that they had to their land owner so they took a liking to these
birds since they laid such small eggs that they could keep for themselves.
Dutch Bantams are true
bantams (they do not have a large variety counterpart) and are one of the
smallest bantams. The first imports into the UK were not until the early 1970's
and soon became very popular in the UK. It was Easter 1982, that the Dutch
Bantam Club was formed, taking over from the Rare Poultry Society, at a meeting
at Malpas and Whitchurch Poultry Show. At the time, this was the largest one day
show in the country. The secretary of the Rare Poultry Society at the time was
Richard Billson who is the president of the Dutch Bantam Club to this day.
In the U.S. they arrived
much earlier (around 1945) but appear to have died out in the 1950's. They were
re-imported during the 1970's and soon became popular. The American Dutch Bantam
Society was formed in 1986. Dutch Bantams are popular in Switzerland. They
arrived there in 1968 and a breed club was formed in 1982.
The British Standards for
the different colours of Dutch Bantams were accepted by the Poultry Club of
Great Britain over a number of years but it is thought (can anyone confirm this
for us??) that the Gold and Silver were Standardised before the Club was formed
in 1982. They first entered the American Poultry Standards in 1992.
Dutch Bantams are called
Hollandse Kriel in Holland, Naine Hollandaise in France and Holländische
Zwerghühner in Germany.