Belgian Bantam

The Belgian Bantam, Dutch: Belgisch kriel, French: Naine belge, is a breed of bantam chicken from Belgium. It is a true bantam, and has no full-sized counterpart; cocks weigh about 650 grams and hens about 550 g. It is in danger of extinction; in 2010 a total of 168 birds were counted in the whole of Belgium.[2]: 53  Fourteen colour patterns are recognised in the European standard.[4]

For the group of breeds known collectively as Belgian bantams in some English-speaking countries, see Belgian bantam (disambiguation).
Belgian Bantam
Conservation statusFAO (2007): no data[1]: 9 
Moula: in danger of extinction[2]: 53 
Other names
  • Dutch: Belgisch kriel[3]
  • French: Naine belge
  • French: Belge naine[2]: 53 
Country of originBelgium
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    650 g[2]: 53 
  • Female:
    550 g[2]: 53 
Classification
EEyes[4]
PCGBnot listed[5]

History

Like the Dutch Bantam and the French Pictave, the Belgian Bantam derives from the widespread European population of small partridge-coloured bantams which in Flemish were known as Engelse kiekskes, "English bantams". From about 1900 these were selectively bred in the area of Liège, in Wallonia. Two distinct bantam breeds were developed, the Belgian Bantam and the Bassette Liégeoise.[6][7] The Belgian Bantam breed standard was not drawn up until 1934.[7]

The Belgian Bantam is distributed mainly in Flanders, with a few in Wallonia and in the Netherlands.[7] It is rare and at risk of extinction; in 2010 a total of 168 birds were counted in the whole of Belgium.[2]: 53 

Characteristics

The Belgian Bantam is very similar to the Dutch Bantam, but is slightly larger. It is nevertheless among the smallest bantam breeds, with cocks weighing about 650 grams and hens about 550 g.[8] It is small and alert. The comb is single, and the legs are slate-blue.[2]: 53 

Fourteen colour patterns are listed in the European standard for the breed,[4] of which thirteen are officially recognised in Belgium.[9] Partridge is the colour most commonly seen; the partridge variant colours are rare, and the other colours extremely rare.[7]

Use

Belgian Bantam hens are good layers of small white eggs weighing 30–35 g. They are good sitters and good mothers.[2]: 53 

References
  1. Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed November 2016.
  2. N. Moula, M. Jacquet, A. Verelst, N. Antoine-Moussiaux, F. Farnir, P. Leroy (2012). Les races de poules belges (in French). Annales de Médecine Vétérinaire 156: 37-65. Accessed October 2014.
  3. Breed data sheet: Belgisch kriel/Belgium. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed October 2014.
  4. Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d'Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
  5. Victoria Roberts (2008). British poultry standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 9781405156424. p. 75.
  6. Belgische kriel (in Dutch). Steunpunt Levend Erfgoed. Accessed November 2016.
  7. Belgische kriel (in Dutch). Vereniging ter Promotie van Belgische Neerhofdieren. Accessed November 2016.
  8. Belgische kriel (in Dutch). ZOBK, Speciaalclub voor Zeldzame Oorspronkelijke Belgische Krielhoenderrassen. Archived 16 April 2012.
  9. Nationale standaardcommissie hoenders (2013). Officiële lijst van de in België erkende krielrassen en hun kleurslagen (in Dutch). Vlaams Interprovinciaal Verbond van Fokkers van Neerhofdieren. Accessed November 2016.
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