A Description of our Allies' Favourites
By F. J. S. Chatterton
(writing in The Poultry World 24 October 1919)
The Belgian Bearded Bantam section at the late Crystal Palace show will be
remembered by many as the prettiest and best arranged show of poultry ever
brought together in this country. The attraction was great, and the interest
shown by all who visited the exhibition was considerable.
These quaint and unique little birds were becoming very popular in this
country, but the war stopped their advance, as it did many other things. It is
now hoped that breeders and admirers of these quaint birds will make a fresh
start. Therefore a few remarks about their characteristics may be useful and
welcome, more especially to those who have lately started with them and those about to take up one of the varieties of the breed.
As a rule they are hardy little birds, very active, and excitable, with plenty of spirit. Some of the hens are excellent layers and make first-class mothers, carefully brooding their chickens and attending to them, calling them to any dainty morsels of food they find for quite a long time, in fact, until they are fully feathered, which is of great help in rearing these birds. Some of the chickens when hatched are so small one wonders if they will live, but they are strong, and can run about quickly, and soon begin eating. One has to be careful with their allowance of food or they will eat till they are full up, and get crop-bound and die. They feather well and quickly, and are not much trouble to rear. It is advisable to keep the cocks away from the hens during the moulting season. As is usual in other varieties of poultry, both large and small, the clean-legged varieties are far more popular than the feathered-legged ones.
All varieties of the Barbu d'Anvers, the Antwerp Bearded, are clean-legged and have rose combs, whilst the Barbu d'Uccle, the Uccle Bearded, are all feathered on the legs and feet and have single combs. The varieties of the Antwerp Bearded are:- Quails, Blacks, Whites, Blues, Cuckoos, Mottled (black, with white tips), Buffs (with black in neck hackle and tail), Millefleurs, Porcelains, and there are also a few similar in colour of plumage to Brown-red and Birchen Game Bantams.
The Quails are by far the most unique, and quite different in colour of plumage to any race of fowls, but at the same time they are also the most
difficult to breed, one has so many difficult points to obtain in a specimen approaching the standard of perfection. However, one is well repaid for the thought and trouble as really good specimens are very handsome and
uncommon.
In shape they do not resemble the Rosecomb Bantams as some folks think, the male bird's head has a large appearance owing partly to the extent of the whiskers and beard; the comb should be of medium size, large combs being very objectionable; the leader of the comb should follow the line of the head and not point outwards or upright like a Rosecomb. The wattles should be exceedingly small; in fact, in good specimens it is difficult to find them. The neck hackle has the appearance of having been brushed back, forming a kind of mane, near the head. Another important difference is the shape and carriage of the tail; this is carried almost upright, and the sickle feathers are far shorter than a Rosecomb's, the hen-feathers being fan, not whip-tailed. Ear lobes red, and very small, fitting close. The eyes large and dark, and full of fire. Back short, sloping downwards, with rather short legs, and the wings carried low, the points at times near the ground. The head is carried well back, and the breast carried high and forward, very broad and round in shape. The whole appearance is of a bird full of spirit, quick in its actions, and very lively, standing very upright. Toes well spread. The hen resembles the cock in shape, but is usually shorter on the leg, and the comb is very
small.
Regarding the plumage of the Quails the hens are far nearer perfection than the cocks, and at present it is exceedingly difficult to breed a cock that really excels in colour of plumage. Space forbids description of the colour of plumage fully, but this can be read by obtaining a copy of the Standard (printed in English) from Mr. R. Terrot, the hon. sec. of the British branch of
the club. After reading this one will have some idea of the difficulty of obtaining a perfect specimen, and this should be borne in mind by judges when judging a class; the difference in breeding a good Quail compared to a Black or other self-colour is indeed very great. The dark plumage on the Quail hens consists of feathers of a deep brown colour, having a thin buffish-coloured lacing round the edge, with light shafts of a similar colour. When good they look very pretty.
The Blues are also very charming, especially the hens, and the aim of the breeder is to get them as pure in colour as possible, and quite free from any brownish or rusty colour. The Cuckoos should be marked like Scotch Greys, each feather being distinctly barred. The Buffs, with the black neck hackle and tail, should be of a pure and rich buff colour, quite clear, except in neck hackle and tail, which should be marked with black in a similar manner to the Light Brahma.
The shape of the Uccle Bearded Bantams is best described by the illustration. The breasts of these birds should also be carried high and outwards, and have an upright carriage generally, their heads look small compared to those of the Antwerp Bearded, and their wattles should also be very small, with a full beard and whiskers, their whole appearance being short and broad.
By F. J. S. Chatterton
(writing in The Poultry World 24 October 1919)
The Belgian Bearded Bantam section at the late Crystal Palace show will be
remembered by many as the prettiest and best arranged show of poultry ever
brought together in this country. The attraction was great, and the interest
shown by all who visited the exhibition was considerable.
These quaint and unique little birds were becoming very popular in this
country, but the war stopped their advance, as it did many other things. It is
now hoped that breeders and admirers of these quaint birds will make a fresh
start. Therefore a few remarks about their characteristics may be useful and
welcome, more especially to those who have lately started with them and those about to take up one of the varieties of the breed.
As a rule they are hardy little birds, very active, and excitable, with plenty of spirit. Some of the hens are excellent layers and make first-class mothers, carefully brooding their chickens and attending to them, calling them to any dainty morsels of food they find for quite a long time, in fact, until they are fully feathered, which is of great help in rearing these birds. Some of the chickens when hatched are so small one wonders if they will live, but they are strong, and can run about quickly, and soon begin eating. One has to be careful with their allowance of food or they will eat till they are full up, and get crop-bound and die. They feather well and quickly, and are not much trouble to rear. It is advisable to keep the cocks away from the hens during the moulting season. As is usual in other varieties of poultry, both large and small, the clean-legged varieties are far more popular than the feathered-legged ones.
All varieties of the Barbu d'Anvers, the Antwerp Bearded, are clean-legged and have rose combs, whilst the Barbu d'Uccle, the Uccle Bearded, are all feathered on the legs and feet and have single combs. The varieties of the Antwerp Bearded are:- Quails, Blacks, Whites, Blues, Cuckoos, Mottled (black, with white tips), Buffs (with black in neck hackle and tail), Millefleurs, Porcelains, and there are also a few similar in colour of plumage to Brown-red and Birchen Game Bantams.
The Quails are by far the most unique, and quite different in colour of plumage to any race of fowls, but at the same time they are also the most
difficult to breed, one has so many difficult points to obtain in a specimen approaching the standard of perfection. However, one is well repaid for the thought and trouble as really good specimens are very handsome and
uncommon.
In shape they do not resemble the Rosecomb Bantams as some folks think, the male bird's head has a large appearance owing partly to the extent of the whiskers and beard; the comb should be of medium size, large combs being very objectionable; the leader of the comb should follow the line of the head and not point outwards or upright like a Rosecomb. The wattles should be exceedingly small; in fact, in good specimens it is difficult to find them. The neck hackle has the appearance of having been brushed back, forming a kind of mane, near the head. Another important difference is the shape and carriage of the tail; this is carried almost upright, and the sickle feathers are far shorter than a Rosecomb's, the hen-feathers being fan, not whip-tailed. Ear lobes red, and very small, fitting close. The eyes large and dark, and full of fire. Back short, sloping downwards, with rather short legs, and the wings carried low, the points at times near the ground. The head is carried well back, and the breast carried high and forward, very broad and round in shape. The whole appearance is of a bird full of spirit, quick in its actions, and very lively, standing very upright. Toes well spread. The hen resembles the cock in shape, but is usually shorter on the leg, and the comb is very
small.
Regarding the plumage of the Quails the hens are far nearer perfection than the cocks, and at present it is exceedingly difficult to breed a cock that really excels in colour of plumage. Space forbids description of the colour of plumage fully, but this can be read by obtaining a copy of the Standard (printed in English) from Mr. R. Terrot, the hon. sec. of the British branch of
the club. After reading this one will have some idea of the difficulty of obtaining a perfect specimen, and this should be borne in mind by judges when judging a class; the difference in breeding a good Quail compared to a Black or other self-colour is indeed very great. The dark plumage on the Quail hens consists of feathers of a deep brown colour, having a thin buffish-coloured lacing round the edge, with light shafts of a similar colour. When good they look very pretty.
The Blues are also very charming, especially the hens, and the aim of the breeder is to get them as pure in colour as possible, and quite free from any brownish or rusty colour. The Cuckoos should be marked like Scotch Greys, each feather being distinctly barred. The Buffs, with the black neck hackle and tail, should be of a pure and rich buff colour, quite clear, except in neck hackle and tail, which should be marked with black in a similar manner to the Light Brahma.
The shape of the Uccle Bearded Bantams is best described by the illustration. The breasts of these birds should also be carried high and outwards, and have an upright carriage generally, their heads look small compared to those of the Antwerp Bearded, and their wattles should also be very small, with a full beard and whiskers, their whole appearance being short and broad.
