BRIEF DESCRIPTION: Brabant, which straddles Belgium and the Netherlands, is the official origin of the Brabanter chicken, though paintings dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries depict a very similar bird. Developed from early German breeds, the Brabanter has ancient roots.
The breed is rare or impossible to find outside Europe, though some Gold and Cream varieties are reported in the US. The original breed was quite large, but became extinct early in the 20th century. Fanciers rallied and the Brabanter chicken was re-created and available again in 1920.
The Brabanter chicken is avaialable in bantam size. The smaller version was created by breeding the standard sized Brabanter to the Bearded Polish Bantam, another crested/bearded breed. BRABANTER, The Facts:
Class: Heavy, Ornamental with Dual Purpose ability
Size: Standard Male: 7.5 Ibs. / Female: 5.5 - 6 Ibs. / Bantam Male: 30 oz. / Bantam Female: 26 oz.
Comb, Wattles & Earlobes: V, tight and not prone to frostbite, red
Colors: Cuckoo, blue, black, white, cream, self-black, blue-laced, yellow white half-moon spangled, golden-blue half-moon spangled, gold: golden bay with a black half-moon spangles on feathers, silver: silver with black, chamois: buff with white and lavender.
Place of Origin: Belgium/Netherlands
Conservation Status: Re-created 1920, rare outside Europe
Special Qualities: The Brabanter is not prone to broodiness, a good winter layer, and offers a medium production volume of a large white egg. It’s considered ornamental in nature, though may fill the role of a dual purpose chicken, providing meat as well as a fair amount of eggs.
Brabanter is fairly unique, sporting an upright feather crest, that doesn’t inhibit vision, and a beard or muff. The Brabanter seems to be a calm breed that is intelligent, doing well in confinement, but with a tendency to get fat.
They are good foragers, as well, suited for free-range. They are similar to Owl Beards that have been used to revive this breed in the past.