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Belgian Bearded d'Uccle
 The
Belgian Bearded d’Uccle Bantam was bred for the first time in the small
municipality of Uccle at the southeast border of Brussels, Belgium by Michel
Van Gelder, sometime between 1890 and 1900. Most authors believe that the
Belgian Bearded d’Uccle Bantam is a cross between the Dutch Booted Sabelpoot
Bantam and the Antwerp Bearded Bantam, but this fact is not known for sure.
The first varieties of Belgian Bearded d’Uccles were the Mille Fleur,
Porcelain, and White, but the Mille Fleur was the first variety entered into
the American Poultry Association's Standards of Perfection in 1914. This was
thirty-five years after the entrance of the Booted Bantam (a distinctly
different breed from the Belgian d'Uccle). I mention this because sometimes
the Booted Bantam and the Belgian d'Uccle are confused with one another.
The standard weight of the bird is Cock: 26 oz./ 740 grams;
Cockerel and Hen: 22 oz./ 625 grams; Pullet: 20 oz./570 grams. These are the
weights that should be maintain for healthy birds and show weight.
The Belgian Bearded d’Uccle Bantam comes in 10 APA recognized color
patterns: black, blue, buff, golden neck, gray, mille fleur, mottled,
porcelain, self blue and white. However, several other varieties that have
been showing up in the show rooms over the past few years.
I have chosen to concentrate on the mille fleur, black mottled,
and porcelain color varieties. The black mottled and porcelain will
be arriving in early ’09!
Australorp
 The
Australorp was developed in Australia from Black Orpington stock. It is
smaller than the Orpington with a trimmer appearance. Calm and friendly,
peaceful and dignified, Australorps are an absolutely delightful bird to own
and breed!
The Australorp has exceptionally soft, shiny black plumage, with hints of
green and purple sheen in the sunlight. They have dark eyes, deep bodies and
are very hardy.
Standard Weights: Cock-8-1/2 pounds; hen-6-1/2 pounds; cockerel-7-1/2
pounds; pullet-5-1/2 pounds.
The Australorp is generally a very good producer of large brown colored
eggs. In fact, Australorps hold the world's record for egg production with
one hen having laid 364 eggs in 365 days under official Australian trapnest
testing!
They are also one of the best dual-purpose fowls, having a fairly meaty body
of intermediate size.
Old English Game Bantam
Now the most popular breed of Bantam in the United States, the Old English
Game Bantam originated in England, and was recognized in the first British
Standard in 1865. The OEG Bantam is the miniature “game cock”, of the family
of game fighting fowl from years past. Reminiscent of this dubious past
purpose, the OEG of today is still a very proud, very alert, animated, and
active bird. Such a temperament makes them a truly enjoyable bird to raise
and observe.
The standard weights of OEG are:
Cock: 24 oz/680 grams, Cockerel: 22 oz./625 grams
Hen: 22 oz./625 grams, Pullet: 20 oz./570 grams
OEG come in a plethora of brilliant color varieties – 34 to be exact!
At the moment, I am choosing to concentrate on the “Black Breasted Red”
(from the Jim Sallee line, via my friend Dudley Deleenheer) and the “Brown
Red” (from the Heather Hayes line) color varieties.
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