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.
Photo: A Barbu d'Uccle Belgian Bantam.

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.

Breeding Hints

It can take over a year for Belgian Bantams to develop their true 'type'.

Photos

• White Male White Male
• Blue Female Blue Female
• Blue Female Blue Female
• Black Female Black Female
• Cuckoo Male Cuckoo Male
• Quail Female Quail Female
• Black Female Black Female
• Quail Male Quail Male
• Black Male Black Male
• Black Female Black Female
• Black Mottled Black Mottled
• Blue Female Blue Female
• Lavender Male Lavender Male
• Cuckoo Male Cuckoo Male
• Cuckoo Male Cuckoo Male
• Cuckoo Female Cuckoo Female
• Cuckoo Female Cuckoo Female
• Lavender Male Lavender Male
• Millefleur Male Millefleur Male
• Millefleur Female Millefleur Female
• Quail Female Quail Female
• Quail Male Quail Male
• Quail Female Quail Female
• Quail Female Quail Female
• Silver Quail Silver Quail
•  

Books

The following books are available. Links take you to the Amazon or other sellers' pages for the books.

• Popular Poultry Breeds - D. Scrivener - P.29 - 39
  
• Storey's Illustrated Guide to Poultry Breeds - C. Ekarius - P.109 - 112
  
• British Poultry Standards - P.65 - 78
  

Breed Clubs:

• UK: The British Belgium Bantam Club
• Australia: The Belgium Bantam Club of Australia

Discussion

• Comments / Questions? Looking for stock? Visit the Belgian Bantam Section of our Forum
• Please leave us a comment below if you can provide further information or would like to write an article on this breed.