Barbu de Watermael

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Barbu de Watermael
2014nr170 - RGZV Frankenthal IMG061 - 1,0 Watermaalsche Bartzwerge, wachtelfarbig.jpg
Conservation statusendangered
Other names Dutch: Watermaalse Baardkriel
Country of originBelgium
Use fancy
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    600–700 g [1]
  • Female:
    450–550 g [1]
Comb typespined rose [2]
Classification
ABA Watermaal [3]
Juvenile female Barbu de Watermael Chicken.jpg
Juvenile female

The Barbu de Watermael, Dutch : Watermaalse Baardkriel, is a Belgian breed of bantam chicken. It originated in the Belgian town of Watermael-Boitsfort (Dutch : Watermaal-Bosvoorde), from which it takes its name, which means "bearded [chicken] from Watermael". It is closely related to the Barbu d'Anvers, but is distinguished from it by its small, backswept crest of feathers as well as its triple spiked rosecomb. The Barbu de Boitsfort is a rumpless variation, the only difference being that it lacks the uropygium, the part of the anatomy that carries the tail. [1]

Contents

History

The Barbu de Watermael is among the most recent of Belgian bantam breeds, but its origin is poorly documented. It was created by Antoine Dresse at the estate of La Fougères at Watermael-Boitsfort in the early years of the twentieth century, or, according to one source, in 1915. Neither Dresse nor his son ever revealed what breeds contributed to the creation of the Barbu de Watermael, though the contribution of the Barbu d'Anvers is considered certain. Dresse did say that the Polish had not been used; the cranial protuberance typical of that breed is considered a fault in the Barbu de Watermael. [1] [4] :71 The birds were first shown in 1922, but did not achieve great popularity. A breeders' club was formed in France after the Second World War, and another, the Watermaalse Baardkrielclub, in the Netherlands in 1971. [1] [5]

In number, the Barbu de Watermael is today the second bantam breed in Belgium, with a population of 764 in 2010; it was classed as "in danger" in that year. [1]

In the United States the breed is recognized by the American Bantam Association as the Watermaal. The varieties currently recognized are black, blue, buff, mottled, quail, and white. [3]

Characteristics

The Barbu de Watermael is one of the smallest of all bantams: males weigh 600–700 g and hens 450–550 g. [2] It has a narrow backswept crest, a three-part beard and a unique spined rose comb. It is raised almost exclusively as an ornamental fowl. More than thirty colour varieties are recognised in Belgium. Those usually seen are black, brown red, buff Columbia, cuckoo, quail and white; the other colours are rare, and some are in the hands of only one breeder. [1]


Related Research Articles

Rumpless chickens are characterised by caudal dysplasia, the absence of the pygostyle or caudal appendage – the "parson's nose". This is the result of inheritance of an autosomal dominant trait. The mutation which causes it is unknown; two candidates have been proposed.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbu d'Uccle</span> Belgian breed of bantam chicken

The Barbu d'Uccle or Belgian d'Uccle, Dutch: Ukkelse Baardkriel, is a Belgian breed of bearded bantam chicken. It was first bred in the town of Uccle on the outskirts of Brussels, in central Belgium, in the early years of the twentieth century. It is a true bantam, with no standard-sized large fowl counterpart, and is one of eleven Belgian true bantam breeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebright chicken</span> British breed of bantam chicken

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dutch Bantam</span> Dutch breed of bantam chicken

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booted Bantam</span> European breed of bantam chicken

The Booted Bantam or Dutch Booted Bantam is a European breed of true bantam chicken. It is characterised by abundant feathering on the feet and shanks, which gives it a "booted" appearance; and by vulture hocks, long stiff downward-pointing feathers on backs of the thighs, from which the Dutch name Sabelpoot ("sabre-legged") derives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbu d'Everberg</span> Breed of chicken

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The Barbu de Grubbe, Dutch: Grubbe baardkriel, is a Belgian breed of bantam chicken. It is a true bantam, and has no full-sized counterpart; males weigh about 700 grams and hens about 600 g. It is a tail-less variant of the Barbu d'Anvers, and is otherwise similar to it in every respect. The same colour varieties are accepted for the Barbu de Grubbe as for the Barbu d'Anvers.

Belgian bantam may refer to:

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. Fourteen colour patterns are recognised in the European standard.

The Barbu de Boitsfort or Dutch: Bosvoordse Baardkriel is a breed of true bantam from Belgium. It is a tail-less variety of the Barbu de Watermael, and is otherwise similar to it in every respect. It is named for the commune of Watermael-Boitsfort in the Brussels region of Belgium.

The Bassette Liégeoise or Bassette is a breed of large bantam chicken from Belgium. It is larger than most bantams, but much smaller than full-sized breeds; cocks weigh about 1000 grams and hens about 900 g. Like most Belgian bantam breeds, it is in danger of extinction. Eighteen colour patterns are officially recognised; many of them are rare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malines chicken</span> Breed of chicken

The Malines, Dutch: Mechelse Koekoek, is a Belgian breed of large domestic chicken. It originates from the area of Mechelen, in the province of Antwerp in Flanders, for which it is named. It was created in the nineteenth century by cross-breeding local cuckoo-patterned farm chickens with various different types of imported Oriental chicken. With the Jersey Giant, it is among the heaviest of all chicken breeds. It is valued for the quality of its meat, which is pale in colour and fine-textured.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 N. Moula, M. Jacquet, A. Verelst, N. Antoine-Moussiaux, F. Farnir, P. Leroy (2012). Les races de poules belges (in French). Annales de Médecine Vétérinaire156: 37-65. Accessed August 2014.
  2. 1 2 Watermaalse baardkriel (in Dutch). Zeldzame Oorspronkelijke Belgische Krielhoenderrassen. Accessed August 2014.
  3. 1 2 American Bantam Association American Bantam Association Recognized Breed and Variety. Accessed March 2024.
  4. 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.
  5. Eerste periode van 1971 – september 1984: de Watermaalse baardkrielclub (in Dutch). Zeldzame Oorspronkelijke Belgische Krielhoenderrassen. Accessed August 2014.