Country of origin Belgium Egg production (annual) 104 Egg color Tinted, Cream | Primary use ornamental Egg size Small Origin Belgium | |
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Other names Dutch: Ukkelse BaardkrielBearded d'Uccle Standard Bantam Club FrançaisPoultry Club of Great Britain Weight Male: 750 gramsFemale: 650 grams APA feather legged, with Muff and Beard ABA single combed, muff and beard and feather legged, Type: body broad and deep. Back very broad, almost hidden by enormous neck hackle. Breast extremely broad, the upper part very developed and carriedforward, the lower part resembling a breastplate. Tail well furnished, close and carried almost perpendicularly to the line of the back. Legs strong, short and well apart,... Recognized variety Bearded White, Bearded Mille Fleur Similar Booted Bantam, Barbu d'Anvers, Sebright chicken, Pekin chicken, Cochin 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, Belgium.
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Origins
The Barbu d'Uccle was created by Michael Van Gelder of Uccle, Belgium, in the early years of the twentieth century. It is thought, but not known for certain, that he cross-bred the existing Sabelpoot and Barbu d'Anvers bantam breeds. The Barbu d'Uccle was first shown in 1905.
In 1911, the American artist and poultry enthusiast Arthur O. Schilling saw the mille fleur variety of the breed during a trip to Europe, and imported several to the United States. Schilling, who photographed and illustrated many breeds for the Standard of Perfection of the American Poultry Association , was visiting C. S. Th. van Gink, another poultry artist of the era. The mille fleur variety of the Barbu d'Uccle was recognised by the APA in 1914.
Appearance
The Barbu d'Uccle has a low posture, full beard and a muff, a short but well developed neck, body broad and deep. Back very broad, almost hidden by enormous neck hackle. Breast extremely broad, the upper part very developed and carried forward, the lower part resembling a breastplate. Tail well furnished, close and carried almost perpendicularly to the line of the back. Legs strong, short and well apart. It has a single comb, unlike the Barbu d'Anvers, which has a rose comb.
The American standard specifies an ideal weight of 26 oz (740 g) for cocks, 22 oz (620 g) for hens and cockerels, and 20 oz (570 g) for pullets. The Poultry Club of Great Britain suggests as a rough guide a maximum weight of 790–910 g for males and 680–790 g for females, with variations taking into account age and maturity.
In Europe, colour varieties of the Barbu d'Uccle include Blue, Blue Quail, Cuckoo, Mille Fleur, Porcelain, Lavender, Lavender Quail, Black, Mottled, Silver Quail, Quail and White.
The American Poultry Association lists seven varieties: Black (1996), Golden Neck (1996), Mille Fleur (1914), Mottled (1996), Porcelain (1965), Self Blue (1996), and White (1981).