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» Bantams » D'anvers
Belgian Bearded d'Anvers (or Barbu d'Anvers) are true
bantams with the standard weight of cocks being 26 oz.
and the standard weight of hens being 22 oz. They are
very energetic and are usually friendly, although the
males can be aggressive. Aggressiveness varies from strain
to strain, and bird to bird.
There are nine varieties listed in the APA Standard of
Perfection, these being: Black, Blue, Cuckoo, Mille Fleur,
Mottled, Porcelain, Quail, Self Blue and White. All of
these were admitted to the standard in 1949, with the
exception of the Self Blue which was admitted in 1988.
In the ABA Standard of Perfection the additional varieties
are also listed: Black Breasted Red (BBR), Blue Quail,
Buff, Buff Columbian and Columbian. The Quail is, by far,
the most popular of all the varieties in this bantam.
The Blue Quail, however, is following in it's darker counterpart's
footsteps. Other varieties, such as the BBRs and Columbians
are very rare, if they even exist in the states at all.
They are excellent barnyard chickens and typically do
well in the show room. In this way they are excellent
birds for starting out. For hatching though, while there
are many strains with good layers, sometimes these little
bantams are difficult to hatch or obtain stock of. Aside
from this, they are a relatively easy breed to maintain
and condition.
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