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Brabanter

The Standard lists the Netherlands as the Brabanter’s Country of origin; however, other...

General Information

Breed Purpose
Ornamental
Comb
V-Shaped
Broodiness
Seldom
Climate Tolerance
All Climates
Egg Productivity
Medium
Egg Size
Large
Egg Color
White
Breed Temperament
Friendly,Flighty,Bears confinement well,Shy
Breed Colors/Varieties
In the US: Cream and GoldOutside of US: Self-Black, White, Blue-Laced, Cuckoo, Golden Black Half-Moon Spangled, Silver Black Half-Moon Spangled, Yellow White Half-Moon Spangled, Golden Blue Half-Moon Spangled, and Lavender.
Breed Size
Large Fowl
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The Brabanter breed originated in the historic region of Brabant in the Netherlands. It is a very old breed, the oldest known image of one is in a painting of 1676 by the Dutch artist Melchior d'Hondecoeter. The breed quickly gained popularity, but became nearly extinct around the early 1900's, but were recreated from different German breeds.

Black and Cuckoo Brabanters were shown at the first German poultry exhibition in Saxony, in 1854. A bantam variety of Brabanter was created in around 1934, by cross-breeding the standard-sized Brabanter with bearded bantams of the Polish breed.

This breed is closely related to Owl Beards and has been crossed with them for the breed’s survival in the past. While they are Ornamental they are also bred for their production of white eggs, which they lay fairly regularly. Their eggs can be white white or slightly tinted.

The American Poultry Association has not yet recognized Cream and Gold Brabanters as a Standard Breed of Fowl.

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Brabanter eggs

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Brabanter chick

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Brabanter juvenile

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Brabanter hen

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Brabanter rooster

For more information on this breed and their owners' and breeders' experiences with them, see our breed discussion here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-brabanter.1100952/
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Latest reviews

I think they are beautiful birds.
Pros: Nice to look at.
Cons: A little crazy.
*Mine came from Ideal hatchery, so they were not the best specimens of the breed*

One managed to some how drown itself at about 2 months of age while the others all vanished one day. The short while I had them they were the most flighty and brainless birds I've owned.
Pros: Healthy, alert, intellegent, good free range bird.
Cons: I think they look silly.
I live in a climate that has really harsh winters, and I allow my birds to free range over two acres. We sell eggs, and our customers love a rainbow of eggs, but new customers seem to be easier to break into farm fresh eggs if the shells are white (too used to the grocery store fare). So, we've been looking for an alternative to the leghorn for good production of white shelled eggs. This bird is it! No comb, hardly a wattle, smart, observant, healthy medium sized little wonders! I'm not one for looks of birds first- I'd rather have plain birds that do all of what this bird does. The fanciness doesn't concern me much- although the tophat thingy on them is pretty silly. We call ours "Misses T's" because they look like Mr T.

Comments

I have a Brabanter hen too, and she's exactly as you describe. One of my friendliest hens! Chatty, and comical. She loves attention though, and will fly right up onto my shoulder if I don't pick her up for a nice cuddle. She was a great layer too, but she quit now and she's only three. That's OK, she's a pet now.
 
I have one hen left after ordering 15 chicks from Ideal. Some were not hardy and the rooster were attack birds. My hen is now two years old. She is now a good producer and very perky.
 
Wow. I'm surprised. I've never had any problems with my Brabanter roosters. They've all been gentlemen.
 
Although we hate to do it, it sounds like this guy is a candidate for culling (stew pot). He's not an asset to improving the breed.
 
We all hate to think about it, but it sounds like this guy is a case for culling (stew pot). He's certainly not an asset to improving the breed.
 
She is beautiful. I am on my 3rd attempt to hatch some eggs from Cream Brabanters. I hope 3rd time is the charm. 2nd choice is I ordered some from a hatchery. Hopefully, they will arrive alive and well.
 
I don't know if they are a hard to hatch breed. I set 11 eggs and only 1 hatched but it was my sweet love girl so it was totally worth it! I got lucky it was not a rooster!
 
I have heard that they are very sweet tempered and 'like no other chicken you have ever raised' is the way it was explained to me. Private breeder told me that. BUT, not much market for them so he gave up his flock. He asked me to send him some eggs if I ever get some to send as he would now like to add them to his flocks again, just to have them.
 
How is egg production over their lifetime? How long do they live?
 
We just got our first Gold Brabanter chicks. I'm also in a very hash climate and so happy to hear they do well! May I ask where you got your chicks?
 

Item information

Category
Chicken Breeds
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Watchers
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Comments
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Reviews
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Last update
Rating
4.25 star(s) 12 ratings

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