Chicken Breed Focus - Campine

[lawatt]

Unfortunately I don't have a copy of the last ASAP (hard to get it in Belgium) but over here we make do with this 1914 drawing as the ideal to strive for.
And not forgetting productivity and liveliness in the hens as well.
The hen accompanying the rooster in the picture below was close to perfect, but was considered to have a tail that was too fanlike. You can look her up on archive.org, she 's still probably a lot better than what most of us have.

love these old images -- my flock so far definitely has much too high/fan-like tails. and i do not have enough space to produce enough chicks to be a full-on breeder, but will definitely keep my small flock going, with an eye for improvement!

 

[Drieslag]

love these old images -- my flock so far definitely has much too high/fan-like tails. and i do not have enough space to produce enough chicks to be a full-on breeder, but will definitely keep my small flock going, with an eye for improvement!

Hi Iawatt, the fan tails are sure difficult to get rid of. I read somewhere that they can appear when roosters don't have enough lesser siccles to hold the tail down. That's also the difference between a barred henfeathered Hamburg and a Campine roo, the Hamburg only has the greater siccles whereas the Campine roo should be henfeathered in color and have all the feathers of a normal rooster, so including greater and lesser siccles. I don't know if you have this Hamburg variety in the States, so here's a picture below.



Another thing about the tail of your rooster is that is not barred at all. Main tail feathers, greater and lesser siccles all should be barred and not be entirely black. I'm not sure which gene causes this.

 

[Wisher1000]

The black tail feathers is a common problem with the Campines in the USA. I have been working on mine and have a few that are coming along nicely.

 

[sharol]

The black tail feathers is a common problem with the Campines in the USA. I have been working on mine and have a few that are coming along nicely.

Listening and learning.

 

[chicken4prez]

@Alexandra33 , I FINALLY found a pic of our other SSH!!!!!!!

Curious

An our 2nd one that you have already seen

Kristin

Cuter right?!

 

[Alexandra33]

They are both SO adorable, @chicken4prez !

Yet another small but great breed, right?

-Alex

 

[N F C]

@Alexandra33 , I FINALLY found a pic of our other SSH!!!!!!!

Curious

An our 2nd one that you have already seen

Kristin

Cuter right?!

Beautiful birds and really nice photos!

 

[chicken4prez]

Beautiful birds and really nice photos!

Thanks!

 

[Wisher1000]

I must say that even in diagram form, that rooster is simply regal, @Drieslag . Who among us wouldn’t love to have a bird like that based on looks alone...and the mischievous, silly Campine temperament would make it even better! I am fascinated by your story of how the Campine was reintroduced to its homeland after many decades of absence and is now making a comeback. Kudos to you and your fellow breeders for bringing about its revival. Best wishes to you all!

@Wisher1000 , two of my favorites, the Campine and Sumatra, show up as "Critical" on The Livestock Conservancy CPL. I agree with you that more serious, dedicated breeders are urgently needed, and I will consider your "challenge."

Please do, and if you have any questions feel free to PM me here any time.


I took 14 Campines to the Chattahoochee Valley Poultry Show in Newnan, GA this past weekend. Of course, mine were the only ones there - with one exception ..... sorta'. A young lady from my state that is very active in 4H bought a cockerel from me two weeks ago and she showed him in the youth class. He got Reserve Grand Champion Large Fowl! (for those of you not familiar with showing, that means he was chosen the second best non-bantam chicken shown by the younger exhibitors.)

I was THRILLED!!!! She and I shared lots of hugs, high fives, and fist bumps. It was so much fun.

 

[N F C]

That sounds like a great experience @Wisher1000 ! Congrats to the young lady and you both