Bearded d'anvers questions

[SarahLadd]

Hello again everyone,

This morning I placed an order for a handful of quail Belgian bearded d'anvers that will be coming to me in March. I'm cautiously optimistic but thankful to have selected a breed that seems, on paper, to be a good choice for me, as I am looking to have chickens as loved pets and not much else.

There is not a whole lot of information around about the habits of these adorable little birds. I'm looking for folks to help bring me up to speed on what to expect.

Are they prone to flying? I have a 6 foot wooden privacy fence, will this keep them in or will I need to supervise them in my yard?

I have a welsummer and a lavender orpington standard size that they will share space with. What are the odds they'll get along?

How would you describe their affinity for their people? Are they kind? What are their personalities like?

Thank you all!

 

[DobieLover]

Are they prone to flying? I have a 6 foot wooden privacy fence, will this keep them in or will I need to supervise them in my yard?

I do not have the specific bantam breed that you will be getting. I have a trio of Gold Sebrights and a pair of Mille Fleur d'Uccles. All of them are terrific fliers. Much better than their LF cousins. A 6' solid topped fence will be no problem for them to fly up to. You may want to consider topping it with a short height of wire fencing to discourage them flying up there.

I have a welsummer and a lavender orpington standard size that they will share space with. What are the odds they'll get along?

I had this same concern introducing bantams into my LF flock. I got hatching eggs and stuck them under a broody so she would bring them into the flock. Overall, it worked fine. But being the youngsters in the current mix they are still getting chased around as is the lone LF pullet that hatched out under the same broody.

How would you describe their affinity for their people? Are they kind? What are their personalities like?

I believe that all chickens are going to be instinctively cautious of humans as we are predators. If you are raising these chicks, then handle them frequently, talk to them softly and occasionally give them special treats and they will bond with you when they are chicks. However, when the hormone surge hits, their personalities change and they may become aloof but they will not fear you.

I've found my bantams, both pullets and cockerels, to be friendly and curious but cautious.

I've had it a bit different with my bantams as they were broody raised. Lately, they do tend to hang out with me as I clean the boards in the morning. Raisins have gone a long way towards winning their trust.

 

[The Moonshiner]

@Amer

 

[Amer]

Excellent breed choice! I am a d'Anvers afficionado myself.
Are they prone to flying? I have a 6 foot wooden privacy fence, will this keep them in or will I need to supervise them in my yard?
Yes, they are very good fliers and I would recommend building a covered run. d'Anvers tend be more prone to predation because of their size. I have to keep mine caged because of this.
I have a welsummer and a lavender orpington standard size that they will share space with. What are the odds they'll get along?
d'Anvers are tough little chickens and will get along with larger birds after they have been properly introduced. I would not recommend getting d'Anvers roosters if you already have roosters as they will be bullied due to their smaller size. I keep my d'Anvers roosters separate from my large fowl because of this.
How would you describe their affinity for their people? Are they kind? What are their personalities like?
d'Anvers hens are bold little spitfires. They have been known to jump on my head and shoulders and they aren't afraid of anything. They will demand attention. I wouldn't call them "docile" exactly, because they aren't mild and complacent. They are bold, outgoing, and friendly. Out of all the chickens I've owned, I've liked the personality of d'Anvers the best.
d'Anvers males are bold as well, though sometimes to the point of human aggression. They can be sweet as the hens, but other times not. I don't tolerate aggression, but other people do. They are very harmless due to their size and because they rarely develop large spurs.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have 2, but one has bad leg problems (got kicked by a sheep while still growing).

Even the bad legged one can fly very well, they both roost about 12 feet up at night.
The bad legged one is at the bottom of the pole in a mixed flock, but my other gal is near the top in a different mixed flock.
They're very smart little birds. The one with bad legs LOVES people, she'll fly onto your shoulder if you bend down to do anything around her. The other puts up with being caught and handled because she gets food and pets.

 

[The Moonshiner]

@Amer link her to your thread, silly.

 

[SarahLadd]

I have a covered run but I would prefer they were able to get out into the sunshine and grass. Can I clip some feathers to keep them from being able to jump the fence?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have a covered run but I would prefer they were able to get out into the sunshine and grass. Can I clip some feathers to keep them from being able to jump the fence?

That should work

 

[Amer]

I have a covered run but I would prefer they were able to get out into the sunshine and grass. Can I clip some feathers to keep them from being able to jump the fence?

More than the other birds I own, d’Anvers can handle confinement. I can’t say whether clipping wings would work because I’ve never done it, but since Jacin does, I’d say it’s a good idea. My only worry is that they are very snack size for arial predators, so I hope you have lots of trees.

 

[Amer]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/amers-d’anvers.1421505/
I created this thread to encourage d’Anvers discussion. Feel free to post there.