- Thread starter
- #111
Now that new chicks are hatching, I've decided to change the format a bit. I will attempt to get as much pics of the new hatch as I can & do weekly pics of the older chicks. 
Belgian Malines Have Arrived!!!
- Thread starter Shellz
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #112
I counted 5 beautiful, healthy looking chicks so far under my favorite broody! This is her 2nd annual brood.
- Thread starter
- #114
Yay! Thanks so much for coming! Glad you found the gang here!
So far I'm much more pleased with these chicks as opposed to my first incubated hatch. These chicks are active & in the good care of an experienced broody & mother. My other 2 broodies are first timers. If they're anything like their mom, they should do an excellent job too! I have yet to hear any chirping under the broody next to my fave, but will check in an hour or so. She's making me nervous! Ack!
So far I'm much more pleased with these chicks as opposed to my first incubated hatch. These chicks are active & in the good care of an experienced broody & mother. My other 2 broodies are first timers. If they're anything like their mom, they should do an excellent job too! I have yet to hear any chirping under the broody next to my fave, but will check in an hour or so. She's making me nervous! Ack!
- Thread starter
- #115
10:00 a.m. update! There's still chirping going on, but she's not showing me anything! She's on 3 eggs.
Above is another broody on 6 eggs - 2 hatched so far!
Still 5 chicks here! Come on broodies!
Above is another broody on 6 eggs - 2 hatched so far!
Still 5 chicks here! Come on broodies!
- May 11, 2010
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Oh, those broodys are very serious looking.
- Thread starter
- #118
Finally got a peek at her little one! Hoping she hatches the last 2 in her clutch.
Oh SHell, nothing like a broody to do all the hard work so well.
As a newbie to this breed I"m a little confused and myabe you can re-explain these birds.
THey do or don't breed true?? Are they developed at a hatchery , or a private breeder?
They have Belgian in the name-- are they natvie to Belgium???
What can you share about what you found out about them?
As a newbie to this breed I"m a little confused and myabe you can re-explain these birds.
THey do or don't breed true?? Are they developed at a hatchery , or a private breeder?
They have Belgian in the name-- are they natvie to Belgium???
What can you share about what you found out about them?
- Thread starter
- #120
You got that right, Arielle! The black star hen is 3 years old & went broody for first time last year. I kept 2 pullets from her hatch & they are the other 2 broodies. Their mom was a production red & dad was a RIR.
The Belgian Malines originated in Belgium & was THE dual purpose bird for the homestead flock before the cornish cross. It is more common in Europe where it is a delicacy prepared in the finest restaurants there today. 150-160 large eggs laid per year. Weights range from 8-9 lbs for hens & 9-13 lbs for roosters. I have personally seen a 13lb rooster & he was amazing! You could balance a dinner plate on his back! It is best that they are given free range time for ultimate health & to avoid most problems associated with large fowl. They have a lot of downy feathering below, making them cold hardy & fat is distributed throughout the muscles. No fatty pockets like in most heritage birds. They DO breed true & are auto-sexing at a day old. They are also considered large fowl & are docile. They feather in & mature quickly. They can only be acquired through a private breeder right now, namely Bart Nagel of Ontario, Canada. I believe there are a handful of owners of the breed here, but Bart is the only dedicated breeder in North America. Very rare here indeed. We're working on making this magnificent breed more popular. That being said, they do seem not to be able to handle heat waves well. You can get more info through Bart Nagel from his website at bulbsoffire.com. I am working to promote the breed here in hopes of others willing to take it on too. In this way, I hope that with more breeders we can get these wonderful birds out to more people who can enjoy them as well.
My initial research started last year, when I was becoming quite disappointed with hatchery stock. I thought I couldn't do better, until I discovered a Canadian poultry forum. It was there that I discovered Bart Nagel & his birds. I started researching large fowl & kept crossing each breed off my list. I realized that the Malines was the breed for me! When Bart posted an ad for hatching eggs, I jumped at the opportunity. I hatched 5 back in April, then acquired 7 older chicks & now have 18 eggs being set under 3 broodies & hatching as we speak. Phew! It's been quite the experience so far & we look forward to having one for dinner when the time comes.
If you have any questions, I know Bart won't mind answering them if I can't. This is all new to me & Bart has been a tremendous help in getting me started.
The Belgian Malines originated in Belgium & was THE dual purpose bird for the homestead flock before the cornish cross. It is more common in Europe where it is a delicacy prepared in the finest restaurants there today. 150-160 large eggs laid per year. Weights range from 8-9 lbs for hens & 9-13 lbs for roosters. I have personally seen a 13lb rooster & he was amazing! You could balance a dinner plate on his back! It is best that they are given free range time for ultimate health & to avoid most problems associated with large fowl. They have a lot of downy feathering below, making them cold hardy & fat is distributed throughout the muscles. No fatty pockets like in most heritage birds. They DO breed true & are auto-sexing at a day old. They are also considered large fowl & are docile. They feather in & mature quickly. They can only be acquired through a private breeder right now, namely Bart Nagel of Ontario, Canada. I believe there are a handful of owners of the breed here, but Bart is the only dedicated breeder in North America. Very rare here indeed. We're working on making this magnificent breed more popular. That being said, they do seem not to be able to handle heat waves well. You can get more info through Bart Nagel from his website at bulbsoffire.com. I am working to promote the breed here in hopes of others willing to take it on too. In this way, I hope that with more breeders we can get these wonderful birds out to more people who can enjoy them as well.
My initial research started last year, when I was becoming quite disappointed with hatchery stock. I thought I couldn't do better, until I discovered a Canadian poultry forum. It was there that I discovered Bart Nagel & his birds. I started researching large fowl & kept crossing each breed off my list. I realized that the Malines was the breed for me! When Bart posted an ad for hatching eggs, I jumped at the opportunity. I hatched 5 back in April, then acquired 7 older chicks & now have 18 eggs being set under 3 broodies & hatching as we speak. Phew! It's been quite the experience so far & we look forward to having one for dinner when the time comes.
If you have any questions, I know Bart won't mind answering them if I can't. This is all new to me & Bart has been a tremendous help in getting me started.
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