Belgian Malines Have Arrived!!!

[theoldchick]

I just looked them up. What an interesting breed. They sound like a massive bird.

 

[Shellz]

Yes, the breeder has a 13 lb rooster! He is quite impressive! Hmm,...what's a Beltsville Midget White turkey weigh, I wonder?

 

[theoldchick]

Well, they were called 'turkey-head'!

 

[Shellz]

Ah, yes. Lol! There are 2 varieties of Malines. I have the single combed cuckoos & then there are the turkey heads. Some folks prefer the turkey heads, I guess as much as they prefer naked necks? Apparently the turkey head variety is here as well. I don't know who has them though. I started a thread on my local forum & have seen 2 other owners of Malines from Bart Nagel, my source. Seems they are new to the breed as well.

 

[theoldchick]

I saw a picture of the turkey heads. They had very little comb and no wattles. The photographed bird simply had a large red spot on his neck where his wattles would be.

 

[Shellz]

Yes & I suppose those features would make them cold hardy. Nothing to get frost bit! I like the look of the single comb though. Just my preference.

 

[Shellz]

4 days old now. Top is the cockerel & 4 sisters below. Love those fuzzy legs!

 

[Shellz]

5 days old & no pasty butts! They're very quick in the brooder too. Fastest chicks I've ever seen!

 

[drumstick diva]

I dropped in on this thread because I thought it was about Belgian Malinois (dogs) but, I was surprised and pleased to learn about this chicken breed. They are gorgeous and really have big, solid butts . Do they have to be meat birds or can they go on to live a normal life as breeders?

 

[theoldchick]

Looking good!