Brabanters and Spitzhaubens--The Differences PIC HEAVY!

[momma-hen]

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In the US, there are currently only Golds and Creams. And yes, PLEASE show them! Depending on how your shows are set up, they will go under a miscellaneous or other classification.

 

[stephanie1992]

im planning on showing them if they are pure, 2 r suppose to be creams but they told me the other two are red. im thinking the red are cross breeds or they just dnt know the name of the color

 

[Blue]

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I know you won't know until they hatch, but just be aware that even the "purebred" Brabanters in the states have some issues that may pop up from time to time due to their being such a limited genepool to work with in the US.

With the Brabanters, even the breeders (or at least all of the breeders I'm familiar with) had to get their starts from Ideal, which means a lot of issues with the breed are still being worked out. Since it seemed like all the breeders were working with Ideal stock, I decided to order chicks from Ideal instead of trying to hatch eggs myself. There are a few main issues that I've noticed with mine.

First, crests and beards: some of mine have crests that look too Polish; Ideal had to have crossed some Polish into them at some point. I've heard some of the breeders on here talk about this still popping up in their birds several generations later. I've noticed the same thing with lack of crest. I have 2 that only have the barest hint of a crest, more of a slight cowlick really, and I've also seen breeders mention this as a recurring issue. Not sure how that popped up as crests should be dominant, but it happens. Same with beards: I have one pullet with no beard at all, and, again, beards should be dominant, so not sure how that works either, but I've seen others post with the same issue.

The second problem I've noticed in mine is the wings. Most are fine, but I have a couple who have weak or split wings; they don't carry their wings up properly, just kind of let them hang down limply at their sides. The bottom feathers droop down past the bird's body. I'm not sure how common this is, but I don't remember it being mentioned in the thread before, so maybe not that common.

Third, their coloring needs work. Mine are Gold; they are supposed to have half-moon spangles on the tips of their feathers. Some do, but others have a mish mash of patterning, varying from spangles to lacing to some sort of semi-penciling. Some have combinations of 2 of the 3.

The last thing that I've noticed with mine is their size. It has varied quite a bit with mine. I have 2 that could almost pass as bantams, a few a bit bigger, and then some that are probably closer to the correct size. There's no US standard for the breed, and, honestly, I'm not really sure what the correct size is according to the EU standard. Whatever it is I'm sure that at least 2 of mine don't fit the criteria. My rooster, of course, is the largest of the bunch, but even he's quite a bit smaller than my standard barnyard mix roosters. Since they're only 20 weeks, however, they may fill out some more.

I think they're the cutest birds. I love their big expressive eyes!

However, they are a breed that still needs a lot of work to improve their quality. I know most of the breeders on here are working towards a standard and hoping to eventually get Brabanters APA approved. Hopefully, I'll be able to contribute to that goal as well next spring, but as a whole, the breed is probably quite a ways from that goal.

 

[momma-hen]

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they might be calling the Golds a red. As theygrow, you can always compare them with what's on feathersite....they have the best pics of the Gold.

 

[momma-hen]

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Oh stop being so realistic

 

[stephanie1992]

ill post pics of mine if they hatch and keep up on posting so i can have help on if there close to what u want in this breed or not. sadly i cant keep roos so if any are roos i have to sell them. If i get roos im ganna take them to a huge poultry show in january and sell them hopfully to someone who can use them.

 

[hallerlake]

I second watching the humidity. It's better to err on the low side than the high side. I Love my Brabanters. They have great personalities, and make the cutest little honking noise.

 

[allen wranch]

I have posted this picture before, but wanted to show stephanie1922:

This is Patricia, my favorite gold Brabanter hen:

 

[stephanie1992]

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wow shes really pretty! this is an intresting looking breed. im surprised that not many people have them.

 

[momma-hen]

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She is gorgeous! Do all your birds carry the tail that high?