Chicken Breed Focus - d'Anvers Bantams

[Old Fellah Jim]

The Belgian d' Anver is a breed of bantam chicken from Belgium. A true bantam, it has no full-sized counterpart, males weigh about 700 grams and hens about 600 g. The Barbu d'Anvers is one of the oldest known bantam breeds, and is thought to have originated in the province of Antwerp in Northern Flanders. The first reliable written mention of the breed dates from 1858 and the first description is that of Victor La Perre De Roo in 1882. In Belgium 29 colour varieties of plumage are recognised in Germany there are six more.

The breed is usually kept for ornamental purposes, as pets or for exhibition. The hens make good sitters and are good mothers.

In the United States d'Anvers may be called the Antwerp Belgian or Belgian Bearded d'Anvers and was included the of the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1949.

Details:

Breed Purpose Ornamental
Comb Rose
Broodiness Frequent
Climate Tolerance All Climates
Egg Productivity Medium
Egg Size Small
Egg Color Cream
Breed Temperament Friendly, Easily handled
Breed Colors/Varieties Quail, Black, Self Blue, Blue, Mottled, Cuckoo, Mille Fleur, Blue Quail, Buff, BBR, Porcelain, White, Colombian and Buff Colombian.
Breed Size Bantam


Pic by @ScratchesWithChickens


Pic by @ScratchesWithChickens


Pic by @Boggy Bottom Bantams


Pic by @Boggy Bottom Bantams


Pic by @LauraLee


Pic by @dtran0268

BYC Breed Reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/belgian-d-anver

BYC Breed Discussions:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/272737/danver-lovers-discuss-the-breed-and-post-some-pics/0_30
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/846885/bearded-danver/0_30

Do you own d'Anvers? Are you a d'Anver breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

I feel that I am so fortunate in having a pair of Belgian D'Anvers. I have a cuckoo rooster, whom I have named Don Quixote. It's a pretty 'grand' name but Don Quixote is a splendid, showy little fellow. He is a fiery little guy sometimes. His hen is a black pullet, named Dulcinea, who is split for cuckoo also. Don Quixote looks after Dulcinea so well. He always gives her first pick of any special treats I introduce. They are a lovely pair and give this old man a huge amount of pleasure. Don Quixote talks with me often and I want to learn to communicate with him too.
I have set a half dozen eggs under another broody hen to give Don Quixote some additional ladies.... These (six) eggs are due to hatch on the twentieth of December. I am hoping for at least three pullets! My fingers are crossed!

 

[Amer]

I feel that I am so fortunate in having a pair of Belgian D'Anvers. I have a cuckoo rooster, whom I have named Don Quixote. It's a pretty 'grand' name but Don Quixote is a splendid, showy little fellow. He is a fiery little guy sometimes. His hen is a black pullet, named Dulcinea, who is split for cuckoo also. Don Quixote looks after Dulcinea so well. He always gives her first pick of any special treats I introduce. They are a lovely pair and give this old man a huge amount of pleasure. Don Quixote talks with me often and I want to learn to communicate with him too.
I have set a half dozen eggs under another broody hen to give Don Quixote some additional ladies.... These (six) eggs are due to hatch on the twentieth of December. I am hoping for at least three pullets! My fingers are crossed!

She's not split for cuckoo, she's just black (cuckoo is sexlinked so hens are either cuckoo or they aren't) but you'll definitely get some cuckoos from this pairing!
I loved my cuckoo rooster, he was a very silly bird. Don Quixote and Dulcinea are perfect names for them!