Barbu d'Uccle Bantams If we look at the ideal picture of the Barbu d'Uccle critically, we will see that the breed does not differ strongly from the Barbu d'Anvers. The difference is the booted legs and the single-comb of the Barbu d'Uccle. A very good Barbu d'Uccle must have a low posture, a short but well developed neck and a rather open tail-feathering. The tail must not be too wide and has to make a triangle on the cock as well as on the hen.
The large tail sickles should not be too long, like the Barbu d'Anvers, and they may not bend and have to end rather sharp. These characteristics are difficult to achief on a young cock. With this animals the growth of the sickles is often very fast. Older cocks show a better tail and these animals in general show a somewhat better type. Judging young animals this has to be kept in mind. Exchequer Leghorns During the few years the Exchequer has been recognised as an exhibition variety it has made great advance. Many breeders have taken up its culture, and shows which have provided classes for the breed have generally been well supported. Progress has been made in breed character, and to-day we have Exchequers which are quite equal in general Leghorn breed characteristics to some of the older established varieties. Cochins Cochins originated from China in the early 1850s where it was known as the Shanghai or the Cochin-China. The original birds were received by Queen Victoria which led to great popularity for the breed. It was believed that the Chinese bred them with such profuse feathering for filling duvets. The Cochin has no sharp angles and is very rounded in appearance. They are the largest of the heavy breeds and cockerels can weigh in at 12lbs! They are broad birds too and this is enhanced by the enormous amount of feathers that they have. The plumage is soft with short broad feathers. Japanese Bantams These are true bantams with no large counterpart. They are thought to have originated in China then exported to Japan where they developed to the type we know today. Japanese are perhaps one of the oldest type of bantam, coming to Europe in the C16th and appearing in Dutch paintings of the C17th. Light Sussex This English heavy breed has been around since the turn of the century but the roots of the breed go back to Roman civilisations in England, as domesticated poultry crossed the continents from Indo-China. At first, Sussex were primarily a table fowl, but the valuable resource they offer in terms of egg production was not overlooked by prewar breeders who fashioned laying strains. In the last few decades, there have sadly been almost no good table strains maintained, although a few of us are working hard to rectify this with small flocks. There are no longer any large commercial table Light Sussex available. But there is plenty of demand. Most birds are all fluff and feather, and completely unselected. Nice birds, but no use for putting useful food on the table. Pekin Bantams The first Pekins are reputed to have been looted from the private collection of the Emperor of China at Peking (as the Europeans called Beijing then) towards the end of the Opium wars around 1860. An alternative account states that an import of birds from China in 1830/1840 were given to Queen Victoria and assumed the name of 'Shanghais'. These birds were bred with further imports and were developed into the breed we know today as Cochins. |
