Belgian d' Anver

Got these for our first show birds So far we like them but are very new to the breed.

I have two of these guys, a cock and hen, and I show them. I fell in love with them once I caught a glimpse of their cute beards, blue feet, and that rooster's hansome little stance.My hen lays me beautiful little white eggs just about every other day. The hen, although small, is a pretty good broody. She recently just hatched out another beautiful little girl. I cant wait to show her!!! I reccomend this breed to both showers and anybody who wants to cuddle up with a precious little bantam

My 6 hens and 1cockerel are directly & 2nd generation from BBBs. I have the following colors: Dun Quail (my avatar), Mille Fleur, Blue, Lavender, Splash, and White.
My two dun quails and my mille have been the best and most devoted broodies and moms I've ever seen.
First, the hens: My hens are all quiet and unassuming, which has included having little if any egg song. They all tolerate being carried around, car trips, speaking events, tea parties with the little girls. At the same time, when reintroduced to my flock after a spell of brooding a clutch, they are quick to fight and not back down to get their place in the pecking order back. My D'anver hens weigh less than 22 oz, but they get along with standard EEs and the rest of my bantams with ease.
My hens have generally not weaned their chicks until they crowed or started laying.

The roosters are very elegant with their long tails, their proud carriage, and their lack of wattles & tight combs. Their downside is they are often super-protective of their flocks and thus they may stalk a person coming toward or handling their hens. This is fine for adults, but kids may be a target. After 8 grumpies, I've found a lap dog rooster --I hope.

The price I listed was per egg. These birds are or were nearly impossible to get in BBBs colors in most areas, so hatching eggs is the best option.
This is a lavender pullet at 8 weeks. Her muff & beard filled out by 12 weeks.



Below is a dun quail with d'Uccle chicks

This is a white cockerel at 10 weeks

The d'Anver is one of the oldest know breeds of true bantam in the world.
Yet They are not very common out side the base color of quail. Personally I set out to change that and now have them bred up to 30 colors and working on more.

They are just the perfect little bantams. Males can be aggressive, but it's usually only in defense of his territory and his hens, which is a great trait to have in a bird. Last thing you want is a male who will bail on his broody mate.
They are very proud looking birds. The males carriage should be erect, chest out, tail up, and head sharp.
They are a rose combed breed, so they so very well in cold climates. Comb should be close fitting to the skull, broad in front tapering to a nice point in the back. It should follow the curvature of the skull, and be well spiked and void of any dips or hollow spots.
The beard and muffs should be thick and full and show no wattle, basically a set of eyes, and a beak should be all you can see threw the beard.
Legs are slate except in colors that dont allow for it like cuckoo, those will always be a mottled pearl leg color, there's nothing we can do about that, it's genetics.

There are no special housing or dietary needs. They take both heat and cold very well. They lay very well, though some of the rarer colors are slow. Production can start at 6 months, but is usually the following spring after they hatch. Hens will go broody and be very protective, but you have to allow them to. If you take eggs daily, they will just continue to lay.
Size wise, they should be about 26 ounces on the male and 22 on the hens, very small.

Hens are the most gentle of all chickens out there, most can be held with ease. Males come in 2 versions, grumpy and grumpier, with an occasional lap dog. Due to their tiny size though, their aggression is more of an aggravation than harm to most.

All in all, for a bantam, they are just perfect!

I love my d'anver! She's a great little thing, and quite a stunning bird for showmanship. They're also very cold hardy and can withstand New England winters easily. They stay clean very easily, and have the cutest little squeals! They are also great for juniors because of their out-going personality and small size.

Fun little bantam! Cold hardy, good layer, good mothers, sweet boys in my experience, excellent foragers and good pets.