Brabanter breed standard problem

[L&Schickens]

History
The Netherlands Standard lists the Netherlands as the origin of Brabanters while other literature indicates that this is a very ancient breed. Paintings from the 16th and 17th Centuries show fowl that look like this breed. As of January 2006, the American Poultry Association has not accepted Gold or Cream Brabanters as a Standard Variety. Brabanters, which are hardy and lay at an early age, are good layers of large white-shelled eggs and are known as excellent winter egg producers.
So if they are NOT a recognized color, why is that the only color I see for sale? And what other colors are there? And I have 5 little Creams that are no good to show due to color now? Bummer!!!

 

[tadkerson]

Brabanters have not been in the States, I am assuming you live in the USA, very long. If you go to Europe-I am sure you will find all sorts of varieties.

I had both cream and gold brabanter for a while but they were not very hardy birds. Their color was not very good and their feathers were a mess. They need lots of work to get them to the point of show quality ( if they have a standard in Europe). Ideal is the only commercial source, I know of, that have the brabanter. I like the breed and may work with them in the future. I have no room to work with them now.

Tim

 

[L&Schickens]

Yes, I am in the US. I got them because they were very interesting and I want to show them. I got them from Ideal. I have one in particular who I think it pretty good, but I don't know for sure yet. They are only 6 weeks old.

I also liked they were winter layers and they are hearty birds, according to what I read:

They have very large bodies: although, they are not heavy in bone. They have the appearance of strong, hardy birds.

So they are not hearty? I guess what I read is a little mis-leading.

 

[EweSheep]

Sometimes too much inbreeding would make chicks weaker than the norm.

Like the Spitzhaubens, the Brabanter does have alot of work to improve and its up to us to make it so!

 

[tadkerson]

The spitzhauben I have are very good birds and are even still laying well. I have not had a problem with them great birds.

Tim

 

[EweSheep]

I mean the crest, feather pattern and body conformation is what I am talking about needing improvements. Some of the Spitz I had from a hatchery look like cross bred Polishes even they dont have Polish blood in them (I certain HOPE NOT!).

Sometimes certain lines and certain person would keep Spitz in their flock and never introduce new blood from time to time would indeed suffer.

 

[L&Schickens]

What do you think about crossing the Brabanter and the Spitz? They are very similuar and might improve each other a bit? I know they would not be consitered pure bred, but it might help out both breed in the end as there would be no inbreeding.
Just a thought.

 

[allen wranch]

Spitzhaubens in this country are in a lot better shape than the Brabanters. There are several private breeders that have been working with Spitz for years and are producing some nice birds.

Crossing a hatchery Brabanter with a hatchery Spitz won't improve anything.

Until a private breeder of Brabanters can be found in the US (they are here, just not advertising) to cross with hatchery stock, keeping the best type for the breed from hatchery birds will help the most.

Cream and gold are the only colors found in the US. However, cream is not listed as a standard color in Europe. Accepted colors are self black, white, blue laced, cuckoo, golden black half-moon spangled, yellow white half-moon spangled, golden blue half-moon spangled and lavender.

I suspect the cream is a cross between a Spitz and gold brabanter. Some people are also crossing cream and gold which usually produces a mess.

The best information about Brabanters can be found in "The Complete Encyclopedia of Chickens" by Esther Verhoef and Aad Rijs. If you order the book, make sure you request an English version.

 

[L&Schickens]

Thank you Allen Wranch.
I guess I need to decide how far I want to go with these little guys. I guess you can't expect greatness from commercial hatchery birds.
Mine are only 6 weeks old, so I guess I have some time to think about it. I will check around and see what it would cost to get a few “quality” Brabanters from someone. I just LOVE these little guys so far. I have myself spread thin with all my different breeds, but I am thinking on concentrating on breeds with good egg color and one or two that are exotic and rare.
I don’t even know how many roos and hens I currently have with these Brabanters. I am almost positive one of them is a little roo just because of his big hair, but not sure about the rest. They are also molting out their baby feathers in a strange way. They have bald areas. I thought they were being pecked and actually treated on of them thinking it was injured, but now I think they are just growing feathers strangely.
Well, here are my little guys. I think I will put a call out for non Ideal poultry eggs or chicks soon.
Thanks for all the help.
I would love some in the other colors.

Here are my babies:

one with a Jaerhon pullet

this one wants to be an Olympian

And a cute Jaerhon cockrell, one of 4 (I have and only 2 pullets of this breed)

 

[allen wranch]

L&Schickens,
I like the Brabanters really well too. If you find a private breeder of golds, please let me know.

All of the birds in your pictures look like pullets. The girls usually have fuller crests than the cockerels (although not always). At six weeks, the roo characteristics should be showing up. Look for a more upright posture, a red V comb, and sometimes little wattles.

This is a young cockerel: