Brabançonne Bantam

The Brabançonne Bantam is a light-bodied, active landfowl breed. Unlike the Brabanter, it does not have a beard. Its most striking features include a small, backward-tilting 'helmet' crest and a single comb. The crest must not be large enough to obstruct the bird's vision and, importantly, it lacks a skull knob (protuberance) which is common in many other crested breeds.

• Comb: A medium single comb. In roosters, it stands upright and extends over the crest. In hens, the front of the comb features a characteristic double 'S' fold.
• Body: A long, slightly sloping back and a well-developed, deep abdomen, especially in the hens.
• Legs: Clean (unfeathered) and slate blue in color.
• Eyes: Large and dark, ranging from dark brown to brownish-black.

Despite its small size, the Brabançonne Bantam is a prolific layer. It was originally bred for utility, and the bantam retains this productivity, often laying up to 150 eggs per year. The eggs are pure white and remarkably large for the size of the bird, weighing approximately 1.2 oz (35g). These hens are rarely broody, as their energy is primarily focused on egg production.

The differences between the sexes are quite distinct in this breed:

• Comb: The rooster's comb stands proud and tall, reaching back over the top of the crest. The hen's comb is smaller and must have a specific double fold in the front section.
• Crest: The rooster's crest feathers are longer and narrower, whereas the hen's crest is more compact and rounded.
• Weight: Roosters weigh approximately 25-28 oz (700-800g), while hens are slightly lighter at 21-25 oz (600-700g).
• Plumage: Roosters possess long, well-curved sickle feathers in their high-carried tails.

The breed is hardy and vital, reflecting its origins as a robust farm chicken. Because they have a smaller, more compact crest compared to the Polish or Houdan, they are less prone to vision issues and damp-related infections. However, like all single-comb breeds, the rooster's large comb can be susceptible to frostbite in extreme cold, and they benefit from a dry, well-ventilated coop.

The Quail (Kwartel) pattern is the most iconic and popular color for the Brabançonne. This complex pattern features a brownish-yellow ground color with distinct markings. Other recognized varieties include:

• Silver Quail and Blue Quail: Elegant variations of the standard quail pattern.
• Solid Colors: Black, White, Blue, and Buff.
• Columbia: White body with black markings in the neck and tail.