Lakenvelder Bantam

The Lakenvelder Bantam is a classic landfowl type with an elongated body and horizontal carriage. The most famous trait is the sharp contrast between the black and white sections of its plumage. It has a medium-sized single comb and distinct slate-blue legs.

• Plumage: Deep black hackles and tail with a stark white 'belt' around the body.
• Comb: Single, upright, and fine-textured.
• Eyes: Rich brown color.
• Legs: Slate blue (leiblauw), adding to its elegant look.

For a bantam breed, the Lakenvelder is a highly efficient egg producer. Hens often start laying in their first year. The eggs weigh between 1.05-1.2 oz (30-35g) and are white to cream in color. They are known for having high fertility and reliable hatching results.

The rooster is slightly larger, weighing 1.5-1.75 lbs (700-800g), and possesses a high-carried tail with broad sickles. His hackles should be a solid, deep black without white ticking. The hen weighs 1.3-1.5 lbs (600-700g). Her comb is usually upright but may show a slight inclination to one side. A common trait in hens is some white lacing in the hackles near the head, though the goal for breeders is a pure black head.

The Lakenvelder Bantam is an active and mobile bird. They thrive in environments where they can forage and are quite adept at finding their own food if allowed free range. They are hardy and handle various climates well, provided they have a dry, draft-free coop. They are noted for their intelligent curiosity and become quite tame if handled regularly.

The standard and most iconic variety is the Black-Belted (Zwart-wit). In the Netherlands, a Blue-Belted (Blauwe tekening) variety is also recognized, where the black sections are replaced with a uniform slate blue. The under-down color should be gray to black-gray in both varieties.