Liège Fighter Bantam

The Liège Fighter Bantam is defined by its extraordinarily upright posture. Unlike the Bruges Fighter, which is more horizontal, the Liège type should be almost vertical. It has a long, powerful neck and broad shoulders that narrow toward the tail. The head is characterized by a strong, curved beak and prominent brow ridges, giving it a fierce 'bird of prey' look.

• Head: Broad skull with dark red to purple-red facial skin.
• Comb: A small pea or cushion comb, often referred to as a 'knobbelkam.'
• Eyes: Red to dark brown, set deep under strong brows.
• Legs: Long, powerful, and slate blue (leiblauw) in color.
• Plumage: Hard and tight to the body, reflecting its heritage as a game bird.

Surprisingly for a game breed, the Liège Fighter Bantam is a decent egg layer. While not a commercial producer, it averages around 120 eggs per year. The eggs are white to cream in color and weigh approximately 1.2 oz (35g). Hens are generally not prone to broodiness, focusing more on activity and foraging than sitting on a clutch.

The rooster is an imposing figure, weighing between 35-42 oz (1000-1200g). He carries his tail at a right angle to his back and possesses large, muscular thighs. A unique trait of this breed is that the rooster often appears quite large due to his height and broad shoulders.

The hen is slightly smaller, weighing 32-35 oz (900-1000g). An interesting breed-specific characteristic is that hens must also show spur development (sporen-aanzetten), similar to the roosters. The hen is less vertical than the rooster but still maintains a much more upright stance than standard bantam hens.

This breed is extremely robust and winter-hardy. Developed in the varied climate of Belgium, they are well-adapted to handle cold, damp conditions without significant health issues. Their tight plumage provides a good barrier against the elements, and their small combs are less prone to frostbite than larger single-comb breeds.

The most iconic color varieties for the Liège Fighter Bantam are the Red-shouldered Black (Roodgeschouderd zwart) and Red-shouldered Blue. In these colors, the males display rich mahogany-red on the neck, saddle, and wing bows over a base of either black or slate-blue plumage.

Hens in these varieties typically have a dark appearance with mahogany-red tones limited mostly to the neck area. Solid Black and Duckwing patterns are also recognized but are less common in the bantam version.

The Liège Fighter is one of the three primary Belgian game breeds, alongside the Bruges and the Tirlemont. While the large fowl has existed since the 19th century, the bantam version was first introduced in 1961 by breeder L. van der Snickt in the Brabant province of Belgium. He successfully miniaturized the breed using large Liège Fighters and smaller game-type bantams to fix the characteristic upright carriage. Though it remains a rare breed, it is highly valued by specialty breeders in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany for its unique silhouette.