Barbu de Watermael
 | |
| Conservation status | endangered |
|---|---|
| Other names |
|
| Country of origin | Belgium |
| Use | fancy |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Comb type | rose[3] |
| Classification | |
| ABA | yes[1] |
| |
The Barbu de Watermael[a] or Watermaalse Baardkriel is a Belgian breed of bantam chicken. It was bred in the early twentieth century in the Belgian town of Watermael-Boitsfort (Dutch: Watermaal-Bosvoorde), at that time in the Province of Brabant; the breed name derives from that of the town.
It is closely related to the Barbu d'Anvers, but is distinguished from it by its smaller size, its backswept crest of feathers and the three small spikes on its rose comb. The Barbu de Boitsfort is a rumpless variation, the only difference being that it lacks the uropygium, the part of the anatomy that carries the tail.[2]
History
[edit]The Barbu de Watermael is among the most recent of Belgian bantam breeds, but its origin is poorly documented. It was created by Antoine Dresse at the estate of La Fougères at Watermael-Boitsfort in the early years of the twentieth century, or, according to one source, in 1915. Neither Dresse nor his son Oscar ever revealed what breeds contributed to the creation of the Barbu de Watermael, though the contribution of the Barbu d'Anvers is considered certain. Oscar Dresse did say that the Poland had not been used; the cranial protuberance typical of that breed is considered a fault in the Barbu de Watermael.[2][4]: 71 The birds were first shown in 1922, but did not achieve great popularity. A breeders' club was formed in France after the Second World War, and another, the Watermaalse Baardkrielclub, in the Netherlands in 1971.[2][5]
In number, the Barbu de Watermael is the second bantam breed in Belgium, with a population of 764 in 2010; it was classed as "in danger" in that year.[2]
Characteristics
[edit]The Barbu de Watermael is in many respects similar to the Barbu d'Anvers, but is distinguished from it by its smaller size, its crest and the three small spikes on its rose comb.[3] It is one of the smallest of all bantams: males weigh 600 to 700 g and hens 450 to 550 g.[3] It has a narrow backswept crest, a trilobar beard and muff and a three-spiked rose comb.[6]: 79 It is raised almost exclusively as an ornamental fowl. More than thirty colour varieties are recognised in Belgium. Those usually seen are black, brown red, buff Columbia, cuckoo, quail and white; the other colours are rare, and some are in the hands of only one breeder.[2] In the United States it is recognised by the American Bantam Association as the Watermaal, in six colours: black, blue, buff, mottled, quail, and white.[1]
Notes
[edit]- ^ meaning 'bearded [chicken] from Watermael'
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c Recognized Breed and Variety. Augusta, New Jersey: American Bantam Association. Accessed March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g N. Moula, M. Jacquet, A. Verelst, N. Antoine-Moussiaux, F. Farnir, P. Leroy (2012). Les races de poules belges (in French). Annales de Médecine Vétérinaire 156: 37-65. Archived 8 April 2026.
- ^ a b c Watermaalse baardkriel (in Dutch). Zeldzame Oorspronkelijke Belgische Krielhoenderrassen. Archived 1 October 2023.
- ^ Victoria Roberts (2008). British Poultry Standards: Complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 9781405156424.
- ^ Eerste periode van 1971 – september 1984: de Watermaalse baardkrielclub (in Dutch). Zeldzame Oorspronkelijke Belgische Krielhoenderrassen. Archived 31 July 2016.
- ^ J. Ian H. Allonby, Philippe B. Wilson (editors) (2018). British Poultry Standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain, seventh edition. Chichester; Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley Blackwell. ISBN 9781119509141.