Barbu de Watermael Bantam

     The Barbu de Watermael is a breed of bantam Chickens from Belgium. It is a true Bantam and always crested, rose-combed, and clean-legged. The Barbu de Watermael was initially developed in the town of Watermael-Boitsfort in Belgium, from which it takes its name. The name literally means “the Bearded Chicken from Watermael”.  

     The Barbu de Watermael is closely related to the Barbu d’Anvers‎, but is different with its small, backswept crest of feathers. It’s being raised almost exclusively as an ornamental fowl and as a pet too. A lot of color-varieties of plumage are also recognized for the Barbu de Watermael, but those usually seen are black, brown-red, buff-columbian, cuckoo, quail and white. The other colors are rare, and some are in the hands of only one breeder.

     Barbu de Watermael hens are seasonable layers of small creamy-white eggs (around 100 eggs per year). They go broody very easily, and make exceptionally good mothers indeed. There is a tailless variety for the Barbu de Watermael called the ‘Barbu de Boitsfort’, which has the same aspects and standards.