d'Anvers

Barbu d'Anvers

Various miniature fowl are known to have existed in parts of the Netherlands and Belgium for several centuries, although there are no written accounts prior to the early seventeenth century.

In the seventeenth century the Dutch artist, Albert Cuyp. is acknowledged to have painted a hen with the distinctive Quail markings, which later became associated with the d'Anvers. Also, René Delin, a noted animal painter had in his possession a pamphlet edited in Paris in 1617, which depicted a bearded chicken from the Pays-Bas. Sailors from Malaya were also reported to have imported what was to become d'Anvers into Antwerp towards the end of the seventeenth century.

It wasn't until a French book, "Le Poullailler", was published in the mid nineteenth century that a definite description of a Barbu d'Anvers can be found. There is also a good description of a Cuckoo Barbu d'Anvers in a book by La Perre de Roo, written in 1881. By the late nineteenth century the Antwerp Bearded Bantam (as the d'Anvers was then called) was becoming quite well established, with Cuckoo being the most common colour, followed by Black.

They became more popular in the 1890's when poultry shows were being staged regularly. One show in 1895 in Brussels saw fifty-one Barbu d'Anvers exhibited. Then at Liege in 1895 a large number, mainly cuckoos and blacks, were exhibited. Expert breeders around Brussels became associated with the "new" breed and the birds were culled more heavily. Many birds were bought and sold from the Sunday poultry auctions at the Great Market of Brussels.

Michel van Gelder is credited with creating the excellent type and most of the colour varieties that we see today. He was a wealthy fancier from Brussels who searched Belgium, France. Holland and Germany for bearded bantams in order to obtain excellent stock to establish the breed. In 1904 the "Club Aviucole du Barbu Nain" (Bearded Bantam Club) was founded in Brussels and soon afterwards the Antwerp Bearded Bantam (the Barbu d'Anvers) greatly increased in popularity and numbers, and became the national breed of Belgium.

In 1905 a Standard for Barbu d'Anvers was officially recognised with the colours accepted being Black, Cuckoo and White. In 1909 there were 6,890 bantams exhibited by 961 breeders at poultry shows attended by the Club Avicole de Barbu Nain. The club had weekly meetings, with lectures given by specialists each month to an avid audience. In the city of Liege the Club had grown so quickly a full time paid secretary treasurer was required. Exports to other countries, particularly England, were organised, with prices for excellent birds being quite high. Then in 1910 Quail was officially added to the Standard.

In 1916 a Club for d'Anvers was established in Antwerp and two events held at about that time, the World Exhibition and Pluimreesalon (a large poultry show), greatly enhanced the breed's reputation, especially on an international level. Sadly, just at the height of popularity, the First World War broke out, which was to have a devastating effect on Europe, and the breed and numbers dropped dramatically. The breed recovered but never achieved its earlier dominance. Further destruction in Belgium during the Second World War also took its toll and the breed almost disappeared. It was during this war that the best stock was gathered together in one place in order to preserve the principal strains. Feed was scarce so they were kept alive and safe mostly due to donations from fanciers.

Above: White cock, Blue cock and White Quail cock

Original Web design, graphic art and manufacture by
Stephen Miller.

Said the first little chick, with a wiggle and a squirm,

I wish I had a nice fat worm.

Said the second little chick, with a giggle and a squeal.

I wish I had some fine yellow meal.

Said the old mother hen, from the green cabbage patch,

If you really want it, then get out and scratch!

Above: Millefleur d'Anvers cock and Porcelaine hen

Above: Black Mottled d'Anvers hen

Right: Cuckoo d'Anvers hen

The following photos were taken by and are copyright to Hans Schippers of the Netherlands.
Not to be used or copied without his permission. Email schipperspoultry@zonnet.nl

Above: Black Mottled hen, Partridge cock and Cuckoo cock
Below: Quail hen, Quail cock and Porcelaine hen

Please direct enquiries to the Secretary: (Mrs) Irene Hannan
"Mountain View", 930 Caparra Road,
Caparra, via Wingham, NSW 2429
Telephone: (02) 65507295
Email: channan@tpgi.com.au

The contents of these pages will always remain the property of the Belgian Bantam Club of Australia. The material may be used for the purposes of private study, research, or to further pass on this information as
permitted under copyright legislation, but only if the source is fully credited at all times. No part may be reproduced or re-used for any commercial purpose without the written permission of the Belgian Bantam Club of Australia. Further no modification to any of the information may be made without prior written consent.

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