de_watermael

BARBU de WATERMAEL

Also known as the Crested Belgian Bantam, the Barbu de Watermael was created by Antoine Dresse early this century in "Les Frougeres" in Watermael (a place in Belgium). Many theories have been formulated over the years with a lot of guesswork, but nearly all agree that it was certainly based on the Bearded Antwerp Bantam (Barbu d'Anvers). Where else would short legs, luxurious beard and stubby type come from?

The unique comb shape is the main difference in the two breeds. The Padua (Polish) fowl is mostly talked about and most likely because of the forehead knobs, regarded as an ugly fault. Others look more to the Brabanconne fowl for the forming of the crest. No explanation has been found for the formation of the comb. It is a pity that Antoine Dresse and his son, Oscar, did not reveal the secret.

The de Watermael did not spread as much as the Antwerp. It is possible to blame this on the breed as it is often looked upon as a variety of the Antwerp. It was first shown in 1922 in Brussels. For a long time then it remained a local breed. Recently there has been a renewed interest in the breed and more information on breeding is becoming available.

The evolution of new stock was a good thing. The average quality became much better. The Watermael became more typical looking with a fuller beard and with much more vitality. Hopefully the interest will stay and this pretty little fowl will finally get the place it deserves.

   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: Lavender de Watermael hen

Above: Cuckoo de Watermael pullet

This silhouette shows the size difference between the d'Anvers (at back ) and the de Watermael

Above left: Black Mottled de Watermael (from a 1941 painting by Rene Delin)

White Quail de Watermael from Jeroen Muys (Belgium)

THE de WATERMAEL - A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

Written by Alfons Willeghems for the August 1998 edition of the Newsletter of the B.C.A.W.B. - C.B.B.U.A.W. (roughly translated that means the
"The Belgian Bantam Club of Belgium")

The de Watermael bearded bantam was first bred at "Les Fougeres", found in Watermael-Bosvoorde, the property owned by Antoine Dresse. Antoine Dresse, born in 1844, settled there with his wife and son in 1901, and died there in 1922. Like many others around that time they had several types of small livestock, such as chickens, pigeons and rabbits. After a few years they were fascinated by the small livestock hobby, which was very popular around Brussels during that period. This was also the time that the Antwerp Bearded Bantams became more numerous and quite famous. in 1905 the Ukkelse (d'Uccle) Bearded Bantam arrived. This was also the period of many famous small stock breeders such as Louis Vander Snickt, Michel van Gelder, Robert Pauwels, Rene Delin, Paul Monseu and William Collier to name a few.

Oscar Dresse studied in conjunction with his father, Antoine, the possibility of creating a dwarf breed which would be easy to house and care for by the ordinary person. In their minds it should satisfy the following conditions and qualities - little requirements in housing and feeding, hardened to all conditions, look attractive and lay quite a lot of relatively large eggs. By intensive and selective breeding they reached their goal in 1915. It took approximately five more years to perfect and present them as a new national breed, "The Watermaalse Bearded Bantam". However, it was a lot later before the Watermaalse were actually shown for the first time. This finally happened in 1922.

They were successful in showing the bantams in Watermael and around Brussels. This success was mainly based on the fact that this bantam, which only just weighed about 500 grams, managed to produce around 120 eggs (of 40 grams each) per year, whereas a chicken with an average weight of 2.5 kilos only produced a 60 gram egg.

This small attractive breed was officially accepted by the "Nationaal Verbond der Maatshappyo for Neerhofdierenteelt" on 11th June, 1935. On the 2nd February 1938 a special club "Club Avicole du Barbu de Watermael" was established in Brussels under the presidency of Oscar Dresse. Their first show was held as part of the international show of "Les Antis de la Basse-Cour" in Watermael-Bosvoorde. This was the first time that 33 of the birds were shown. During die first ten shows the following colours were shown proportionally: Black (34.5%), White (21.5%), Boulder colour (12%), Quail (10.1%), Gold (9.5%), Blue (3.5%), Millefleur (2.9%), others (6%).

The Watermael Bearded Bantams were shown at the big national and intentional shows in Brussels, Antwerpen, Luik, Gent, Paris, London, The Hague and Moscow, where they received the best awards. Every year the Special Club organised a show in Brussels. The highlight of these shows was the 16th show in 1956, which had Special Clubs participating from France and Morocco. There were a total of 176 Watermael shown.

When Oscar Dresse died in 1962 the Special Club not only lost their powerful President, but also the creator and promoter of the breed. After that the Watermael went down hill fast and, ten years later, hardly any were being shown. With the death in 1988 of Albert de Meester, who had been the secretary and promoter of the Club for many years, the Special Club was only left with 22 members. The future of the bantams looked very bleak. In 1990 the Belgian Club for Antwerpen and Ukklese Bearded Bantams and the Watermaalse Special Club combined, so now all Belgian Bearded Bantams are represented in the one Club.

During the last few years there has been quite a revival in numbers and colours, with new colours being created as well. However, we still have to be very aware that these distinctive little bantams are still quite rare.

Left to right above: Quail male and Quail female

Left to right above: Lavender Quail and White Quail females

Left to right above: Lemon Porcelaine and Blue Columbian males

These photos taken by and copyright to Hans Schippers (The Netherlands)
Not to be used without his permission. Email schipperspoultry@zonnet.nl

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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