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A copy of the Australian Standard and Colour 
Standard for Belgian Bantams is printed below

Please note this has (Sept 2006) been updated by the 
Club and there have been some major changes made to it

WHAT IS A BELGIAN BANTAM?

This is an article written by the founder of the Belgian Bantam Club of Australia, 
Gerry Coady, in November 1983

A Belgian Bantam is a miniature fowl, without any large counterpart, that was originated in the country Belgium, after which it is called. The time of their exact origin is lost in antiquity, but it is known that they have existed for many centuries.

In the seventeenth century the artist Albert Cuyp depicted bearded poultry which were quail in colour and the animal painter, Rene Delin, possessed a French pamphlet edited in Paris in 1617 which refers to bearded chickens seen in the Pavs-Bas.

There are five main types in Belgian Bantams. They are each treated in turn.

THE BARBU d'ANVERS
These are bearded, have a rose comb and are clean legged. They have a long, though imperfectly known, history and it is evident that they existed for several centuries in the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium. Louis Vander Snickt wrote that the Barbu d'Anvers were imported at the end of the seventeenth century by navigators from the Malayan Isles to the port of Antwerp. It is obvious that such birds would have been crossed with other breeds kept, but the character of the d'Anvers was never lost. Louis Vander Snickt said that the bantams were known in cuckoo, black and gold. The golden were the forerunners to quail. Charles Jacque, a French artist (1813-1894) in his book on poultry written in 1860, gives a description of a cuckoo. In 1890 poultry shows began to take place in Belgium and in 1895 at a show in Brussels 51 d'Anvers were exhibited. In 1904 the "Bearded Bantam Club" was formed in Brussels and from then on the birds increased in popularity so much that by 1909 a total of 6890 d'Anvers were exhibited by 961 breeders. A standard for them had been recognised since 1905. Just when the Barbu d'Anvers were at the height of their popularity the first World War broke out and the breed dwindled in numbers.

                
                   Cuckoo d'Anvers hen                  Millefleur d'Anvers cock and Porcelaine hen

THE BARBU d'UCCLE
These are also bearded. have a single comb, feathered legs and are vulture hocked. The breed is comparatively new being made in Belgium at the beginning of this century. There have been small, feather legged poultry in Europe and Asia for centuries. Aldrovandi described dwarf hens and illustrated them in his book in 1600. In 1905 Michel van Gelder decided to use the existing feather legged bantam in Europe, together with the Barbu d'Anvers, to create what was to be named the Barbu d'Uccle.

           
                     Black d'Uccle hen                                           Quail d'Uccle hen 

THE BARBU de WATERMAEL
This crested Belgian bantam was made by Antoine Dresse early this century. The Watermael has a beard, is crested and has a small forked comb which is similar to the comb of a Polish, but it has no Polish in it. They were first recorded as being shown in 1922 at Brussels. They are not as popular as the d'Anvers or d'Uccle.

          
Left to right: head detail of a Quail de Watermael hen and a Quail de Watermael cockerel

THE BARBU de GRUBBE
This is a rumpless Barbu d'Anvers and was produced by Robert Pauwels in 1904.

THE BARBU d'EVERBERG
This is a rumpless Barbu d'Uccle and was produced in 1906. Little is known of their history and they both declined in numbers after the first World War. All five types are represented by the following colours: Millefleur (a thousand flowers), Porcelaine, Lavender or Reynold's Blue, Quail, Blue Quail, Cuckoo, Black Mottled, Black, White. Laced Blue (Andalusian type), Blue Mottled, Ermines, Fawn Ermines, Black-red, Partridge, Silver and Gold.

(Please note:  Since Gerry Coady wrote this article the Bosvoorde (rumpless de Watermael) has also been developed in Belgium)

Barbu de Watermael
Type...........................................................…...............50
Head (including muff, beard & crest).......................25
Colour...........................................................................10
Size…............................................................................10
Legs and feet................................................................ 5
TOTAL............................................................….......100

COLOUR STANDARD

 Belgian Bantams exist in a very large range of colours, probably unequalled in any other soft feather breed of poultry.  The following colours fully described are the recognised "Standard" colours for the Australian Belgian Bantams.  This is then followed by the description of recognised, but so far, "Non-Standard" colours.

  Standard Colours

 Millefleur
Male Plumage
Head orange-red with white points. Neck hackle black with golden shafts, broadly bordered with orange-red.  Each feather has a black end tipped with a white point.  The extraordinary abundance of the neck hackle makes the main colour appear orange-red, the black parts being scarcely visible. Back is red, shading to orange towards saddle hackle. Wing bows are mahogany-red, each feather tipped with white. Wing bars russet-red with lustrous green-black pea-shaped spots at ends, finishing with silvery-white triangular tips, the whole forming regular bars across the wings.  Primaries are black with thin edging of chestnut on the outside.  The visible third of each secondary feather is chestnut, with upper two-thirds black. Remainder of wing uniform chestnut, each feather having at its end a large pea-shaped white spot on a black triangle, the tips evenly spaced to conform with shape and outline of wing.  (Note the reversal of these pattern markings from the normal arrangement). Tail feathers are black with a metallic green lustre, having a fine edging or lacing of dark chestnut, and terminating with a white triangle. Beard, breast, foot-feathering and remainder of plumage throughout is of a darker chestnut (orange mahogany) ground colour, each feather having a light chestnut shaft and finishing with a black pea-shaped spot tipped with a white triangle.

Female Plumage
Ground colour uniform lighter golden chestnut with each feather terminating in a black pea-shaped spot tipped with a white triangle. Tail feathers are black, finely laced with chestnut with white tips. Wing markings and other plumage as described for male, allowing for natural sexual differences.

In both sexes: Eyes are orange-red with black pupils.  Beak, nails, legs and feet are slate blue.
Defects to be avoided  -  Ground colour too light or washy.  White markings excessively gay or washed out.  Too much black in ground colour.

 Silver Millefleur
Male and female plumage 
As for Millefleur with chestnut, orange-red and mahogany colour tones replaced by white.

In both sexes:  Eyes are orange-red with black pupils.  Beak, nails, legs and feet are slate blue.
Defects to be avoided  -  Any trace of chestnut, orange-red or mahogany in the ground colour.

 Porcelaine
Male and Female Plumage
Markings and patterns are as described for Millefleurs in both sexes, with the exception that the ground colour is a creamy light straw colour and the pea-shaped spots are lavender, tipped with white triangles.  Lavender is substituted for the black of the Millefleurs in both sexes.  This is a very delicate colour pattern. 

In both sexes:  Eyes are orange-red with black pupils.  Beak, nails, legs and feet are slate blue.

Quail
Male Plumage
Head feathers dark green-black, finely laced with gold.  (Note: Crest of de Watermael: black ground colour with buff lacing and buff shafts) Beard golden-buff, shading darker towards the eyes, where plumage is black, finely laced with gold.  Neck hackle brilliant black, sharply laced with buff, having a golden lustre and yellowish-buff shafts. Back black ground colour with gold lacing, starting in the middle of the feathers and narrowing towards the tips, forming lance-like points with golden-silky barbs and well defined light ochre (ie yellowish buff) coloured shafts from root to point.  These feathers are relatively broad under the neck, but narrower and longer nearing the saddle hackle.  Colour is more intense with black ground colour more pronounced towards the saddle hackle. Wing bows light gold, the lower half of each feather black and clearly defined from upper half, which should be golden-buff.  Wing bars light ochre, each feather having a black triangular tip, the triangles forming two regular bars across the wing.  Bottom third of secondaries is a darker ochre, other two-thirds dull black.  Primaries dull black and hidden when wing is closed. Tail black with metallic green lustre, finely bordered with brown, with faintly defined light shafts. Sickles black, side-hangers black, laced with ochre and having well defined light shafts. Breast golden-buff with each feather finely laced with ochre the shafts being distinct and clear.  Thighs same colour as the breast. Abdomen and underparts greyish brown, with silky, golden barb-shaped tips.  General effect is that all the upper parts are dark and the lower parts light, giving the appearance of being covered with a dark chequered cloak.  The dominating dark tint is chocolate-black, with a soft silvery lustre, known amongst artists as umber.  The general light tone is golden buff or yellow ochre, well defined light shafts are important.  Foot feather should be dull black with light buff lacing.

Female Plumage
Head, face and neck covered with feathers that increase in size as they near the body.  Ground colour umber with very fine gold lacing.  (Note: Crest of de Watermael, umber ground colour, with gold lacing and shafts.)  Neck is velvety dark umber, laced with golden-buff and shafted. Shaft and lacing are clearer and more golden towards the breast. Back covered with umber coloured feathers having a silvery, velvety lustre, each feather dark, finely laced with light ochre and with bright golden-buff shafts showing a strong contrast. Wings same colour as back, a dark umber finely laced with light golden buff, the feathers broader and brighter towards lower part of wing.  Primaries, which are hidden when wing is closed, are a dark intense umber. Tail plumage and cushion similar to back and of the same character. Breast clear even golden-buff, the shafts pale and distinct.  Feathers nearing the wings are finely and progressively bordered with dark umber, forming a distinctive colour pattern. Footfeather dark umber with light buff lacing.

In both sexes:  Eyes are dark brown (nearly black) with black pupils.  Legs and feet slate grey. Beak and nails horn coloured.
Defects to be avoided  -  Any false colouring on breast.  White tipping anywhere on body.  Dark feathers in beard.

 Blue Quail
Male and Female Plumage
Similar to the Quail in all respects except that the black markings are replaced by blue in the males and the umber in the females is replaced by blue.  Footfeather as for Quail with blue replacing black and umber.

Silver Quail
Male Plumage
Head covered with feathers of a dark greenish black, finely laced with white. Beard white, going darker towards eyes where feathers assume a black ground colour, finely laced with white. Neck hackle silky feathers with a brilliant black ground colour sharply laced with white, having a light coloured shaft.  Breast solid white, with shafts being very distinct and clear.  Back black to umber with a lacing of white, which starts at the middle of the feather and becomes narrower towards the top, forming a lance-like point with white barbs, clearer than the lacing and ending in the upper part of the feather.  The shaft is well defined and light colour divides the feather from root to the point.  These feathers are relatively broader under the neck hackle, becoming narrower and longer.  Towards the saddle hackle, the colours become more intense, the black ground colour more noticeable as it approaches the end of the saddle hackle feathers. Wing bows white, lower half of each feather black to umber and laced with white. Wing bars white with each feather having a black triangular tip, the triangles forming two regular bars across the wing.  Bottom third of secondaries white, other two thirds a dull black. Primaries dull black and hidden when the wing is closed. Tail black with a metallic-green lustre, finely bordered with dull black/umber and with well defined light shafts.  Sickles are black, thighs and breast are white. Abdomen and underparts greyish-white with silky white barb-shaped tips. Foot feather as for Quail with white replacing the light buff lacing.  Note: The general effect is the same as for the normal, Blue and Lavender Quail.  The upper parts are dark and the lower parts are light, giving the appearance of being covered with a dark chequered cloak.  The dominating dark tint is chocolate/black with a soft silvery lustre known as umber.  The light tone is white and well defined light shafts are important.

Female Plumage
Head, face and neck ground colour umber with fine white lacing.   Beard as for the male. Neck is velvety, darker than the back and clearly detached from it.  Shaft and lacing are clearer and more white towards breast. Breast clear, even, solid white.  Shafts are pale and distinct.  Feathers nearing the wings are finely and progressively bordered with dark umber, forming a distinctive pattern. Back is covered with umber coloured feathers having a silvery lustre, each feather dark and finely laced with white, with white/bright shafts showing in stronger contrast. Wings same as back, dark umber finely laced with white feathers, much broader and brighter towards lower part of wing. Primaries, which are hidden when the wing is closed, are a dark intense umber. Tail and cushion similar to back and of same character.  Foot feather as for Quail with white replacing light buff lacing.

In both sexes:  Eyes dark brown (nearly black) with black pupils.  Legs and feet slate grey. Beak and nails horn.
Defects to be avoided  -  Any false colouring on breast.  Dark beards. Any colour other than white on the breast.

 Lavender Quail
In this colour the dark upper parts of the Quail are replaced by lavender (uniform throughout the body) and the lower parts are replaced by straw varying to cream according to the area of the body and the sex.

Male Plumage
Head feathers are laced with cream.  Beard cream, darkening to straw towards eyes and laced with gold.  Neck hackle is sharply laced in cream with golden lustre and lightish shafts. Back cream laced with golden-straw barbs and cream shafts. Wing bows light cream.  Lower parts of feathers are clearly defined from upper halves, which should be straw.  Wing bars cream.  Bottom third of secondaries are cream. Tail is bordered with golden straw and side hangers are laced straw.  Breast is cream laced with light ochre and having distinct shafts. Thighs same as breast. Abdomen and underparts lavender with straw barb-shaped tips. Foot feather as for Quail with lavender replacing black and umber.

Female Plumage
Head, face and neck are cream laced. Beard is as for the male. Breast is cream, the shafts pale
and distinct. Back feathers are laced with cream/straw with light shafts. Wings same as back, laced with cream and becoming lighter towards bottom of the wing. Tail plumage and cushion similar to the back. Foot feather as for Quail with cream or straw replacing light buff.

In both sexes: Eyes orange-red with black pupils. Beak, nails, legs and feet slate-blue.
Defects to be avoided  -  Any false colouring on breast.  Lavender or dark beards. Excess of lavender in any of the cream areas.

White Quail
Male and female plumage
As for normal Quail with all the black and umber replaced by white.

White
Male and female plumage
Pure snow white, free from any cream or yellow.

In both sexes: Eyes are orange-red.  The beak and leg colour may vary from white to slate, with white being the preferred colour.  Nails must be white. 
Defects to be avoided  -  False colours, including straw or yellowish tints on the back.

 Black
Male and female plumage
A rich black all over with a metallic green lustre.

In both sexes:  Eyes should be black, but dark brown is acceptable.  Legs and feet are slate blue, but may be blackish in younger birds.  Beak and nails are black or very dark horn.
Defects to be avoided  -  Any false colouring.

 Black Mottled
Male and Female plumage
All feathers are black with a green metallic lustre and regularly tipped with white. The tips will vary in size with the feather.

In both sexes: Eyes are dark red.  The legs and feet are slate blue or blackish.  Beak and nails are dark horn.
Defects to be avoided  -  Excessive white markings or uneven distribution.

 Lavender
Male and Female plumage 
(Note: this colour should not be confused with the Blue variety) 
A true breeding pale silvery blue tending towards dove grey with all feathers to be of one uniform shade.  Hackles and saddle in the males have more lustre.

In both sexes: Eyes orange-red with black pupils.  Beak, nails, legs and feet are slate blue.
Defects to be avoided  -  Salmon, brown or golden-buff on breast.  Straw in hackles and wing bows of males.

Lavender Mottled
Male and female plumage  
Colour should be a uniform lavender in all plumage, with each feather having a white tip.

In both sexes: Eyes are orange red with black pupils. Legs, feet, beak and nails are slate blue.
Defects to be avoided  -  Any excessive white markings or uneven colour distribution.

Cuckoo
Male and female plumage
Uniformly cuckoo coloured with transverse bars of dark bluish grey on a light grey background.  Each feather should have at least three bars and all markings should be distinct and regular. The tip of the feather should end with a dark bar.

In both sexes: Eyes are orange-red. Legs, feet, beak and nails are white and often spotted with bluish grey in younger birds.
Defects to be avoided  -  Any feathers white or spotted with white and also an excessive number of black feathers, any red on the shoulders, wings or hackle.

Blue
Male Plumage
Body colour an even shade of rich slaty blue, free from mealiness, with neck, hackles, saddle, wing bows, back and tail a dark slate blue.  The remainder should be medium slate blue.  Undercolour a rich slaty blue shading to a lighter slaty blue.

Female Plumage 
Overall body colour an even shade of rich slaty blue, free from mealiness.  Undercolour a rich slaty blue shading to a lighter slaty blue.

In both sexes:  Eyes dark red or red/brown. Legs and feet slate, nails and beak dark slate or horn.

Blue Mottled
Male and female plumage
All feathers should be a uniform blue tipped with white.  The tips vary in size to match the feather.

In both sexes: Eyes are dark red. Legs and feet slate blue, beak and nails horn.
Defects to be avoided  -  Excessive white markings or uneven distribution of colour.

Laced Blue (Andalusian type, diffusion of black & white)
Male and female plumage
Plumage a clear blue edged with distinct black lacing, not too narrow, on each feather, excepting the males sickles, which are dark (or even black), and hackles, which are dark blue to black with a rich gloss.  The female’s neck hackle is a lustrous rich dark blue to black, showing broad lacing on the tips of the feathers and the base of the neck.  Undercolour to tone with surface colour. 

In both sexes: Beak dark slate or horn.  Eyes dark red or red-brown.  Legs and feet dark slate or black.
Defects to be avoided  -  White in face or feathers and red or yellow in hackles.

Splashed
Male and female plumage
A mixture of slaty blue and white that has a faint bluish tinge.  The blue in the feathers in the form of large irregular shaped blobs as distinct from V-shaped ticking.  Main tail feathers and primary wing feathers have a lesser amount of blue than the rest of the plumage.  Undercolour: slaty blue and sooty white evenly distributed.  Blue splashes to comprise 50% of the plumage.

In both sexes:  Eyes dark red or red/brown. Legs and feet slate, nails and beak dark slate or horn.

RECOGNISED, BUT CURRENTLY,
NON-STANDARD COLOURS

Blue Millefleur 
Male and female plumage
As for Millefleur with the black replaced by blue.

In both sexes: Eyes are orange-red with black pupils.  Beak, nails, legs and feet are slate blue.

 Cream 
Male and female plumage 
Pure Cream throughout all sections.

In both sexes: Eyes are orange-red with black pupils.  Beaks, nails and legs are slate blue.

 Silver Porcelaine
Male and female plumage
As for Porcelaine with the creamy light straw colouring is replaced by white.

In both sexes:  Eyes are orange-red with black pupils.  Beak, nails, legs and feet are slate blue.

Lavender Cuckoo
Male and female plumage
As for normal Cuckoo with the darker grey being replaced with lavender.

In both sexes: Eyes are orange-red. Legs, feet, beak and nails are white.
Defects to be avoided  -  Any feathers white or spotted with white and also an excessive number of black feathers, any colours other than lavender or white.

Buff
Male and female plumage
Surface throughout an even shade of rich golden buff quite sound to roots of feathers and free from black, white or bronze feathers.  The exact shade of buff is not material and can vary from lemon to dark so long as it is level throughout and free from shaftiness, or lacing.  The lighter shades should avoid a washing out of colour and the darker shades should avoid having a red tinge.  Undercolour matching surface as near as possible.  Head, neck hackle, back, wing 
bow and saddle of the males showing greater lustre.  Hackle of the females showing some lustre. 

In both sexes: Legs slate blue and the eyes red to dark red.

Columbian
Male plumage
Head silvery white.  Hackle web of feather lustrous, greenish-black, with narrow lacing of silvery white, greater portion of shaft black.  Back silvery white.  Cape black and white.  Saddle silvery white with elongated V-shaped black stripe increasing in width, length and density as it nears tail coverts.  Beard white with some black as it nears the hackle.  Tail main tail black.  Main and lesser sickles lustrous greenish-black.  Tail coverts lustrous greenish-black laced with silvery white.  Wings fronts white, some black permissible.  Bows and coverts silvery white.  Primaries black with lower edge of lower web white.  Secondaries lower web, unexposed portion white.  Upper web black edges with white, the white extending around the end of the feather.  White ends of upper secondaries growing progressively wider so exposed portion in upper row is entirely white, forming a white wing bay when wing is folded.  Breast and front of neck white.  Body white except under wings where it may be bluish slate.  Fluff white.  Footfeather black and white.  Undercolour light bluish slate.

Female plumage
Head white.  Hackle web of feather lustrous greenish-black with a narrow lacing of silvery white.  Greater portion of shaft black.  Front of neck, back, breast, wing fronts, bows and coverts body and fluff white, except under the wings where it may be bluish slate.  Main tail black, except two top feathers, which are slightly laced with white.  Tail coverts black with narrow lacing of silvery white.  Wings primaries black with white edging on lower web,  Secondaries lower webs, lower portion white extending around end and lacing upper portion of upper webs, growing wider in shorter feathers, sufficient to show a white wing bay when wing is folded.  Upper webs black.  Footfeather black and white. Undercolour light bluish slate.

In both sexes: Eyes are orange-red with black pupils.  Beaks, nails and legs are slate blue.

Buff Columbian
Male and Female plumage
Marked identically to the Columbian with the white replaced by a clear even buff throughout with a greater lustre on the male hackle, saddle and wing bow. An even colour is most important. Undercolour light bluish slate.

In both sexes: Legs slate blue and the eyes red to dark red.

Blue Tailed Buff Columbian
Male and female plumage 
Same as the Buff Columbian with all the black replaced by blue.

Please Note:
Many other colours are known and many more are possible. There is practically no limit to the sub varieties capable of being produced.  

Other known colours currently bred, either in Australia or overseas, include Citroen Millefleur, Buff Mottled, Cream Mottled, Red Quail, Lemon Quail, Birchen, Gold, Blue Birchen, Partridge, Silver Partridge, Pile, Black-Red, Blue-Red, Brown-Red, Silver Laced and Gold Laced.

   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!