16-562: The Braekel or Brakel is a traditional Belgian breed of chicken. It is thought to have originated in the area of Brakel , in the Flemish province of East Flanders , for which it is named. There is a bantam version of the Braekel. The Campine of the United Kingdom derives from it. The Braekel apparently derives from same extended population of gold and silver chickens which gave rise to
32-754: A unique appearance. However, distinct breeds are the result of selective breeding to emphasize certain traits. Any breed may be used for general agricultural purposes, and all breeds are shown to some degree. But each chicken breed is known for a primary use. Many breeds were selected and are used primarily for producing eggs , these are mostly light-weight birds whose hens do not go broody often. Most farms and homesteads use dual-purpose breeds for meat production. Some breeds are raised mainly for meat: The generalist breeds used in barnyards worldwide are adaptable utility birds good at producing both meat and eggs. Though some may be slightly better for one of these purposes, they are usually called dual-purpose breeds. Since
48-514: Is that cock birds display hen-feathering , which was not seen in the Belgian type. The Braekel population declined during and after the Second World War and it is a rare breed. For Belgium, population numbers reported to DAD-IS were 1500 in 1994 and 125 in 2013; the local conservation status was listed in 2023 as 'unknown'. The Braekel is also reported from the United Kingdom, where in 2023
64-613: Is the oldest poultry fancy breed standard in the world. It is published by the Poultry Club of Great Britain and is the official reference standard used by judges at poultry shows within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The standard was first published in 1865 by the original Poultry Club of Great Britain, a club which existed for only three years. It was entitled The standard of excellence in Exhibition Poultry and
80-533: The feathers and a uniform solid neck colour are characteristic of the Braekel. The Entente Européenne lists ten colour variants , of which only the gold and the silver are recognised. Braekel hens lay well from the age of six or seven months, and in a year may produce approximately 180 white-shelled eggs weighing 60–65 g . List of chicken breeds There are hundreds of chicken breeds in existence. Domesticated for thousands of years, distinguishable breeds of chicken have been present since
96-413: The 19th century, poultry fancy , the breeding and competitive exhibition of poultry as a hobby, has grown to be a huge influence on chicken breeds. Many breeds have always been kept for ornamental purposes, and others have been shifted from their original use to become first and foremost exhibition fowl, even if they may retain some inherent utility. Since the sport of cockfighting has been outlawed in
112-686: The 21st century, chickens are frequently bred according to predetermined breed standards set down by governing organizations. The first of such standards was the British Poultry Standard , which is still in publication today. Other standards include the Standard of Perfection , the Australian Poultry Standard , and the standard of the American Bantam Association, which deals exclusively with bantam fowl. Only some of
128-532: The closely similar Ostfriesische Möwe and Westfälischer Totleger breeds. It is thought to have originated in the area of Brakel , in the Flemish province of East Flanders , and particularly in the villages of Opbrakel and Nederbrakel ; and to have spread along the valleys of the Scheldt and Dender rivers, in East Flanders and into Hainaut . In 1884, two distinct types were recognised as separate breeds:
144-515: The combined factors of geographical isolation and selection for desired characteristics created regional types with distinct physical and behavioral traits passed on to their offspring. The physical traits used to distinguish chicken breeds are size, plumage color, comb type, skin color, number of toes, amount of feathering, egg color, and place of origin. They are also roughly divided by primary use, whether for eggs, meat, or ornamental purposes, and with some considered to be dual-purpose. In
160-473: The conservation status was 'unknown', and from Germany, where in 2023 the reported population was 882 and the conservation status 'at risk'. The Braekel is a light breed; cocks weigh some 2–2.5 kg and hens 1.8–2.2 kg. Bantam cocks weigh about 800 g and hens about 700 g . Ring sizes are 18 mm and 16 mm for standard-sized cocks and hens, and 13 mm and 11 mm respectively for bantams. A straight banding pattern of
176-539: The definition of a breed . Most crossbreed strains are sex linked , allowing for easy chick sexing . Roberts, Victoria (2008). British Poultry Standards . Oxford, UK: Blackwell. ISBN 9781405156424 . 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. British Poultry Standard The British Poultry Standard
SECTION 10
#1732881281508192-440: The developed world, most breeds first developed for this purpose, called game fowl, are now seen principally in the show ring rather than the cock pit as fighting cocks . denotes a breed primarily used for exhibition, but which is still used for utility purposes. denotes a game breed. Most large chicken breeds have a bantam counterpart, sometimes referred to as a miniature . Miniatures are usually one-fifth to one-quarter
208-1336: The known breeds are included in these publications, and only those breeds are eligible to be shown competitively. There are additionally a few hybrid strains which are common in the poultry world, especially in large poultry farms. These types are first generation crosses of true breeds. Hybrids do not reliably pass on their features to their offspring, but are highly valued for their producing abilities. By place of origin : Afghanistan • Albania • Australia • Austria • Belgium • Brazil • Bulgaria • Canada • Chile • China • Croatia • Cuba • Czech Republic • Egypt • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Iceland • India • Indonesia • Iran • Italy • Japan • Korea • Kosovo • Malaysia • Myanmar • Netherlands • Norway • Pakistan • Philippines • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Russia • Serbia • Slovakia • Slovenia • South Africa • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland • Thailand • Turkey • Ukraine • United Kingdom • United States • Vietnam By primary use : Eggs • Meat • Dual-purpose • Exhibition Other : Bantams • Hybrids See also • References • Sources All chickens lay eggs , have edible meat , and possess
224-577: The larger Braekel of Flanders , and a smaller and lighter type from the Campine region to the east. In 1898, a Braekel breeders' society was established in Nederbrakel, and a breed standard was published. In 1926, the separate Braekel and Campine breeds were brought together again under a single breed standard. In the United Kingdom a very different Campine breed was created, probably through cross-breeding with pencilled Hamburgs . The principal difference
240-438: The size of the standard breed, but they are expected to exhibit all of the standard breed's characteristics. A true bantam has no large counterpart, and is naturally small. The true bantams include: Many common strains of crossbred chickens exist, but none breed true or are recognized by poultry breed standards ; thus, though they are extremely common in flocks focusing on high productivity, crossbreeds do not technically meet
256-451: Was edited by William Bernhardt Tegetmeier . It was the first publication of its kind. The compilation of the standard was then taken over by the second, current Poultry Club of Great Britain . The number of editions of the standard that have been published is uncertain, as each successive publisher that has been used by the Poultry Club of Great Britain has started again with a first edition. The edition published in 2019 by Wiley-Blackwell
#507492