What is a Brabanter Chicken?

A Brabanter chicken is a breed that originated in Holland. They are calm and intelligent and make wonderful pets. If handled regularly, they will be docile and allow you to pet them with no problem. They love to forage and have a tendency to gain weight if cooped up, so they're best kept free-range.

  1. History

    • Brabanters were originally an old Dutch breed. There are paintings featuring them from as far back as the 1600s. Sadly, they became extinct in the early 20th century. Today's Brabanters, however, were recreated by Dutch poultrymen who didn't want to see the breed lost to history. It's thought the original breed was slightly larger than the kind available today. They are rare outside mainland Europe, but you can find them for sale in the United States.

    Physical Characteristics

    • Brabanter chickens are a pretty, ornamental breed. They come in a large range of colors, but only the cream and gold varieties are available in the U.S. They have a large plume on their heads, but it doesn't infringe upon their vision. Standard-sized roosters weigh around 7.5 pounds and hens around 5.5 to 6 pounds. You can also get them in bantam sizes, where roosters weigh around 30 ounces and hens around 26 ounces.

    Temperament and Qualities

    • Brabanter chickens tend to be docile and will enjoy being handled and petted once they're used to it. They are intelligent birds, so it's a good idea to keep them stimulated by allowing them a lot of space to roam and forage, or by suspending or hiding treats for them when they're indoors. Brabanter hens are good layers, laying an average of 150 eggs each year. They lay more frequently in the winter than many other breeds do.

    Keep and Care

    • Like all laying hens, Brabanter hens need a nutrient-rich diet. This should consist of around 16 percent protein and 3.5 to 5 percent calcium. If you're keeping a rooster, he'll only need to be fed a maintenance diet. Ideally, your chickens should have a large outdoor space to roam in during the daytime, but should be kept in a predator-proof chicken house at night. Ensure they have access to water and shelter at all times.