Dutch Bantam
Encyclopedia
The Dutch Bantam is a breed
of chicken
originating in the Netherlands
. It is also one of the true bantam breeds, meaning it is a naturally small bird with no related large fowl from which it was miniaturized. Dutch Bantams have many color variations, and have grown in popularity as exhibition poultry
worldwide.
Dutch bantams are also practical chickens, being especially hardy, good layers for their size. They are desirable family pets due to their reputation for thriving on loving care and easy keeping in confined space.
. Historically, it is supposed that these tiny chickens were selectively bred because only small eggs could be kept by peasant farmers, while larger ones were required to be sent to the kitchens of the landed gentry
. The first written referring to Dutch Bantams (as a distinct breed) is from a Hague zoo
record dated to 1882, and the Dutch Poultry Club recognized the breed by 1906.
The first transatlantic export of Dutch Bantams was to the United States
after World War II
; they were first shown in the country in the early 1950s. This initial overseas population died out due to lack of interest from breeders, and the next exportation, to both the United Kingdom
and the U.S., was not until the 1970s. The British Dutch Bantam Club was formed in 1982, and 14 colors are standardized. The American Poultry Association
accepted the breed in the show ring in 1992, and the Standard of Perfection describes ten color varieties.
To this day the Dutch remains one of the most popular breeds in its home country of Holland, has a well-established number of breeders in the UK and Germany
, and is quickly gaining popularity in South Africa
and the United States.
pattern. Today, there are dozens of colors including: Gold Partridge (black-red), Silver Partridge (silver duckwing), Yellow Partridge (yellow duckwing), Red Shouldered White (Pyle), Black and many more. All varieties should have a comb with 5 points, white earlobes, slate blue legs, apart from certain varieties and white skin.
The breed is friendly in temperament, but somewhat flighty. Their small size and comb type makes them not especially cold hardy. Dutch Bantam hens make good mothers and will easily go broody. Uniquely for bantams, and especially ones popular in showing, Dutch Bantams lay well; they can produce 160 cream or white eggs in a year, though the size of the egg is much smaller than commercial layers. Due to their friendly character and egg laying ability, the breed is well suited to hobbyists and backyard keepers needing a bantam sized bird.
Breed
A breed is a group of domestic animals or plants with a homogeneous appearance, behavior, and other characteristics that distinguish it from other animals or plants of the same species. Despite the centrality of the idea of "breeds" to animal husbandry, there is no scientifically accepted...
of chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
originating in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. It is also one of the true bantam breeds, meaning it is a naturally small bird with no related large fowl from which it was miniaturized. Dutch Bantams have many color variations, and have grown in popularity as exhibition poultry
Livestock show
A livestock show is an event where livestock are exhibited and judged on certain phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective breed standard. Species of livestock that may be shown include pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, llamas and alpacas. Poultry such as chickens, geese, ducks,...
worldwide.
Dutch bantams are also practical chickens, being especially hardy, good layers for their size. They are desirable family pets due to their reputation for thriving on loving care and easy keeping in confined space.
History
Diminutive chickens of similar coloration to today's Dutch Bantams have been seen in the Netherlands for hundreds of years, but the exact origin of the breed is unclear. It is likely that the ancestors of the Dutch Bantam were Southeast Asian bantams brought back by sailors from the Dutch East IndiesDutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. Historically, it is supposed that these tiny chickens were selectively bred because only small eggs could be kept by peasant farmers, while larger ones were required to be sent to the kitchens of the landed gentry
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....
. The first written referring to Dutch Bantams (as a distinct breed) is from a Hague zoo
Zoo
A zoological garden, zoological park, menagerie, or zoo is a facility in which animals are confined within enclosures, displayed to the public, and in which they may also be bred....
record dated to 1882, and the Dutch Poultry Club recognized the breed by 1906.
The first transatlantic export of Dutch Bantams was to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; they were first shown in the country in the early 1950s. This initial overseas population died out due to lack of interest from breeders, and the next exportation, to both the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the U.S., was not until the 1970s. The British Dutch Bantam Club was formed in 1982, and 14 colors are standardized. The American Poultry Association
American Poultry Association
The American Poultry Association is the oldest poultry organization in the North America. Founded in 1873, and incorporated in Indiana in 1932 The first American poultry show was held in 1849, and the APA was later formed in response to the burgeoning need for an overseeing body to set standards...
accepted the breed in the show ring in 1992, and the Standard of Perfection describes ten color varieties.
To this day the Dutch remains one of the most popular breeds in its home country of Holland, has a well-established number of breeders in the UK and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and is quickly gaining popularity in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and the United States.
Characteristics
Dutch Bantams are one of the smallest breeds of bantam, and are one of the true bantams. Males should weigh no more than 550 grams, and females 450 grams. Due to their light weight and relatively large wings, Dutch Bantams fly rather well. The original type of plumage for Dutch Bantams was a partridgePartridge
Partridges are birds in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. They are a non-migratory Old World group.These are medium-sized birds, intermediate between the larger pheasants and the smaller quails. Partridges are native to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East...
pattern. Today, there are dozens of colors including: Gold Partridge (black-red), Silver Partridge (silver duckwing), Yellow Partridge (yellow duckwing), Red Shouldered White (Pyle), Black and many more. All varieties should have a comb with 5 points, white earlobes, slate blue legs, apart from certain varieties and white skin.
The breed is friendly in temperament, but somewhat flighty. Their small size and comb type makes them not especially cold hardy. Dutch Bantam hens make good mothers and will easily go broody. Uniquely for bantams, and especially ones popular in showing, Dutch Bantams lay well; they can produce 160 cream or white eggs in a year, though the size of the egg is much smaller than commercial layers. Due to their friendly character and egg laying ability, the breed is well suited to hobbyists and backyard keepers needing a bantam sized bird.