Belgian Bearded d’Uccle Chicken

The d'Uccle is a True Bantam Chicken Breed, and the Mille Fleur is One of the Most Popular Varieties

Belgian Bearded d’Uccle Chicken

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A real showstopper, the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle comes in a variety of colors and is often on the must-have list for poultry enthusiasts.

Breed: Belgian Bearded d’Uccle bantam chicken

Photo by Pam Freeman.

Class:

Feather Legged

Origin:

Belgium. The Belgian d’Uccle bantam was bred for the first time in the small municipality of Uccle at the southeast border of Brussels, Belgium by Michel Van Gelder, sometime between 1890 and 1900. The ‘d’ in front of d’Uccle means from or of (Uccle). Most authors believe that the Belgian d’Uccle bantam is a cross between the Dutch Booted Sabelpoot bantam and the Antwerp Bearded bantam, but this fact is not known for sure.

Standard Description:

A real showstopper, the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle is often on the must-have list for poultry enthusiasts. These bantams come in a variety of colors, each one just as unique and beautiful. These are curious-looking birds with a muff of feathers around their face, a bearded throat, and feathered legs and feet.

Recognized American Poultry Association (APA) Varieties:

Mille Fleur (popular), Black, Porcelain, Golden Neck, Mottled, Self Blue, and White. Mille Fleur is French and translates into English as “thousand flowers.” They are named such because of the individual flower type markings on the ends of their feathers.

The Basics about the Belgian d’Uccle Chicken

Egg Color, Size & Laying Habits: 

  • Cream or tinted
  • Small
  •  2-3 eggs per week

Temperament:

  • Calm
  • friendly,
  • broody

Hardiness:

Not heat tolerant

Weight:

Cock 1 lb. 10 oz., Hen 1 lb. 6 oz., Pullet 1 lb. 4 oz.

millie-fleur-belgian-bearded-d-uccle-chicken

Popular Use:

Ornamental

Comb Type:

Single

Testimonial from a Belgian Bearded d’Uccle Chicken Owner:

“I started raising Belgian d’Uccles, a true bantam chicken breed, quite by accident. I had bought a few mixed bantam chicks at the feed store and one ended up being a Mille Fleur d’Uccle. That little guy was super personable insisting on being picked up all the time. As he got older, he enjoyed riding on my shoulder as I did chores. I’m not sure if he thought he was a parrot or maybe he thought I was a pirate, but that rooster single-handedly made me fall in love with the breed! I’ve had d’Uccles ever since, often seeking out well-known breeders for chicks to improve my lines.” – Lisa Murano


Sources:
American Standard of Perfection – Forty-Fourth Edition
Belgian d’Uccle & Booted Bantam Club

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