Chicken Keeping, The Ardenner Bantam – Poultry

Posted on 29 April 2010

this bird is a true country bird, it is very small and has roots right back to the early days of known records for chicken and
bantam breeding (1800).
The same applies for the Ardenner as with the Ancona Bantam, it needs lots of space and stuff to root around it. The eggs tend to be about 1.3ounces (38gr) and you will need to keep a check on hiding holes in the garden if you let them out – they are well known for laying eggs in little hidden spots as opposed to using an egg laying box.
If you decide to breed, these birds can be defensive of their chicks and sometimes need to be given plenty of
privacy from intruders. Having said that they are a perfectly nice breed and can be tamed and and will be docile if provided with the proper surroundings. They are easy to breed and the chicks grow up fast.
The Ardenner Bantam is a truly antiquated old-fashioned country bird. Although it is very small and it has a big heritage that reaches right back to the early days of known records for chicken and bantam breeding. The large Ardenners have been around for centuries but the Bantam version that is so appreciated for its beauty by hobbyists has only been around for about 100 years.
The first miniature of the large Ardenner was bred under the auspices of the ‘Union Avicole” association in Liege in France to create a bantam version. There were apparently several birds involved in the complex creation of this bird’s heritage including the addition Old English Bantam Game chicken. However it only took three years for this breed to arrive on the seen and the first Ardenner Bantams were initially exhibited in 1913.
The Bantam version of the Ardenner is almost identical to the larger original bird. They are not a static bird and like to be a bit vocal, strut and peck noisily around the cage (although really no worse than many other poultry breeds adn they have a great character) . It is a very strong breed with long wings and they can fly easily so if you are going to raise them in your backyard make sure you have a tall fence.
Another peculiarity of this breed is that they prefer to sleep outside in trees throughout the year. It can stand the cold and is a very strong creature. You do not want to mess with one of these birds if they are in a bad mood or not socialized as they will fly at and peck at humans.
They are also very eccentric about where they want to lay their eggs. It. The eggs tend to be about 1.3ounces and they prefer to lay them in little hiding holes in the yard so you might have to hunt around for them to collect them sometimes.
The hens lay little white-shelled eggs that weigh about 35 gram and are good mothers that spend some time on the next. The chicks usually grow up without any problem as it is a very disease resistant bird.
If you decide to breed these birds keep in mind that they are viciously defensive of their chicks and need to be given plenty of privacy. They can be very broody and territorial.
It is a beautiful white bird as well that weighs about six to seven pounds when full ground. The back is long and sloped and the feather color varies according to variety but in general they are a silky blue or black that is fringed or covered in some way with a brilliant white. Ardenners are also known for their proud, streamlined flowing tails that have earned the nickname of “cock of the walk.”
Another unique feature is that the comb is single and upright in both sexes but it is not a large comb. This Bantam is also known for its very striking dark pigmentation in the face, particular in the earlobes, wattles and comb. The coloring on the Bantam’s face varies from very dark to birchen to red.
Another unusual feature is the beak, eyes; shanks, nails and toes of this chicken are a darker, bloodier color that is not necessarily red but more of a chocolate brown in hue.
The most common colors of Ardennes are the birgen and yellow birchen. The black-red, silver duckwing and white and black varieties are also more common.
The rarest variety is the rumpless Ardenner Bantam in which both the vertebrae and feathers of the tail are anatomically absent. The rumples variety is also the most valuable and a sought after showbird.
As an exhibition chick, this bird is the most popular in the Southern French-speaking part of Belgium. Collectors in the U.K. are definitely becoming more accustomed to its charms.

this bird is a true country bird, it is very small and has roots right back to the early days of known records for chicken and bantam breeding (1800).
The same applies for the Ardenner as with the Ancona Bantam, it needs lots of space and stuff to root around it. The eggs tend to be about 1.3ounces (38gr) and you will need to keep a check on hiding holes in the garden if you let them out – they are well known for laying eggs in little hidden spots as opposed to using an egg laying box.
If you decide to breed, these birds are viciously defensive of their chicks and need to be given plenty of privacy from intruders. They are easy to breed and the chicks grow up fast.

The Ardenner Bantam is a truly antiquated old-fashioned country bird. Although it is very small and it has a big heritage that reaches right back to the early days of known records for chicken and bantam breeding. The large Ardenners have been around for centuries but the Bantam version that is so appreciated for its beauty by hobbyists has only been around for about 100 years.
The first miniature of the large Ardenner was bred under the auspices of the ‘Union Avicole” association in Liege in France to create a bantam version. There were apparently several birds involved in the complex creation of this bird’s heritage including the addition Old English Bantam Game chicken. However it only took three years for this breed to arrive on the seen and the first Ardenner Bantams were initially exhibited in 1913.
The Bantam version of the Ardenner is almost identical to the larger original bird. They are not a static bird and like to strut and peck noisily around the cage. It is a very strong breed with long wings and they can fly easily so if you are going to raise them in your backyard make sure you have a tall fence.
Another peculiarity of this breed is that they prefer to sleep outside in trees throughout the year. It can stand the cold and is a very strong creature. You do not want to mess with one of these birds if they are in a bad mood or not socialized as they will fly at and peck at humans.
They are also very eccentric about where they want to lay their eggs. It. The eggs tend to be about 1.3ounces and they prefer to lay them in little hiding holes in the yard so you might have to hunt around for them to collect them sometimes.
The hens lay little white-shelled eggs that weigh about 35 gram and are good mothers that spend some time on the next. The chicks usually grow up without any problem as it is a very disease resistant bird.
If you decide to breed these birds keep in mind that they are viciously defensive of their chicks and need to be given plenty of privacy. They can be very broody and territorial.
It is a beautiful white bird as well that weighs about six to seven pounds when full ground. The back is long and sloped and the feather color varies according to variety but in general they are a silky blue or black that is fringed or covered in some way with a brilliant white. Ardenners are also known for their proud, streamlined flowing tails that have earned the nickname of “cock of the walk.”
Another unique feature is that the comb is single and upright in both sexes but it is not a large comb. This Bantam is also known for its very striking dark pigmentation in the face, particular in the earlobes, wattles and comb. The coloring on the Bantam’s face varies from very dark to birchen to red.
Another unusual feature is the beak, eyes; shanks, nails and toes of this chicken are a darker, bloodier color that is not necessarily red but more of a chocolate brown in hue.
The most common colors of Ardennes are the birgen and yellow birchen. The black-red, silver duckwing and white and black varieties are also more common.
The rarest variety is the rumpless Ardenner Bantam in which both the vertebrae and feathers of the tail are anatomically absent. The rumples variety is also the most valuable and a sought after showbird.
As an exhibition chick, this bird is the most popular in the Southern French-speaking part of Belgium. Collectors in the U.K. are definitely becoming more accustomed to its charms.

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Category: Bantams, Chickens for Sale, Choosing Chicken Breeds, Keeping Chickens, Poultry Breeds
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