Belgian Bearded D’Uccle Chicken Breed – Everything You Need to Know (2024)

The Belgian Bearded D’Uccle (pronounced Dew-clay) is often referred to as the Millie Fleur. Millie Fleur is the most common and popular color variant for this breed.

It is also known as Barbu d’Uccle, Ukkelse Baardkriel or Bearded d’Uccle and it originated in Belgium in the town of Uccle. Uccle sits on the outskirts of Brussels in Central Belgium.

This short stocky little chicken sports a full beard, muffs, short stocky neck, very broad back and a low posture.
This little chicken has a well-furnished tail which it carries almost perpendicular to its back.

There are many different color variants of the beautiful feathery chicken with its fluffy legs. Such as Lavender, blue quail, blue, mille fleur, porcelain, mottled, silver quail, white, etc.

The American Poultry Association only recognizes seven colors and those are golden neck, mille fleur, porcelain, self-blue, white, black and mottled.

They are often mixed up with the Booted Bantam, and although they are related the Booted Bantam’s do not have a beard or muffs and have some other distinct differences.

As a Bantam breed they have an ideal recommended weight that the bird has to be in America the APA recognized the following weight ranges:

Female Pullets should be approximately 20 Ounces (570 grams)
Female Hens should be approximately 22 Ounces (620 grams)
Male co*ckerels should be approximately 22 Ounces (620 grams)
Male co*cks should be approximately 26 Ounces (740 grams)

HISTORY

The Belgian Bearded d’Uccle was developed by Michel Van Gelder from the town of Uccle in Belgium.

Poultry Historians believe that Michel Van Gelder crossbred a single Dutch Sabelpoots Bantam with the rose-comb Antwerp in the late 1800’s. These two Dutch chickens produced the small booted single comb Bantam that came to be known at the Mille Fleur variety of the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle.

This Bantam was accepted into the American Poultry Association Standards of Perfection in 1914.

The name Mille Fleur means “one-thousand flowers” and the feathers of the Bantam are black spangled with a white V-shaped tip with the rest of the feather being a rich golden mahogany brown.

These little birds are strong fliers and their abundance of feathers do not do to well in wet weather. It is best to make sure that their coops and runs are protected as best as they can be to stop foot disease from setting in.
These little hens are great brood hens and do not mind hatching other chickens eggs they also make excellent mothers/foster-mothers.

Mostly bred for exhibition purposes or ornamental they will lay a few small cream or tinted colored eggs a year.
The Belgian D’Uccle and Booted Bantam Club were originally founded in America in 1956. A non-profit organization which was then called “International Mille Fleur Bantam Club”. It was changed to “Mille Fleur Bantam Club” in the 1960’s and finally became what it is called today in the late 1970’s. The club has been going for a good fifty years and is one of the top poultry breed clubs in the United States of America. The club strives to have American breeders breed the Bantams to the Standard of Perfection as set out by the American Poultry Association.

WHERE TO FIND THESE BIRDS TO ADD TO YOUR FLOCK

Belgian D’Uccle Bantams can probably be found at most live poultry outlets and farms but checking with the Belgian D’Uccle & Booted Bantam Club one can find registered breeders. The website and club also has a host of interesting and informative information about the breed(s).

CARING FOR THE BIRD(S)

Please click here for our full guide to “Taking care of chickens”. This is a comprehensive guide to owning chickens. It covers where to start from choosing your ideal flock, the coop that would best suit your garden, your bird and you to buying and bringing your bird(s) home.

GENERAL

These are the most precious pets and can live to a good old age with good care and attention.
As they are a very weather hardy chicken they do not have a lot of special requirements except for the usual TLC you would afford any family pet.

GROOMING

As they love the attention it is quite easy to check your Bantams for mites, lice and various other parasites at least once a week. De-worming the chickens should be done at least once a month or check with your local vet for the best de-worming medication and advice for your Bantams.

DIET AND NUTRITION

These little chickens love fruit or vegetable table scraps but, be sure to feed them their regular food first thing in the morning. Their regular food should be something like chicken pellets, grains, chicken mash or grain mix from 8 weeks old and older.

For baby chickens, the best is always Chick Starter when they are under 8 weeks old.

Laying hens should get extra protein and calcium in their diets to ensure the quality of their eggs and to keep them in tip-top health.

Please see our comprehensive guide to “Feeding your chickens” for more information of the different types of chicken feed for chicks, hens, laying hens, roosters, etc. and where to buy the feed and approximate cost of the feed.

SOCIALIZING THE BIRD(S)

They may be little birds, but they can also be feisty little creatures especially if they are in a flock with a bigger breed. It is always best to check with breeders, vets or poultry famers for advice on which breeds are best to mix with your Bantams before you get them. Try not to get very aggressive breeds especially if they are a bigger breed of chicken as this could be detrimental to your Bantam(s).

Try some of the gentler more docile breeds like the Barnevelder or Plymouth Rock.

As with any newcomer to the roost, you will have to quarantine the bird for 7 – 31 days to ensure it does not have any unwanted critters or disease that could spread to your current flock.

Even though they are friendly sociable birds, even they have a pecking order, so it is advisable to socialize them slowly and determine when it is right to allow them to become a permanent part of the flock.

NOTES / SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

They are currently not listed on any conservation listing and are readily available through the correct breeders and or poultry suppliers.

For breeders, it is imperative that you always check your bird’s bloodlines and ensure you are buying your birds from a reputed breeder/farm. In order to sell birds of such stature, they have to be recorded and documented, always check with local animal breeding organizations for these records.

These legitimate documents are also required should you wish to show your bird(s) in various poultry shows/competition showings.

For information and advice on adopting rescued animals, you can visit or contact your local animal welfare center.

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