By Chicken Fans Editorial Team 6 February, 2023
The Belgian Bearded d’Uccle chicken is a unique and attractive breed originating in Belgium. With its distinctive beard, muffs, and feathers on its feet, the d’Uccle is a standout among other breeds. The millefleur color pattern is the most popular in this breed due to its unique and beautiful look.
- d’Uccle hens lay 3 eggs weekly
- Quite broody, stop laying frequently
- Fluffy and very friendly breed
- Ornamental bird, kan be kept as pet chicken
Characteristics
The Belgian Bearded d’Uccle chicken is a small breed, typically weighing around 1.5 to 2 pounds (650 grams to 750 grams). The breed is recognized for its distinctive beard and muffs, which are tufts of feathers on its cheeks and legs.
The beard and muffs, along with the breed’s single comb and round, fluffy feathers, give the d’Uccle a distinctive and charming appearance.
| Eggs | 3 eggs per week |
| Egg Color | White to cream |
| Egg Size | Small |
| Weight | 1,5 to 2 pounds |
| Hardiness | Cold |
| Temperament | Docile and friendly |
| Beginner-friendly | Yes |
| Color | Various colors and patterns |
The breed comes in a variety of colors, with the most popular being Millefleur. The Millefleur pattern is characterized by a mix of black, blue, and brown speckles on a white background, creating a unique and beautiful look.
Other color varieties include Black, Blue, Porcelain, Splash, and many more. In Belgium, a total of 28 color varieties are recognized. The American Poultry Association recognizes seven varieties.
The breed’s feathers are soft and dense, making it well-suited to cooler climates. However, due to their feathered feet, they are not so fond of wet and muddy environments.
Millefleur Belgian d’Uccle
The most popular color pattern in the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle is Millefleur. The Millefleur pattern in chickens is a striking and intricate pattern that looks like many small flowers (hence the name “millefleur,” meaning “a thousand flowers” in French).
It is most commonly associated with the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle chicken breed, although it can also be found in other breeds.
The Millefleur pattern is characterized by a mix of black, blue, and brown speckles on a white background, creating a unique and beautiful look. This color pattern is considered a recessive trait and must be present in both parents for it to appear in offspring. The Millefleur pattern is one of the many reasons the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle is a highly sought-after breed among chicken enthusiasts.
Fun Fact:
A millefleur chicken gets more and more white spots after every molt. You can easily see which millefleur chicken has molted more (hence, is older) than another millefleur. The more white spots in the feathering, the older the chicken is.
For example, the hen on the left is 3.5 years old, and the hen on the right is 1.5 years old.
The Belgian d’Uccle Breed
The Belgian Bearded d’Uccle bantam is a breed that originated in Belgium, specifically in the town of Uccle. The breed was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by breeding various bantam breeds; the Sabelpoot and the Barbu d’Anvers are believed to be involved in creating a unique and attractive breed.
The breed was first seen in 1905, and the first colors were millefleur and porcelain. In the early 20th century, the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle was introduced to the United States and quickly gained popularity among backyard hobbyists.
The Belgian d’Uccle is a true bantam breed; meaning is a breed that is naturally small in size with no larger or standard-size counterpart. Bantam chickens are smaller than standard breeds.
They are often used as ornamental birds and come in various colors and feather patterns. True bantams are often more compact, with smaller combs, wattles, and legs, and they often have a more rounded and plump appearance than their ‘regular bantams’ counterparts.
Examples of true bantams include the Sebright, the Dutch Bantam, the Japanese Bantam, and the Rosecomb Bantam. These breeds are popular among backyard hobbyists and poultry enthusiasts and are often prized for their unique appearance and friendly personalities.
Today, the Belgian Bearded d’Uccle is considered a rare breed, but it continues to be popular among those who appreciate its unique looks and friendly personality. It remains one of the most popular true bantam breeds in Belgium.
Personality
The Belgian d’Uccle is known for having a friendly and docile personality. These chickens are generally calm and gentle, making them a good choice for families with children. They are often curious, enjoy human interaction, and are not easily frightened.
The breed is also known for its hardiness and adaptability, making it well-suited to life in a backyard. They are not aggressive and get along well with other chickens and people.
Because of their friendly personality and their size, Belgian d’Uccles will probably be lower in the pecking order. It’s important to place them with other docile and friendly breeds, such as other bantam chickens, Silkies, or Faverolles.
Belgian Bearded d’Uccles are a small breed of chicken and do not require much space. They are well-suited to life in a backyard environment and can be kept in a coop or small barn. However, it is important to provide them with enough space to move around comfortably and access clean food, water, and plenty of nesting boxes.
Check out our ‘Coop Size Calculator‘ to find out how much inside and outside space you need to provide for your flock.
The breed has distinctive feathers on their feet, making them particularly susceptible to mud and wet conditions. The feathers on their feet are not as well-suited to navigating muddy or wet environments as other breeds’ bare skin. As a result, Belgian Bearded d’Uccles may struggle to move around and may become chilled in wet or muddy conditions.
To help prevent these issues, it is important to provide Belgian Bearded d’Uccles with a clean and dry run area that is protected from the elements. Installing an automatic coop door is something to consider to protect them from bad weather and other threats like predators. Smaller coops, like the Omlet, are often not big enough to hold many large chicken breeds, but they are perfect for bantams such as the Belgian d’Uccle.
Egg Production
As most bantam breeds, Belgian d’Uccle bantams are not the best egg-layer. But they still bring a decent amount of eggs to the table. They will lay around 3 eggs per week, all white to cream-colored.
The breed does get broody occasionally, so their broodiness will stop egg production on a regular base. Overall, you can expect around 100 eggs yearly from a Belgian d’Uccle. Their broodiness makes them excellent mothers, which is something to keep in mind when planning to hatch eggs.
It is important to note that because Belgian Bearded d’Uccles are bantams, their eggs are smaller than standard eggs. As a result, the breed may not be ideal for those who need many daily eggs.
Summary
The Belgian Bearded d’Uccle is a true bantam breed known for its distinctive appearance and friendly personality. This breed has a distinctive beard, muffs, and heavily feathered feet and comes in various colors and feather patterns, with the Millefleur being the favorite one.
Belgian Bearded d’Uccles are hardy and adaptable, making them well-suited to life in a backyard environment.
To learn more about chicken breeds, check out our ‘Chicken Breeds Page‘ to see every specific breed we address. Or go to our listicle breed summary on ‘The Classroom‘, or, if you’re unsure where to start, take a look at our ‘Chicken Breeds: Ultimate Beginners Guide‘.
If you haven’t had enough about fluffy chicken breeds, check out our article ‘10 Fluffy Chicken Breeds That Are Kid Friendly‘.
d’Uccle Bantams are astonishing chickens, so they made our ‘10 Fancy Chickens That Go Viral On Social Media‘ list.
Credits breeder Belgian d’Uccle: Klaas Verwimp.
