Braekel

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Braekel
Braekel.jpg
Other names
  • Brakel
  • Braeckel
  • Brackel
Country of originBelgium
Useeggs
Traits
Weight
  • Male:
    2–2.5 kg[1]
  • Female:
    1.8–2.2 kg[1]
Egg colourwhite[2]
Classification
APAnot listed[3]
EEyes[4]
PCGBrare soft feather: light[5]

The Braekel or Brakel is a traditional Belgian breed of chicken. It is thought to have originated in the area of Brakel, in the Flemish province of East Flanders, for which it is named.[6]: 43  There is a bantam version of the Braekel.[7] The Campine of the United Kingdom derives from it.

History[]

The Braekel apparently derives from same extended population of gold and silver chickens which gave rise to the closely similar Ostfriesische Möwe and Westfälischer Totleger breeds.[6]: 43  It is thought to have originated in the area of Brakel, in the Flemish province of East Flanders, and particularly in the villages of Opbrakel and Nederbrakel; and to have spread along the valleys of the Scheldt and Dender rivers, in East Flanders and into Hainaut.[6]: 43 

In 1884 two distinct types were recognised as separate breeds: the larger Braekel of Flanders, and a smaller and lighter type from the Campine region to the east. In 1898 a Braekel breeders' society was established in Nederbrakel, and a breed standard was published. In 1926 the separate Braekel and Campine breeds were brought together again under a single breed standard.[6]: 43 

In the United Kingdom a very different Campine breed was created, probably through cross-breeding with pencilled Hamburgs. The principal difference is that cock birds display hen-feathering, which was not seen in the Belgian type.[6]: 43 

The Braekel population declined during and after the Second World War and it is a rare breed.

Characteristics[]

The Braekel is a light breed; cocks weigh 2–2.5 kg and hens 1.8–2.2 kg.[1] Bantam cocks weigh about 800 g and hens about 700 g.[7] Ring sizes are 18 mm and 16 mm for standard-sized cocks and hens, and 13 mm and 11 mm respectively for bantams.[7]

A straight banding pattern of the feathers and a uniform solid neck colour are characteristic of the Braekel. Several colour variants exist, with the gold and the silver variant being the most common.

Use[]

Braekel hens lay well from the age of six or seven months, and in a year may produce approximately 180 white-shelled eggs weighing 60–65 g.[6]: 44 

References[]

  1. ^ a b c Het Brakelhoen (in Dutch). Lierde: Braekelclub-Nederbraekel. Accessed August 2014.
  2. ^ Victoria Roberts (2008). British poultry standards: complete specifications and judging points of all standardized breeds and varieties of poultry as compiled by the specialist breed clubs and recognised by the Poultry Club of Great Britain. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 9781405156424. p. 84.
  3. ^ APA Recognized Breeds and Varieties: As of January 1, 2012. American Poultry Association. Archived 4 November 2017.
  4. ^ Liste des races et variétés homologuée dans les pays EE (28.04.2013). Entente Européenne d’Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived 16 June 2013.
  5. ^ Breed Classification. Poultry Club of Great Britain. Archived 12 June 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f N. Moula, M. Jacquet, A. Verelst, N. Antoine-Moussiaux, F. Farnir, P. Leroy (2012). Les races de poules belges (in French). Annales de Médecine Vétérinaire 156: 37-65. Accessed August 2014.
  7. ^ a b c Raskenmerken: De kenmerken van het brakelhoen (in Dutch). Brakelhoenspeciaalclub, 2011. Archived 29 May 2013.
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