On the subject of roots, very little is known of the origins of our bantams, the true bantams that is, but it is certain that Dwarf fowls and ducks have been known for thousands of years. W B Tegetmeier, the nineteenth-century poultry breeder, naturalist and associate of Charles Darwin, was probably nearest to the ancestry when he wrote in his The Poultry Book (London 1873) thus: "It is necessary to recognise that there are great variations in the size of poultry and that the bantam does not differ nearly so much in this respect from the Original Wild Fowl as do many of our large fowl breeds." The following description of Gallus Bankiva or Ferrugineus is therefore interesting - the cock measures from the tip of the beak to the tip of the tail about 26in - the length of the closed wing is 8in - the leg or tibia is 4in long - the spur 1 to 1½in and the weight of the bird is about 2½lb. The hen is only 18in long, the length of the tail 7in and the weight about 2lb. It is reasonable to assume therefore that the result of domestication in poultry has been to increase the size and weight of body to say in the Brahma male to an average 12lb, which represents over the average Jungle Fowl an increase of 400 per cent. In the case of diminution of bantams, the Japanese for instance, the decrease in size is only 10oz or 28 per cent thus the Deviation from the Wild Fowl is very much less in the bantam than in larger breeds of poultry. From this and experiences in other directions we are justified in assuming that Dwarf Fowls have been known from time immemorial and that the breeds of bantams as we know them in these days are in the first place the result of natural variations.
Wherever the original came from it is certain that the majority of breeds of bantams were developed in Western Europe, notably Britain, Belgium, Germany and Holland and in due course, one breed in each country adopted its national designation. Belgium had always favoured the bantams and Edward Brown, when reviewing the poultry scene in that country in the early part of this century, noted that the policy was to encourage those living in urban and industrial areas to keep bantams. The reasons given were that these birds do not annoy neighbours to the same extent as large fowl. The children would be supplied with highly nutritious food, land values were at a premium and the feeding of the birds would be largely provided by household scraps to save on costs. Remember all this was prior to the 1914-18 War. It took another war 30 years later for we British to fully appreciate these facts!
In the meantime the industrious Belgians, with great skill and attention to detail in the art of breeding, originated among other small livestock the Racing (Homing) Pigeon, the Belgian Canary, several breeds of fowl, plus the distinctive unique range of Belgian Bantams including the Barbu d'Anvers (Bearded Antwerp) rose-combed and clean-legged, Barbu d'Uccle (Bearded Uccle) single-combed and feather-legged, Barbu de Grubbe - the rumpless, and the Barbu de Watermael with tassel and three leaders to the rosecomb.
Belgian Bantams arrived in England in the early 1900s and, like most importations,
were unrecorded. However, the year 1911 is significant because at the great
Crystal Palace show in that year a splendid display of Belgian Bantams was brought
over from the "Low Country" and the section of breeding pens staged on the floor
in rectangular wire enclosures attracted enormous attention. The Feathered World
publication Bantams as a Hobby by P Proud records the occasion thus:
"Some Belgian Bantams were exhibited at the Crystal Palace show 1911. This variety
may be approximately divided into feather-legged birds with single combs, Barbu
d'Uccle, and clean-legged with rose combs, Barbu d'Anvers. The chief colours
in the latter are Black, White, Barred (Cuckoo), Spangled and Quail and, in
the former, are Porcelain, White and Millefleur or thousand flowers. Those who
would like to know more about them should consult the club secretary, Monseiur
Fl de Bruycker, 99 Rue de La Culture, Brussels."
Fanciers from Belgium returned the following year to the Crystal Palace to stage another display but by this time the little Belgies had caught hold with several English fanciers and classes began to appear for them at various shows, notably York being one of the first.
In Haxby, on the outskirts of York, lived the legendary pioneer of Belgian Bantams in this country, Kenneth Ward, who was a prominent exhibitor in those early days when classes for Banties were few and far between in a large-fowl dominated show era. He kept Black, White, Porcelain, Millefleur and Mottled d'Uccle, Blue, Black, Quail, White and Cuckoo d'Anvers, and was the principal breeder for many years. Contacts with friends in Brussels enabled the frequent exchange of stock to the benefit of fanciers both sides of the water and, at one time, Kenneth Ward sent birds annually to the Brussels show with great success - what enterprise in the lion's den!
In the thirties another era began when John L Sears, of Collingtree, Northampton, following a boyhood passion, took over the mantle of leading breeder, working alongside Kenneth Ward and then with his son Cecil Ward later. John bred on a very large scale producing upwards of three or four hundred Belgians of both varieties and all colours each season along with his lofts full of Modenas and other breeds of fancy pigeons. He has no Belgians now after close on 50 years of breeding but still retains an interest and frequently judges the club show.
Then to complete the trilogy of famous Belgian personalities comes the father and daughter partnership of Veronica and Charles Mayhew who are now in their twenty-fifth year of prominence with the breed. There has ever been a full and loyal supporting cast but, for 70 years now, this threesome have maintained an exemplary leadership sometimes overlapping but continuity assured with dignity and without fuss.
By a curious coincidence the breed society, the British Belgian Bantam Club has also had three secretaries in its 65 years history. Richard Terrot from Burchetts Green Cottage, near Maidenhead became the first when the club was formed in 1915. John Sears revived the situation when taking over in 1934 and then, after 37 years continuous service, thought it was time he stood down for younger, and more energetic hands, whereupon he asked Veronica Mayhew to become secretary.
That was in 1971 and things have decidedly moved on at a pace since. In a way the timing was impeccable because a wave of bright new enthusiasm overtook the poultry Fancy in 1972/3 and the little Belgians were ready to take a grateful share in it. In fact the seventies proved to be a very highly successful and perhaps the most rewarding decade in the breed's history. The new National show, the revived Birmingham show were two extra golden opportunities, among others, to display their charm and variform to a new influx of enthusiast. Learning fast Veronica put to splendid use the free publicity generously provided by the Poultry Club in its yearbooks' "Around the Breed Clubs" feature. Started in 1972 the British Belgian Bantam Club has not missed an issue to date!
The highly satisfactory state of affairs is currently outlined in the club's March newsletter. An exceptionally well-attended annual general meeting heard the secretary report another successful year with membership standing at around 135, and new fanciers joining all the time. This, in fact, represents a 300 per cent rise since John Sears' last year of office when he said at that time the membership was maintained around the 35 mark.
The secretary also commented that the club is gradually becoming increasingly more organised with several regional shows a year, regular newsletters (usually six to eight pages every quarter), the first year book to date, a fine array of trophies and rosettes, its own prize cards, a breed club show stand publicity officer and area representatives and a set of rules and a revised Standard are all signs of activity indeed!
For quite some time now the Belgians have held their annual club shows at the popular Reading Bantam Society's event which has proved to be an admirable arrangement. The timing is just about right for favourable presentation while the venue is suitably situated to attract enthusiasts from all over the country. Consequently, during the past decade, some marvellous breed displays have been staged with well over 100 to nearly 200 exhibits on view as they are prestige shows, too, for Belgian fanciers to attend regularly and Monsieur Robert Massart has done much valuable work in maintaining a delightful entente cordiale which has existed between breeders of the two countries ever since that Crystal Palace enterprise in 1911.
Anyone who is after an absorbing challenge in bantam breeding will find it in the charming distinctive Belgian. Those, however, who are seeking quick success will not find it easy in this breed. Some of the Barbu d'Anvers colours do mature attractively enough to be shown as chickens but, generally speaking, they broaden out and generally become better type when fully matured, while the Barbu d'Uccle is virtually unshowable in its first year and changes dramatically in type and character becoming quite sedate after its first adult moult. Patience here is of the essence.
There is a wonderful choice of colour in both varieties and, with such a very lively club and breeders ever willing to help newcomers, the potential for new recruits is enormous.