Braekel chickens
are one of the older European chicken breeds. Their history dates back to 1416.
They were even mentioned as a successful poultry breed of Belgium. There is a miniature
version of the Braekel.Two distinct types of Braekel were recognized in
the past: the large type living on rich clay soil Flanders, and a light-weight
type from the less fertile region, the Kempen. Due to crossbreeding between the
different types, this distinction vanished, resulting in a single type.
In the UK, USA,
and Australia, however, one can still find descendants of the Kempische Brakel
under its old name “Campine”. Campines has evolved differently from the Brakel.
Their most
noticeable difference is the hen-feathering of the rooster and their lower
weight.Old names for the breed are "The Everyday Layer", "The
Grey White Neck", and "The Nuns Hen".The Brakel population was
declined during and after the Second World War even as it is a rare breed.
Braekels are
known to be a fairly light breed in which the cocks weigh 2–2.5 kg and 1.8–2.2
kg for hens compared to Bantam cocks which weigh about 800 g and hens about 700
g. Their average ring sizes range from 18 mm to 16 mm. When put next to 13 mm
and 11 bantams the Brakel looks like a giant.You will know you have a Brakel
when they have a straight banding pattern of the feathers and a uniform solid
neck colour. Several color variants exist, with the gold and the silver variant
being the most common.
About Braekel Chickens
