BELGIAN GAME
(PROPOSED)
LARGE FOWL
Origin: Belgium
Classification: Hard feather: Heavy: Rare
Egg colour: Tinted or White
LARGE FOWL
Origin: Belgium
Classification: Hard feather: Heavy: Rare
Egg colour: Tinted or White
Although Game Fowls were bred for cockfighting in Belgium and northern France for many centuries, the present type and size of French Combattent du Nord, and the three regional types of Belgian Game, were developed during the nineteenth century by crossing previous Game Fowl, which were rather smaller, with imported Asian Games. No details of exactly which Oriental breeds were used, indeed it is doubtful if the breeders knew, they just bought whatever was on board incoming ships. The three types of Belgian Game are: Bruges, Leige/Luikse and Tiense.
There has been some crossing between these types and with Combattent du Nord, so some birds exhibited may not be easily identified as a specific type. Therefore this is a composite standard, with details of the different types included where applicable. Bantam versions of all three types were made during the 1970s, with Mr Van Looy being the leading fancier.
General characteristics: Male
Carriage: When standing normally, the back of Bruges type slopes slightly, somewhat more so on Leige and Tiense types, which stand more upright.
Type: Tall and powerful, very active despite their considerable weight. Back fairly long and flat. The breast is well fleshed and muscular, but not developed to an exaggerated extent. Wings are prominent at the shoulders, with the tips held just below the saddle hackle. Tail is semi-fanned and held above the back line, but not too high.
Head: Long and strong with a powerful beak and prominent eye brow bones. Small, neat, pea comb, and naturally minimal wattles. Some strains of Bruges type had a single comb and were dubbed, but these have been rarer since legislation against dubbing has been introduced in several European countries.
Neck: Long and upright. Neck hackle is moderately developed, but does not cover the shoulders.
Legs and Feet: Thighs are thick, muscular and long. Shanks are strong and moderately long on Bruges and Leige types, longer on Tiense type.
Female
Similar to males, allowing for natural sexual differences.
BANTAM
All three types of Belgian Game bantams exist, and they should follow the large fowl standard.
There has been some crossing between these types and with Combattent du Nord, so some birds exhibited may not be easily identified as a specific type. Therefore this is a composite standard, with details of the different types included where applicable. Bantam versions of all three types were made during the 1970s, with Mr Van Looy being the leading fancier.
General characteristics: Male
Carriage: When standing normally, the back of Bruges type slopes slightly, somewhat more so on Leige and Tiense types, which stand more upright.
Type: Tall and powerful, very active despite their considerable weight. Back fairly long and flat. The breast is well fleshed and muscular, but not developed to an exaggerated extent. Wings are prominent at the shoulders, with the tips held just below the saddle hackle. Tail is semi-fanned and held above the back line, but not too high.
Head: Long and strong with a powerful beak and prominent eye brow bones. Small, neat, pea comb, and naturally minimal wattles. Some strains of Bruges type had a single comb and were dubbed, but these have been rarer since legislation against dubbing has been introduced in several European countries.
Neck: Long and upright. Neck hackle is moderately developed, but does not cover the shoulders.
Legs and Feet: Thighs are thick, muscular and long. Shanks are strong and moderately long on Bruges and Leige types, longer on Tiense type.
Female
Similar to males, allowing for natural sexual differences.
BANTAM
All three types of Belgian Game bantams exist, and they should follow the large fowl standard.
Please contact the breed registrar for more information
