Lakenvelder
Origin: The Netherlands
The Lakenvelder is a light utility breed originating from Lakervelt in the Netherlands and also in the Nordrhein-Westfalen region of Germany. They were around as early as 1727 although not in the UK until 1901. The name is sometimes spelt as Lakenfelder (German spelling). The Dutch and German strains differ slightly; in the UK we follow the Dutch standard. The bantam version was created around 1970 using undersized large Lakenvelders, Vorwerk bantams, black and Columbian/light Deutsche Zwerghuhner.
Similar to the Vorwerk, but slighter in body, they have a striking plumage with a black neck and tail and white body. Getting this purity in colour is a difficult task and not many are seen that hit the mark.
For the exhibitor it should be noted that a massive 45% of the points available are for the colour, with only 10% for type. Watch out for “ticking” in the plumage. The undercolour should be light blue-grey. In the male the saddle feathers are white with black striping. They should have slate-blue coloured legs, white ear lobes and a red or bright chestnut eye. Easy to say, not so easy to breed!
They are a lively, friendly breed, good layers of good sized white eggs (around 150 eggs per year). They do best when allowed to free range and are considered to be quite flighty. They are not good sitter. You do need to wait until the youngsters mature into their adult plumage before selection since juvenile plumage is not a reliable indicator of how they will turn out.
Recently a blue version has been developed where the black is replaced with a blue, though this colour is non-standard at the moment.
The Lakenvelder is a light utility breed originating from Lakervelt in the Netherlands and also in the Nordrhein-Westfalen region of Germany. They were around as early as 1727 although not in the UK until 1901. The name is sometimes spelt as Lakenfelder (German spelling). The Dutch and German strains differ slightly; in the UK we follow the Dutch standard. The bantam version was created around 1970 using undersized large Lakenvelders, Vorwerk bantams, black and Columbian/light Deutsche Zwerghuhner.
Similar to the Vorwerk, but slighter in body, they have a striking plumage with a black neck and tail and white body. Getting this purity in colour is a difficult task and not many are seen that hit the mark.
For the exhibitor it should be noted that a massive 45% of the points available are for the colour, with only 10% for type. Watch out for “ticking” in the plumage. The undercolour should be light blue-grey. In the male the saddle feathers are white with black striping. They should have slate-blue coloured legs, white ear lobes and a red or bright chestnut eye. Easy to say, not so easy to breed!
They are a lively, friendly breed, good layers of good sized white eggs (around 150 eggs per year). They do best when allowed to free range and are considered to be quite flighty. They are not good sitter. You do need to wait until the youngsters mature into their adult plumage before selection since juvenile plumage is not a reliable indicator of how they will turn out.
Recently a blue version has been developed where the black is replaced with a blue, though this colour is non-standard at the moment.