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Origin
: Around 1800 a lot of small chickens were kept in the South-Limburg and
Liège region. These birds were very primitive and had rather good laying
qualities. They were also used to sit on pheasant eggs. Louis Vander
Snickt sr., a very famous poultry-expert, called these birds ‘Bassette
of Liège’. In the local language of Liège ‘Bassette’ would mean
nothing else but ‘bantam’. The well-known poultry specialist W.
Collier and his son bred the modern Bassette from this mixture of
bantams by pure selection at the beginning of the twentieth century. The
emphasis of this selection was put on body shape but especially on
laying qualities. In 1932 the Belgian Poultry Breeders Federation
officially adopted the breed.
Characteristics
: The Bassette is a very active breed and obviously prefers free range
but it is possible to keep them on a smaller surface. One should always
keep in mind they are very well capable of flight. The laying qualities
are quit stunning. The number of eggs per year can reach as much as 180.
These eggs weigh around 45 grams, have white shells and a relatively
very large yolk. If she is allowed to the Bassette hen will brood.
Appearance
: The Bassette is a striking appearance amongst other poultry breeds by
its size. With a little over one kilo bodyweight the Bassette is much
larger than other bantam breeds but still much smaller than most large
fowl. Therefore it is often referred to as a ‘semi-bantam’ breed.
The body is long, rectangular in shape and the hen has a well-developed
abdomen. The comb is single and rather big for a bantam. It should be
upright in the rooster and falling to one side in the hen, especially in
adult hens. The earlobes are pure white and the beak and shanks are
always blue. The tail is carried in an angle of 45° and semi-spread.
Varieties
: The best-known varieties are silver quail, quail and black-red. Other
recognized varieties are white, black, blue, buff, lavender, columbian,
buff columbian, black-tailed buff, silver duckwing, blue quail, blue
silver quail and lavender silver quail.
State
: Rare. Most frequently seen in the southern French-speeking part of
Belgium. More popular in Holland than in the North of Belgium.
Moderately spread in France and Germany. Mostly seen in silver quail and
quail and sometimes in black-red. The other varieties are very rare or
even extinct.
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