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Origin
: It is not clear when Tirlemont game bantam appeared for the first time,
but it was probably in the sixties or seventies. This breed always had a
marginal position between the other Belgian breeds and never really knew
a prosperous period. In the second half of the nineties they suddenly
disappeared and only recently they reappeared.
Characteristics
: Compared to the large Belgian game there are a few remarkable
differences. First of all bantams grow a lot quicker and start laying at
much younger age. The hens brood very easily and they are good mothers.
The pugnacity of the bantams is comparable to the large Tirlemont but
because of the lighter mass of the bantams the damage after a fight is
usually much less dramatical. Therefore it is much easier to keep the
bantams in groups.
Appearance
: The body shape of Tirlemont game bantam and the Liège game bantam is
identical. The main difference is the complete absence of dark pigment
in skin, beak and shanks in the Tirlemont. Every variety of the Tirlemont
should have a pale skin, white beak and pinkish white shanks. The face
and comb are always bright red and the eyes are orange. The head of the
Tirlemont is a bit finer than the head of the Liège. The triple comb
should preferably be small. In contrast with other breeds, spurs are
desired also in the hens. Tirlemont are
quit large game bantams. The roosters weigh about 1250 gram and the hens
900 to 1000 gram.
Varieties
: There are a lot of varieties but the most common are black-red and
golden duckwing. Other
recognized varieties are black, white, blue, cuckoo, glden cuckoo,
blue-red, silver duckwing, blue golden duckwing, wheaten, blue wheaten,
birchen, blue birchen,
yellow birchen and blue yellow birchen. Most of these varieties have
become extinct.
State
:
Endangered. This breed only survived until now because of the efforts of
less t han five breeders. Unknown in other countries.
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