Association for Promotion of Belgian Poultry Breeds

	Association
	Large fowl
	Bantams
	Waterfowl
	Turkeys

Large fowl

\|Aarschot fowl	\|Bruges game	\|Herve	\|Liège game	\|Zingem laying fowl
\|Ardenner	\|Famenne	\|Hesbaye	\|Malines	\|Zottegem
\|Brabançonne	\|Flemish cuckoo	\|Izegem cuckoo	\|Tirlemont game	\|Zwalmvalley fowl
\|Brakel

Brakel

Silver Brakel rooster

Origin : In documents from 1416 is found that the ‘Brakel’ was already know in the Oudenaarde and Nederbrakel region around 1400. From this region the Brakel slowly spread to other parts of the country. In 1898 the first ‘Brakelclub’ was founded in Nederbrakel and in the same period the first official standard was drawn up which led to more uniformity within the breed. After the Second World War the number of Brakels in Belgium declined rapidly and in 1969 the situation had become so bad that the number of pure Brakels in Belgium could be counted on one hand. An urgent appeal to assemble all the remaining Brakels in order to try to save the breed was published in the newspapers but without success. The Brakel was about to disappear forever. In 1971 the second Brakelclub was founded. All remaining silver Brakels were assembled, two hens, a rooster from Germany and twelve eggs. Also one golden rooster was found. A miracle happened, the Brakel revived from these few birds !

A pair of Silver Brakels

Characteristics : The Brakel is a solemn, proud and majestic breed that is very well adapted to the inconstancy of the Belgian climate. A minimal amount of care is sufficient to provide the owner daily with fresh eggs. The number of eggs per year lays around 200. The shells are white and the eggs weigh about 65 grams. This means of course that the hens brood rarely. Brakels are capable of flight and are therefore best not kept in small pens. If they have enough space they will not easily fly over the fencing.

Appearance : The body is rectangular in shape with a deep breast and a well-developed abdomen. The tail is half-opened in both sexes. An adult rooster weighs about 2,5 kg and an adult hen about 2,5 kilos. Brakels are relatively heavily pigmented birds. The eyes should always be as black as possible in both sexes and the hen often shows dark flecks on the base of her comb which is a breed characteristic. The comb is single, large and should fall over to one side in the hens. In the roosters it has to be upright. The earlobes are white but often present a bluish sheen. The shanks are always slate-blue.

Varieties : The typical barring of the Brakel is unique and the barred varieties are by far the most popular varieties. Especially the silver variety is quit common. Other recognized varieties are gold, lemon, white-barred gold, barred white, self white, black and blue. Recently also white-barred lemon Brakels were bred.

State : Relatively common. Especially the silver Brakel is kept in the North of Belgium but is also to be found in the South. The golden Brakel is slowly but steadily disappearing. The other barred varieties are all rare to very rare and the non-barred varieties are all very rare.

barred white, white-barred gold, gold and silver

Goudwitgebande Brakelhen

White-barred golden hen

Golden hen

Zeer mooie jonge citroen hen

Young lemon hen