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Origin
: At the beginning of last century a lot of buff layers were kept on the
farms in the Namur region. They were known as ‘Hesbayes’ but the
First World War eliminated them from the scene. Almost nothing was known
about their origin. In 1905 a comprehensive study on this breed by E.
Maréchal appeared in ‘Union Avicole’. Many years later this breed
was re-created by a few Walloon breeders.
Characteristics
: The Hesbaye is a very active breed with good laying qualities. The
hens rarely brood and lay large white eggs. The fencing should be high
enough because this breed is capable of flying.
Appearance
: The Hesbaye is a rather heavy layer of which the roosters weigh 3 to
3,5 kg and the hens 2 to 2,75 kilos. The body is strong, rectangular in
shape and the abdomen is very well developed in the hen. The shanks are
pinkish white and rather long. The comb is single, large and upright in
the rooster but falling to one side in the hen during the laying season.
The earlobes are white.
Varieties
: Just one, black-tailed buff.
State
: Critical. There only about breeders left in Belgium. Unknown in other
countries.
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