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Origin
: Mr. Frans Okerman from Brakel, amateur breeder of Brakels and
specialist in poultry genetics, decided to repeat a genetic experiment
from 1930 and to create a new autosexable breed. (Autosexable means that
the sex of the chicks can be determined by their down color right after
they hatch) This way the Zwalm valley fowl were born. The start of this
creation was a cross between golden Brakels and a German cuckoo and a
cross between, golden Brakels and a Flemish cuckoo. In 1998 the breed
was presented for the first time on the Belgian national poultry
championships and in 2002 it was finally recognized as a new breed which
makes the Zwalm valley fowl the youngest Belgian breed.
Characteristics
: Zwalm valley fowl are good layers that produce white till cream eggs
that weigh about 65 grams. The hens brood rarely. Zwalm valley fowl 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 Zwalm valley fowl is very similar to the golden Brakel. This means
that the body is rectangular with a deep breast and a well-developed
abdomen. The tail is well spread in both sexes. Adult roosters weigh
about 2,5 kilos and adult hens about 2 kilos. The comb is single and
should be large and upright in the rooster and falling over to one side
in the hen. The typical dark pigmentation of the Brakelcomb is missing.
The earlobes are white, the eyes are orange and the shanks are pinkish
white.
Varieties
: There is only one recognized variety, gold barred cuckoo, which is a
very complex pattern that consists of the autosomal barring pattern and
the golden groundcolor of the Brakel in combination with the cuckoo
pattern.
State
: Very rare. Since the Zwalm valley fowl have only recently been adopted
as a Belgian breed, it is normal there are only a few breeders in
Flanders. At this moment nobody can predict whether this new
Brakel-spin-off will have a successful future or a marginal existence
like the Zingem laying fowl. Fortunately the appearance of the Zwalm
valley fowl is much less similar to the Brakel than the appearance of
the Zingem laying fowl and this will probably be an advantage.
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