|
Characteristics
: The Izegem is known to combine its meat-producing capacities like no
other breed with good laying qualities. It takes the chicks about 7 to 8
months to become fully grown, depending on whether they are male or
female, but they can be culled earlier. The pullets start laying at
seven months and continue to lay all winter. An average number of 150
brownish eggs of about 65 to 68 grams are produced annually. After the
winter most hens will start to brood from March onwards. One hen can
easily sit on as much as 15 eggs. The Izegem is a very rustic and tough
breed but also very docile and familiar. They can be kept on smaller
surfaces. A one-meter high fencing is sufficient to keep them in their
pens because they will hardly attempt to fly.
Appearance
: The Izegem is a rather heavy meat-producing breed with a rosecomb. The
standard weights are between 3,5 kg
and 4 kilos for roosters and between 3 and 3,5 kilos for hens. The tail
of the Izegem is rather poorly developed and carries almost
horizontally. The body is somewhat triangular in shape with a long broad
back which is flat between the shoulders and carried horizontally. The
breast is broad, well fleshed and carried forward and rather high. The
shanks are pinkish white and unfeathered.
Varieties
: Just one recognized variety, cuckoo. In cuckoo birds each feather is
irregularly barred with alternating dark and pale gray bars. The
roosters are generally lighter in color than the hens because the pale
gray bars of their plumage are larger.
State
: Rather rare. There are some breeders left in Flanders but the Izegem
is not well known. Unknown in other countries.
|
