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Origin
: The famous Belgian poultry specialist Louis Vander Snickt sr. wrote in
1899 for the first time about the ‘Zottegem black-heads’. About the
exact origin of this breed is little known, except that it originates
from the Zottegem region. At the beginning of the twentieth century when
the Brakel had it’s golden years in the region of Ghent, other regions
in Belgium also wanted to have a laying breed of their own with such a
magnificent barring. This caused the appearance of lots of variations on
the ‘Brakel’-theme but the Zottegem is the only one of these local
breeds that knew to survive until now.
Characteristics
:
The Zottegem 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 a large number of white-shelled
eggs that weigh about 60 grams. This means of course that the hens brood
rarely. Zottegems 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 Zottegem is almost similar to the Brakel in shape and size. Only
the plumage pattern is quit different. The name ‘black-head’ refers
to the neck hackle of the hens. The upper half till upper 2/3 of the
visible part of the hackle is black. The lower part is white with a
small black flack in the shape of a reversed triangle at the end of each
feather. The barring on the rest of the body resembles the barring f the
Brakel but the black bands are larger which causes a darker general
appearance. The Zottegem rooster doesn’t have a black hackle but a
white one. The difference with a Brakel rooster is not always that clear
but the color of the feather which cover the ear channel is conclusive.
In Brakels they are white, in Zottgem they are always dark-gray till
black.
Varieties
: Zottegems are recognized in silver and gold but there are also a few
very rare lemon-colored birds.
State
: Very rare. In Flanders the number of breeders increased over the last
two or three years but the breed is still unfamiliar. Unknown in the
South of Belgium or in other countries. The golden variety is
endangered.
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