Augsburger Bantam

The Augsburger Bantam is a medium-sized, sturdy fowl with an upright posture. Its body is medium-long, broad, and carried with a slight slope to the rear. The head is medium-sized and fairly broad, with a smooth, red face.

• Weight: Roosters typically weigh between 1.9-2.1 lbs (900-950g), and hens are slightly lighter at 1.8-1.9 lbs (800-850g).
• Comb: The most distinctive feature is the buttercup comb, which begins as a single comb at the beak but then divides into two halves, forming a cup-like shape. Both halves should have regularly spaced, not too long teeth, and must fuse at the back to complete the cup. The entire comb is medium-sized, upright, and lively red.
• Earlobes: They have medium-sized, oval, smooth, and pure white earlobes.
• Eyes: Large, lively eyes that are orange-red, turning more reddish-brown in older birds.
• Beak: The beak is sturdy, well-curved, and slate-blue in color.
• Legs and Feet: Legs are clean (unfeathered) and medium-long, with four toes. The leg color is slate-blue, with slightly lighter tips on the toes being acceptable.
• Plumage: The feathering is close-fitting and glossy. The back is broad and fairly long, gently sloping towards the tail, with a well-developed saddle hackle. The breast is broad, full, and carried slightly forward. The wings are medium-long and held tightly against the body. The tail is long, amply furnished, carried medium-high and somewhat spread, with broad and strongly curved main sickles and well-developed lesser sickles.
• Temperament: Augsburger Bantams are known for their lively and trusting disposition. They are active birds that appreciate space to forage.

Augsburger Bantams are good layers, providing a consistent supply of small, white eggs.

• Egg Production: Hens typically lay around 150-180 white eggs per year.
• Egg Size & Color: The eggs are small to medium-sized, weighing approximately 1.4 oz (40g), and are white.
• Broodiness: While not explicitly stated as strongly broody, many traditional landrace breeds exhibit broodiness. Augsburger hens are generally assumed to be good mothers, though consistent broodiness is not a primary breed characteristic for all lines.

Apart from the typical secondary sexual characteristics, there are no significant differences between the Augsburger Bantam hen and rooster. Roosters are slightly heavier and may carry their tails a bit higher. Their buttercup comb is generally more prominent than the hen's.

Hens carry their tails somewhat lower than the roosters. The overall body conformation and feathering are similar between sexes, with both possessing the distinctive buttercup comb.

The Augsburger Bantam is a hardy breed, well-suited for temperate climates. Originating in Germany, they are accustomed to varied weather conditions and possess good vitality.

Their robust build and close-fitting plumage offer good protection against the elements. They thrive in environments where they have sufficient space for activity and foraging. Standard, dry, and draft-free housing is adequate to keep them healthy and comfortable.

While some European standards only specifiy the Black variety, the Augsburger fowl (large and bantam) are known to exist in a broader range of colors, often mirroring those found in the large fowl. The original breed was recognized in many colors, which are likely to appear in the bantam form as well.

Recognized Varieties:

• Black: The plumage is uniformly glossy black with a beetle-green sheen. The down is dull black.
• Blue Laced: A uniform middle slate-blue body color, with each feather distinctly laced with a darker, glossy blue-black.
• Silver Laced: A silver-white ground color, with each feather, including hackle, wings, and tail, having a narrow, glossy black lacing.
• Gold Laced: A warm golden-brown ground color, with each feather having a narrow, glossy black lacing.
• Pearl Grey: A uniform pearly gray color, often with very fine, darker transverse markings.
• Buff: A uniform warm golden-yellow color.
• White: Pure white plumage.
• Barred: A pattern of alternating black and white bars across the feathers.
• Cuckoo: Similar to barred, but with a less distinct, more irregular barring pattern.