Drenthe Bantam

The Drenthe Bantam is a light-bodied bantam with a lively and active nature. It has a somewhat elongated body, broad at the front and tapering slightly towards the rear. The head is barely medium-sized and slightly elongated.

• Weight: Roosters typically weigh between 1.54-1.76 lbs (700-800g), while hens weigh 1.32-1.54 lbs (600-700g).
• Comb: They have a single comb, medium-sized, straight and upright, with five not too narrow teeth. The comb heel is free from the neck and slightly ascending, it is vivid red.
• Head: Barely medium-sized, slightly elongated, not too broad between the eyes.
• Eyes: Orange-red.
• Earlobes: Oval, quite small, and pure white.
• Wattles: Medium-long, quite thin, and vivid red.
• Legs: They have clean (unfeathered) slate-blue legs that are straight and set sufficiently apart, medium-long, with four toes.
• Feathering: The feathering is quite richly developed and not tightly fitting. The tail is carried high with well-spread main tail feathers and long, well-curved sickles, richly provided with lesser sickles.

Drenthe Bantams are known for their good egg-laying performance, characteristic of Dutch landrace chickens. They provide a steady supply of white eggs.

• Egg Production: Hens can lay approximately 150-180 eggs per year.
• Egg Size & Color: They lay small to medium-sized white eggs, averaging around 1.2 oz (35g).
• Broodiness: Drenthe hens are generally not easily broody. This trait ensures more consistent egg production throughout the laying season.

Beyond secondary sexual characteristics, there are no significant differences between Drenthe Bantam roosters and hens in overall body structure. Both sexes share the light-bodied, upright posture.

The rooster will have a prominent, high-carried tail with long, well-curved sickles and richly developed saddle hackles. Its comb is larger and stands upright.

The hen, while maintaining an upright posture, typically has a somewhat fuller abdomen and a slightly less developed comb. Her tail is also well-developed and carried high.

The Drenthe Bantam is a hardy breed, known to be quite resilient against various weather influences. They are well-adapted to the temperate climate of the Netherlands and can withstand changing weather conditions.

Their active and lively nature means they thrive when given ample space to forage. They do not have high demands for housing, but a secure and dry coop is always beneficial for their health and well-being.

The Drenthe Bantam is recognized in a good range of color varieties, often mirroring those found in other Dutch landraces. Notable varieties include:

• Partridge: A classic wild-type pattern with reddish-brown ground color and black markings on the hen, and a richer red on the rooster's hackle and saddle.
• Silver Partridge: Silver-white replaces the gold/red tones of the partridge pattern.
• Yellow Partridge: Yellow replaces the red tones of the partridge pattern.
• Cuckoo: A barred pattern of light and dark grey or blue across the plumage.
• Black: Solid, glossy black plumage.
• White: Pure white plumage throughout.

Additionally, rumpless varieties (Drentse Bolstaartkrielen) are recognized in all the colors of Dutch landraces, featuring an entirely absent tail.