Dutch Owlbeard Bantam

The Dutch Owlbeard Bantam is a robustly built dwerghoen of the landrace type, characterized by its full neck feathering and a strongly developed beard. Its two-horned comb gives it a very striking appearance. The plumage is luxuriant and somewhat looser than other Dutch landrace breeds.

• Weight: Roosters typically weigh between 1.76-1.98 lbs (800-900g), while hens weigh 1.54-1.76 lbs (700-800g).
• Head: Well-rounded, relatively small head, with a vivid red face covered by the beard. Behind the horn-like comb, some frizzy feathers may grow, but they should not be overly developed or extend above the comb's horns.
• Comb: They have a two-horned comb (V-Shaped), with horns 0.4-0.6 inches (1-1.5 cm) long, conically tapering, and placed centrally on the head, appearing slightly in front of or directly above the eyes when viewed from the side. The horns stand straight and upright, parallel to each other on a low-arched comb base, and are fine in texture, vivid red.
• Beard: Large, dense, and preferably unbroken, covering the cheeks and reaching back above the eyes. It forms a distinct three-part beard due to a constriction at the wattle area.
• Wattles: Preferably absent or very small, and entirely covered by the beard.
• Earlobes: Small, entirely covered by the beard, and white.
• Eyes: Orange-red to reddish-brown, with a lively expression.
• Legs: Shanks are medium-long, smooth-scaled, and clean (unfeathered). The color varies depending on the plumage, typically slate-blue. They have four toes.

Dutch Owlbeard Bantams are generally good layers, providing a consistent supply of white eggs. They are not known for being excessively broody, which contributes to their steady egg production.

• Egg Production: Hens can lay approximately 120-140 eggs per year.
• Egg Size & Color: They lay small to medium-sized white eggs, with an average weight of about 1.2 oz (35g).
• Broodiness: Dutch Owlbeard hens are typically not easily broody, allowing for continuous egg production throughout the laying season. This makes them a practical choice for those interested in egg yield.

Beyond secondary sexual characteristics, there are no significant differences between Dutch Owlbeard Bantam roosters and hens. Both sexes share the breed's robust build, prominent beard, and two-horned comb.

The rooster will typically have a more impressive and slightly larger two-horned comb, with the horns measuring around 0.6 inches (1.5 cm). Its neck hackles are full and long. The tail is richly developed, carried at a medium-high angle, with long, broad, and gracefully curved sickles.

The hen's comb horns are smaller, measuring around 0.2-0.4 inches (0.5-1 cm). Her posture is generally more horizontal, and her tail is carried slightly more compactly. Her beard is often a bit broader and more rounded, giving a fuller appearance. The feathering on the wings is carried more upright.

The Dutch Owlbeard Bantam is a hardy breed, known for its resilience and ability to adapt to various climates. Their robust build and full feathering provide good protection against adverse weather conditions.

They do not have exceptionally high demands for housing. A clean, dry, and adequately sized coop is beneficial. Their active and alert nature means they appreciate space to forage. Care should be taken to keep their full beard clean and dry, especially in wet or muddy conditions, to prevent matting and dirt accumulation.

The Dutch Owlbeard Bantam is recognized in several distinct and attractive color varieties. The descriptions often refer to the 'Moorhead' pattern where the head and beard are distinctly colored differently from the body.

• Gold Moorhead (Moorkop goud): Golden body plumage with a black head and beard.
• White Moorhead (Moorkop wit): White body plumage with a black head and beard.
• White (Wit): Pure white plumage.
• Black (Zwart): Glossy black plumage.
• Blue Laced (Blauw gezoomd): Blue plumage with dark lacing on each feather.
• Lavender (Parelgrijs): A uniform pearl gray plumage.
• Buff (Buff): Even, warm golden-yellow plumage.
• Red (Rood): Even, vivid red plumage.
• Striped (Gestreept): Dark gray ground color with regular, sharp gray-white barring.
• Cuckoo (Koekoek): Barred black and white pattern across the plumage.