Frisian Bantam

The Frisian Bantam is a light, elegantly built landrace bird. It is characterized by its very high tail carriage, which is carried at approximately the same height as the base of the comb. The breed features a single comb with 4 to 6 points and a smooth 'heel' that points straight back without following the neck line. Their earlobes are pure white, flat, and almond-shaped. The legs are clean and slate blue in color (except for the Cuckoo variety). Roosters typically weigh between 1.5-1.7 lbs (700-800g), while hens weigh about 1.3-1.5 lbs (600-700g). Their feathers must be broad and lie tightly against the body.

For a bantam breed primarily kept for exhibition and ornamental purposes, the Frisian Bantam is a prolific layer. They can produce up to 170 eggs per year, which is exceptional for their size. The eggs are pure white and weigh approximately 1.2 oz (35g). In England, the breed was historically nicknamed the 'every day layer' due to this consistency. Hens are rarely broody, as their wild and active nature often takes precedence over sitting on a nest, though when they do hatch chicks, they are capable mothers.

In the penciled varieties, there is a striking difference between the sexes. The Rooster appears to have a solid-colored body (e.g., golden-brown), but his sickle feathers must show clear lacing in the same color as the body. The Hen exhibits the signature 'pelling' (penciling) pattern over her entire body, except for the neck and upper breast. This pattern consists of 4 to 6 pairs of well-rounded spots on either side of the feather shaft. Additionally, in the Cuckoo variety, the roosters are required to be significantly lighter in color than the hens.

The Frisian Bantam is very hardy and well-adapted to the damp, windy conditions of Northern Europe. They are survivalists by nature and can easily handle roosting in trees or staying outdoors even in cold weather. However, their flighty and active temperament means they require a lot of space. They are not well-suited to small, confined runs unless they are covered, as they are excellent flyers and can effortlessly clear high fences.

The breed is most famous for its penciled varieties, which include Gold, Silver, Lemon, Yellow-White, and Red. Other recognized colors are Black, White, Blue, Cuckoo, and Pied (Bont). A unique trait in the white variety is a subtle 'damask effect,' where a faint white penciling pattern is visible on the recessive white base color. Black varieties are notable for lacking a green sheen, except for a slight shimmer in the rooster's ornamental feathers.

The Frisian Bantam has roots that stretch back centuries in the Dutch province of Friesland. Archaeological finds in 'terpen' (man-made mounds) dating back to 800 AD have uncovered chicken bones that match the size and structure of the Frisian Hoen. Historically, Frisians called them 'weiten hintsjes' because the pattern on the hens reminded them of ears of wheat. While they were used for egg production in the 19th century, they were eventually replaced by larger breeds like Leghorns. The bantam version was officially recognized in the Netherlands in 1906 and has since become a jewel of Dutch poultry heritage.