Our Dutch
The Gold partridge is the original colour in Dutch. The earliest portrait of a Dutch was in 1856 and the breed name Hollandse Kriel (Dutch Bantam) was first mentioned in 1882 in the Dutch Poultry Standard Book, and in the UK the Dutch Bantam Club was established in 1982. They are true bantams. Of all the breeds of poultry the Gold Dutch is the one that most resembles the forerunner of all breeds the Red Jungle Fowl in both colour and style. They are extremely attractive and come in an expanding variety of colours. They are active, friendly birds,. and best kept in an aviary as they are capable fliers
Male Plumage: Head orange reddish-brown. Neck hackle a gradual transition from orange to light orange-black stripe. Back deep reddish brown. Side hackle corresponding with neck hackle, a little darker permitted. Breast black with green sheen, free from markings or spots. Wing bow black, shoulders deep reddish brown, wing bar iridescent greenish-black; primaries inner web and tip black, outer web chestnut brown; wing bay chestnut-brown when wing is closed. Thighs deep black with green sheen, free from markings or spots. Abdomen black. Tail main feathers, sickles and tail coverts green iridescent black, the tail coverts nearest the side hangers with a brownish edge underneath the tip. Undercolour greyish.
The male above is one of Alexander's son's taken when he is several years old. The tail feathers are never quite as long and impressive as during their first year when they tend to be best as far as showing is concerned.
Female Plumage: Head gold-brown. Throat greyish
white. Neck hackle goldish-yellow, with a black middle stripe. Wing, back,
saddle and tail coverts greyish-brown with fine black peppering, as even as
possible, free from rust or red. Tail feathers blackish, the top feather on each
side with brown peppering. Breast light salmon-brown, shading top brownish-grey
near the thighs. Thighs and down ash-grey.
In both sexes: Beak dark horn or bluish. Legs and
feet slate blue.
Faults: Any mismarked feathers. Any splashing or
coloured feathers in black part of male. Rusty colour in wings of female.
These hens are just getting their plumage back after the breeding season. Their tail feathers have grown well but you can still see gaps in the breast feathers and their heads still have feathers coming through.
The Gold Dutch is an ideal bantam to keep as it is easy to
house and eats very little. They are fertile and hatch well and within reason
the weather does not spoil the feathers.
The cockerels take 9 months to mature - the ornamental
sickles and tail furnishings being the final stage in their development.
Therefore I try to hatch my first batch in February, and for showing females
April/May works well for the Autumn Shows.
For an example of one of our birds pedigrees see Family History.
Because so many people keep Gold Dutch there is a large
gene pool to keep the breed hardy. We have had less success with other colours
where fresh blood is harder to come by.