d'Uccles: A true bantam breed

I'm not one of those people that knows about all chicken breeds. I just never bothered to learn. Then again, there are literally hundreds of different breeds so learning about them all would probably be an impossible task anyway! I have done a great deal of research about the breeds I raise though. I'm going to be doing mini-profiles on the different breeds I have raised. First up is the Mille Fleur d'Uccle.

I started raising d'Uccles about 5 years ago and it was quite by accident. I had bought a few mixed bantam chicks at the feed store and one ended up being a Mille Fleur d'Uccle. That little guy was super personable insisting on being picked up all the time. As he got older he enjoyed riding on my shoulder as I did chores. I'm not sure if he thought he was a parrot or maybe he thought I was a pirate, but that rooster single handedly made me fall in love with the breed! 

I've raised d'Uccles ever since...often seeking out some of the most well known breeders in the country for chicks to improve my lines.  

Here are some interesting facts about Mille Fleur d'Uccles:

Mille Fleur d'Uccles

• The first d'Uccles were bred in Uccle, Belgium somewhere between 1890 & 1900
• The d is in front of Uccle meaning from or of Uccle. Hence the reason the d is small but the U is capital.  
• They are a true bantam, meaning they have no standard sized counterpart.
• They have beards, muffs and heavily feathered legs and feet.
• They have a straight comb and very small or no wattles.
• The first color of d'Uccle entered into the APA standards of perfection was the Mille Fleur followed by porcelain then white.
• Mille Fleur is French and translates into English as 'thousand flowers'. They are named such because of the individual flower type markings on the ends of their feathers.  
• They get most of their spots after their first molt. 
• Many people refer to them simply as "Millies"
• The standard weight of a hen is 1 lb 4 oz and the rooster is 1lb 10oz.
• Hens lay a small cream colored egg. They are somewhat broody. 
• They have a mild temperament. 

Some people refer to ornamental chickens such as these as 'lawn ornaments' and looking at the d'Uccle breed I can certainly see why!

If you wandered over here from my d'Uccle article on the Backyard Poultry website...Welcome! I hope you'll stick around awhile!

~L

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