Sophie Bennett
The Campine chicken is a breed of domestic chicken that originated in the northern part of Belgium. They are primarily used as laying chickens or ornamental fowl. Campine chickens are active, hardy, and curious, and they enjoy spending most of their time outdoors and free-ranging in flocks. While they are friendly, they do not enjoy being handled. They are known to lay a fair number of medium-sized white eggs and are considered non-broody.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Northern Belgium |
| Breed | Likely a blend of the old Braekel and its smaller variant, the Kempen hen |
| Weight | Males weigh 6 lbs, females weigh 4 lbs |
| Egg production | 140-200 medium-sized white eggs per year |
| Use | Laying chicken or ornamental fowl |
| Nature | Alert, intelligent, responsive to kindness and affection |
| Other names | Dutch Everyday Layers, Chittiprats, Kempisch Hoen |
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What You'll Learn
Campine chickens are primarily used as layers
Campine chickens were first imported to England from Belgium in the early 1900s, where they were recognised as "Dutch Everyday Layers". They then made their way to North America in 1893 but failed to gain popularity and were dropped from the American Poultry Association's Standard in 1898. However, the breed was successfully imported again in 1907, and after improvements in their hardiness, they were added to the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1914.
Campine chickens come in two varieties: Silver and Golden. Both varieties have the same colour pattern for both sexes, with the main difference being that Golden Campine chickens have golden heads, bodies, and necks instead of the white colouring of the Silver variety. The Silver Campine variety has beetle-green barred feathers on a pure white ground, with a neck hackle of pure white.
Campine hens are known for their egg-laying abilities, while the roosters are considered beautiful ornamental fowl. Campine chickens are described as friendly and entertaining, but they do not enjoy being handled and are not considered a "cuddly" breed. They are a good choice for beginners keeping poultry, as they are alert, intelligent, and responsive to kindness and affection.
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They are non-broody and lay 140-200 white, medium-sized eggs
The Campine chicken is primarily used as a layer chicken or as ornamental fowl. They are non-broody and lay 140-200 white, medium-sized eggs per year. Campine chickens originated in northern Belgium and are an old European egg layer breed. They were first imported to England in the early 1900s, where they were known as "Dutch Everyday Layers". They were later imported to North America in 1893, but failed to gain popularity due to their perceived lack of ruggedness.
Campine chickens are relatively small in size and are identical to the Belgian Braekel in all ways except for their size. They are active, hardy, and curious, and they enjoy being outdoors and free-ranging as a flock. They are also good foragers and have been described as entertaining and friendly, although they do not like to be handled.
The breed comes in two colour varieties: silver and gold. The colour pattern of each bird is the same for both sexes. Silver Campine varieties have beetle-green barred feathers on a pure white ground, with a neck hackle of pure white. Golden Campine varieties have the same pattern, but with golden heads, bodies, and necks instead of white.
Campine chickens have a large single red comb that can flop to one side, and their legs are dark blue. They have red faces and wattles, white earlobes, and white skin. Males weigh 6 lbs., while females weigh 4 lbs.
In addition to their egg-laying abilities, Campine chickens have played a significant role in the commercial development of the poultry industry. They contributed to rapid feathering and growth through crossing with the Malines chicken, which is also known as the Braekel.
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They are also used as ornamental fowl
Campine chickens are primarily used as laying hens or ornamental fowl. They are a breed of domestic chicken that originated in the northern part of Belgium and are known for their egg-laying abilities and attractive appearance. With their distinctive colouring and inquisitive nature, Campines make for beautiful and engaging ornamental birds.
The breed was first imported to England in the early 1900s, where they gained recognition as "Dutch Everyday Layers". They then made their way to North America in 1893, but failed to gain popularity due to their perceived lack of ruggedness. However, the Homestead Campine Farm in Massachusetts was able to improve the breed's hardiness, making them more suitable for the northern states.
Campine chickens come in two colour varieties: silver and gold. Silver Campine females, with their beetle-green barred feathers on a pure white ground and a pure white neck hackle, are particularly striking. The Golden Campine, on the other hand, boasts a lustrous golden hue across its head, body, and neck. Both varieties feature a large single red comb that can flop to one side, dark blue legs, red faces and wattles, and white earlobes.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Campine chickens are known for their active, hardy, and curious nature. They are good foragers and enjoy spending most of their time outdoors, free-ranging as a flock. This breed is also known for its intelligence and responsiveness to kindness and affection, making them beloved barnyard pets.
Campine chickens are non-broody and lay a significant number of medium-sized white eggs, which are considered large relative to the bird's size. Their egg-laying abilities, combined with their engaging personalities and striking appearance, make Campine chickens a popular choice for those seeking both functionality and beauty in their poultry.
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They originated in Belgium and were imported to England in the early 1900s
The Campine chicken is a breed of domestic chicken that originated in the northern part of Belgium. It is named for the Campine region of north-eastern Belgium and south-eastern Netherlands. The breed was imported to England in the early 1900s and was recognized as the "Dutch Everyday Layers" derived from birds imported in the 1700s.
The Campine chicken is likely a blend of the old Braekel (or Brakel) and its smaller variant, the Kempen (or Kempisch) hen. The Braekel has been documented in Belgium since 1416 and was famous in the country in the early 16th century. The larger Braekel is native to the rich clay soil of the Flanders district, while the smaller Campine is from the less fertile district of Kempen. The Italian naturalist Ulisse Aldrovandi likened the Braekel to paintings in the 16th century, and the breed was also mentioned by Julius Caesar after he looted Belgium.
When Campine chickens first arrived in England, breeders aimed to maintain the hardiness and utility of the breed. The breed became popular in Britain by the 1910s, and in 1929, scientists at Cambridge crossed Gold Campine with Barred Rock to create auto-sexing chicks. Campine chickens were first imported to North America in 1893, but they were deemed unpopular and were dropped from the American Poultry Association's Standard in 1898. However, in 1907, the breed was imported to New Jersey and, although they were again considered not "rugged enough," the Homestead Campine Farm in Massachusetts improved their hardiness. The American Poultry Association added the Campine chicken to its Standard of Perfection in 1914.
Today, Campine chickens are primarily used as laying chickens or ornamental fowl. They are known for their egg-laying abilities, laying 140-200 medium-sized white eggs per year. They are also described as alert, intelligent, and responsive to kindness and affection. Campines come in two varieties: Silver and Golden, with the same colour pattern for both sexes. Silver Campine varieties have beetle-green barred feathers on a pure white ground, while Golden Campine varieties have golden heads, bodies, and necks.
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Campine chickens are alert, intelligent, and responsive to kindness
Campine chickens are primarily used as laying hens or ornamental fowl. They are a breed of domestic chicken originating in the northern part of Belgium, named for the Campine region of north-eastern Belgium and south-eastern Netherlands. They are a cross between the old Braekel and its smaller variant, the Kempen hen. Campines are known for their intelligence, alertness, and responsiveness to kindness.
C.A. Phipps, in his 1915 Catalogue of Silver Campines, described the breed as "alert, intelligent, responsive to kindness and affection, and by its many attractive qualities quickly becomes the pet of the barnyard." Campines are active, hardy, and curious, and they enjoy spending time outdoors and free-ranging as a flock. They are good foragers and are described as "clowns" and "entertaining". While they are a friendly breed, they do not like to be handled and are not considered "cuddly".
Campines are known for their egg-laying abilities, producing 140-200 medium-sized white eggs per year. They are considered a non-broody breed, meaning they do not sit on their eggs to incubate them. Campines were important in the commercial development of the poultry industry in Belgium, contributing to rapid feathering and growth through crosses with the Malines chicken.
The breed was imported to England in the early 1900s, where they were recognised as "Dutch Everyday Layers". They later made their way to North America, where they struggled to gain popularity due to their perceived lack of ruggedness. However, through selective breeding, their hardiness was improved, and they became a preferred choice for egg-layers. Today, Campine chickens are mostly raised and bred as ornamental birds, valued for their beautiful plumage and curious personalities.
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Frequently asked questions
Campine chickens are a breed of domestic chicken that originated in Belgium. They are named for the Campine region of north-eastern Belgium and south-eastern Netherlands.
Campine chickens are primarily used as laying hens or ornamental fowl. They are not broody and can lay 140-200 medium-sized white eggs per year.
Campines have a large single red comb that can flop to one side, and close-fitting feathers. Their legs are dark blue, their face and wattles are red, and they have white earlobes and white skin. They come in two varieties: Silver and Golden.
Campine chickens are alert, intelligent, and responsive to kindness and affection. They are very active, hardy, and curious, and they enjoy being outdoors and free-ranging as a flock.
