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We can not speak of an unique breed when we talk about the Barbu d'Everberg. The Barbu d'Everberg is the rumpless-variety of the Barbu d'Uccle.
Picture: Barbu d'Everberg hen black. © W.Hoekstra / www.willemhoekstra.com
These two breeds are completely identical, except for the tail. Therefore we refer to the Barbu d'Uccle
for a description.
Of the origination of the Barbu d'Everberg not much is known. The first specimen was born in the year 1906 in
Everberg, a small village east of Brussels.
The phenomenon 'rumpless', meaning 'without a tail', will be explained underneath at the description of the type of the breed.
Rumpless breeds are not unknown in poultry breeding and farming.
Several poulty breeds do have rumpless varieties.
Some examples are:
- Rumpless Chabo
- Rumpless Araucana
- Rumpless Drenthe (a Dutch breed)
- Rumpless Ardenner (another Belgian breed)
The Barbu d'Everberg never had a large popularity. In our 'old' Dutch Poultry Standard part V is noted that after the year
1918 no specimens have been seen.
We are glad to say that at present the situation has changed. Occasionally we see beautiful specimens of this rare breed on shows in the Netherlands and in Belgium, although the number of breeders is very limited.
The description of colour and type of the Barbu d'Everberg bantam is completely similar to that of the
Barbu d'Uccle.
The weight of the cock is 700 - 800 gram. A hen weights roughly 600 gram.
The only difference between those two breeds is the absence of a tail.
The rumpless feature develops because of the missing of the last tail vertebra.
On this last vertebra the tail of a normal chicken is mounted.
The genetic factor for rumpless is a dominant one. This means that from a mating of a pure breed Barbu d'Everberg with
a Barbu d'Uccle only Barbu d'Everberg (thus rumpless) will be born. The breeding of Barbu d'Everberg
seems to be very easy. In practice, less is true.
From such matings as described many animals were born with only a few (but not all) tail feathers. The dominance of the factor for rumplless
hasn't been 100%. Often we find in these animals a part of the last tail vertebra.
Picture: Barbu d'Everberg hen porcelain.
For shows we could pull out these few tail feathers. A skilled breeder or judge sees or feels the difference for certain.
The remnant of the last tail vertebra can be felt perfectly. Remarks on rounding and width of the cocyx must be noted during judging.
It seems obvious that having enough body width and thus also enough width of the coccyx is an important characteristic of the Barbu d'Everberg.
As well in breeding as on shows this peticular feature deserves the necessary attention.
As well as the Barbu d'Uccle many Barbu d'Everberg are very sensitive to Marek disease. Because the population is already small, it seems smart to vaccinate the one day-old chickens against Marek disease. Breeders with lots of space can breed more animals. This offers an opportunity to keep several groups of young chickens seperately and to proceed a selection on the sensitivity for this disease. The situation will then be clear. Is sensitivity present, than a lot of animals will show the disease (mostly at the start of the egg-laying period). When the animals do not get sick, than enough resistance is present. In this way it is possible to build up a resistence after a few years. But we have to keep in our minds that this selection against Marek disease will cost many young chickens and a lot of time.
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