Barbu de Grubbe
The Barbu de Grubbe is a Belgian true bantam, usually described as the rumpless counterpart of the Barbu d'Anvers. It has the bearded face, muffs, compact body, clean legs, and rose comb typical of that family, but it lacks the normal tail carriage that gives many chickens their outline. The breed takes its name from Grubbe in Belgium and is kept mainly as an ornamental and exhibition bantam.
Because the Barbu de Grubbe is small and uncommon, most human management centers on careful breeding rather than production. Hens lay small eggs, and birds may do well in a protected garden run if they have dry shelter and predator-proof fencing. Rumpless birds can require closer attention during mating and selection, since fertility and body balance matter as much as appearance. For buyers, the key questions are whether the line is truly rumpless, whether it meets the standard used locally, and whether the flock has been maintained with enough unrelated stock to avoid weak vigor.
Colors: Barred, Birchen, Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Columbian, Crele, Cuckoo, Duckwing, Gold, Gold Laced, Laced, Lavender, Mille Fleur, Mottled, Partridge, Penciled, Porcelain, Red, Silver, Silver Laced, Spangled, Splash, Wheaten, White
