Last Updated on April 20, 2021 by Pauline G. Carter
Lakenvelder chicken is a large fowl and Bantam type of a continental domestic chicken breed from the Netherlands’ neighboring areas, was first recorded in 1727. Lakenvelder or Lakenfelder in its original Dutch name after its hometown Lakenvelt but was developed in Germany.
The name means a “shadow under a sheet” giving out a striking black and white plumage. In Germany, this chicken breed dates back in the 1830s.
It was imported in Britain in 1901 and was first shown in an exhibition in England in 1902 and was introduced in the United States in the early 1900’s. In 1939, it was admitted by the American Poultry Association to its American Standard of Perfection category. Nowadays, this chicken breed is very rated, especially in the U.S.
Lakenvelder Chicken | Breed Profile
Characteristics Of The Lakenvelder Chicken
Lakenvelder Chicken’s sole variety is Silver. It is not crested, no feathered legs and has 4 toes. This fowl’s head, neck hackle and tail are solid black. It has no spots, ticks, or stripes on them; their inner wings are black, and eyes are red or bright chestnut.
Its beak is the dark horn. Its face, wattles and comb are red and white earlobes. The Lakenvelder chicken’s legs are slate-blue. Yes, they are beautiful to look at with its eye-catching feather pattern.
The rest of the body is white with a pale blue-gray color. Its black and white coloring is similar to the cattle breed that originated from the same area – the Lakenvelder cattle.
Lakenvelder chicks cost $3.65 each. As chicks, they are extremely dominating over the other chicken breeds and would beat others up given a chance. The males reach chicken puberty a month earlier than the female ones.
Behavior/ Temperament/ Use
Aside from its ornamental use, Lakenvelder’s primary use is for egg production. Hens are not broached and have annual laying expectations of 160 tinted or white eggs weighing up to 50 grams each, of small to medium size.
Its meat is not overly welcome for a table fowl because it does not possess a fill out body, though it is tasty. The chicken breed’s temperament is active and quick to fight other flock members.
They are flighty, too. This chicken breed bears confinement well but are good foragers when allowed to run freely. So adding them to the flock can be economical. They tolerate heat as well. They are not especially docile and are not setter/ broody.
Lakenvelder cocks weigh 5 pounds while hens weigh 4 pounds. Bantam cocks weigh 24 ounces while Bantam hen weighs 20 ounces.
What We Liked/Pros
- Dependable egg layers
- Tolerant to heat
- Bears confinement and heat well
- Good foragers so economical
- Good for show and exhibition
What We Don’t Like/Cons
- Not good as family pet
- Not cold-hardy chickens
Related Articles
- Jersey Giant Chicken Breed Information, Characteristics, Temperament
- Java Chicken Breed Information, Characteristics, Temperament
- Hamburg Chicken Breed Information, Characteristics, Temperament