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Mille Fleur

Characteristics

Colour: Rich red/brown; in the middle of each feather is a black iridescent crescent band; each feather is tipped with a white “half moon”. Also Black, Blue, Lavender Quail, Silver Quail, Blue Quail, Cuckoo, Lavender Mottled and Black Mottled varieties.

Developed in Uccle on the southeastern border of Belgium by Michel Van Gelder, a rich Dutch businessman, in the late nineteenth century, the Mille Fleur (“a thousand flowers”) was one of the first d’Uccle breeds. It is understood to be a cross of the Dutch Sabelpoot bantam and the Barbu d’Anvers bantam, but Michel was a frequent visitor to British and German poultry shows so it is possible that breeds from these countries were used to “improve” the d’Uccle.

It is frequently confused with the Booted Bantam, but that only has boots, and the d’Uccle has a beard, muffs and boots. When seen together the difference is obvious. It is a docile, friendly and talkative breed that will happily sit in your hand or on your shoulder.

Originally from Belgium, the breed is now found throughout the British Isles and Europe, Australia and the USA.