Key Characteristics

Campines are attractive birds that are great for free ranging. They are inquisitive and active. However they can be flighty and rarely go broody.

History

• Campines were originally from Belgium and were very similar to the Braekel breed.
• Birds were brought to the UK around 1900
• Unlike the Belgium Campines, the British breeders selected for “hen-feathered” males to avoid having to have separate lines to produce well feathered males and females.
• The Campine Club was taken over by The Rare Poultry Society in 1969.

Appearance

• There are two standard colours, gold and silver.
• Birds have pencilled feathering.
• Males and females have the same feathering.   

Uses

Depending on the strain, egg yield should be around 180 medium white eggs in a year, but exhibition strains may lay far less.

Did you know?

Males are “hen-feathered”, meaning that unlike normal cockerels who have longer feathers in their neck, saddle and tail areas, Campine cockerels have the same feathering as the females.  

Breed Societies

Rare Poultry Society