Origin: Europe

Classification: True Bantam

Egg Colour: Cream or white

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These have a complex history which spreads over Great Britain, Germany (where they are named Federfusssige Zwerghühner), The Netherlands (where they are named Sabelpoots) and Belgium (where

they were crossed with Barbu d’Anvers to make Barbu d’Uccles). Although Black and White Booted Bantams are believed to have been developed in the UK, all colours of Booteds have been rare here

since they were overshadowed by the Barbu d’Uccle when they were first imported in 1911. Fortunately, they are much more popular in Germany and the Netherlands where large numbers in a wide range

of colour varieties can be seen at the major shows. There has been a revival of interest in the UK since the 1990s. Booteds have tighter neck feathering than Barbu d’Uccles, with no beard or neck boule.

Some young Booteds can seem tall and narrow, but they usually become stocky, compact and full feathered when fully mature.

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General characteristics Male

Carriage: Erect and strutting.

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Type: Body short and compact. Full and prominent breast. Short back, the sweep of the neck, back and tail forming a clear ‘U’ shape, furnished with long and abundant saddle feathers. Large, long wings,

carried at the same angle as, and more or less resting on the vulture hocks. Large tail, full and upright; sickles a little longer than the main tail feathers and slightly curved. Coverts long, abundant and nicely

curved.

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Head: Skull small. Beak rather stout, of medium length. Eyes bright and prominent. Comb single, small, firm, perfectly straight and upright, well serrated, ideally with five to seven points. Face of fine

texture, free from hairs. Ear lobes small and flat, bright red. Wattles small, fine and well rounded.

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Neck: Fairly short, but upright. Hackle feathering is full but straight, with no boule formation as seen on Barbu d'Uccles.

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Legs & feet: Thighs powerful, well feathered with strongly developed vulture hocks, consisting of long rigid feathers which almost touch the ground. Fairly short shanks which are heavily furnished with long and rather stiff feathers on the outer sides. Toes, four, straight and well spread, the outer and middle toes being very heavily feathered.

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Plumage: Long and abundant.

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General Characteristics: Female

The general characteristics are similar to those of the male, allowing for the natural sexual differences. 

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Weights

• Male 750g to 850g (27oz to 30oz)

• Female 650g to 750g (23oz to 27oz)

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Scale of points

• Type & size 25

• Head 15

• Colour (plumage) 15

• Colour (legs and beak) 5

• Leg & foot feathering 15

• Weight 10

• Condition 15

       TOTAL 100

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Disqualification: Any deformity.

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Serious defects: Other than single comb, gypsy face. Any sign of boule or beard. Other than four toes. Significantly overweight. Back too long/flat. Legs too short or too long. Missing toe nails. Wrong

leg/foot colour.

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To be avoided if possible: White feathers in non-white self-coloured birds, purple barring in Black birds, lacing or mottling in Lavender birds, blue/slate legs in White birds, insufficient or poor white tipping in millefleur or mottled varieties, comb too large, wattles too large, vulture hocks too long.