Rosecomb Bantam

The Rosecomb Bantam was developed from what used to be known as the old time Black Bantam, and is an extraordinarily good example of superfine excellence in the breeder's art. There is no breed of Bantams that has been bred to such perfection or has achieved, in the past, such popularity. The days of the extreme popularity of the Rosecomb are, unfortunately past and gone; but it still remains one of the most exquisite of all Bantams.

It is a breed for an experienced poultry fancier. The cockerels must be separated from each other as soon as the sexes can be determined, otherwise no hope of success exists. They are extremely pugnacious amongst themselves, and one peck on the lobe is sufficient to ruin irretrievably the show career of a promising youngster. It is therefore usual to pen one cockerel with one pullet in small coops during the growing stages. The breeding and showing of Rosecombs is a skill that requires some years to learn.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

It has remarkably developed head-points, with circular white ear lobes of thick substance, kid-like texture, and extreme purity of colour.

The comb is wide at the front, full and square-fronted, tapering off to the rear and finishing with a long straight spike or leader. The top of the comb should be well-worked and covered with little round spikes.

The breed should be extremely neat in build, with wonderfully curved outline and a very well-developed tail, having circular sickles and furnishings of great flow; the feathers throughout being wide and round-ended.

The wings are long and carried low, and the carriage jaunty and cobby, but alert.

COLOUR

Black

While the Rosecomb Bantam was initially a Black fowl, it eventually became standardised in Blue and then a wide variety of other colours. In Blacks, the plumage should be rich, sound black, with a strong beetle-green sheen, free from a purple cast, with black legs and beak; though in adult birds the legs usually fade to slate.

Eyes: Light to dark brown.

Leg colour: Black to slate.

Comb: Red

Face: Red

Wattles: Bright red.

Earlobes: Pure White.

White

In Whites, the plumage should be sound white throughout, eyes red, and the legs and beak should also be white.

Other

For further colour details look to the Old English Game colour definitions. There is no limit to the colour varieties possible in the Rosecomb Bantam.

SOURCES

• Feathered World 1937.

  • Kramer, R. (1926). Kramers Taschenbuch der Rassegeflügelzucht. 3. Aufl. Würzburg: H. Stürtz.