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Color Descriptions of the Dutch Bantam Varieties


There are currently 12 Recognized Varieties and 12 Non-Recognized Varieties of Dutch Bantams.


Recognized Varieties
Black (ABA/APA)
Blue (ABA)
Blue Light Brown (ABA/APA)
Blue Cream Light Brown (ABA/APA)
Cream Light Brown (ABA/APA)
Golden (ABA)
Cuckoo (ABA)
Light Brown (ABA/APA)
Self Blue (ABA)
Silver (ABA/APA)
Wheaten (ABA)
White (ABA)

Non-Recognized Varieties
Birchen
Blue Light Brown Splash
Cream Light Brown
Blue Cream Light Brown Splash
Blue Silver
Blue Silver Splash
Crele
Blue Golden
Brown Red
Ginger Red
Dark Brown
Mille Fleur
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Recognized Varieties

Black Dutch Bantam

Black DB Cock Black DB Hen Black DB Hen

Black Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright Red
BEAK: Dark bluish horn
EYES: Brown
EAR LOBES: Pure White
SHANKS and TOES: Dark slaty blue

BLACK PLUMAGE

Color of Male and Female

The quill and surface of every feather in all sections of the plumage, over the entire body, pure black. The head, hackle, back, saddle, sickles and wing bows of the male should have a rich beetle green sheen. The female should also show some brilliance of feather in the head, hackle, back, cushion and wind bows.
UNDERCOLOR: dull black.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

More than one appearance of more than one half inch of positive white in any section of the plumage-Any appearance of any other color expecting varying shades of gray in the undercolor in any section of the plumage. DEFECTS: Purple sheen or purple barring of plumage.



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Blue Dutch Bantam

Blue DB cockBlue DB hen

Blue Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright Red
BEAK: Dark bluish horn
EYES: Reddish Brown
EAR LOBES: Pure White
SHANKS and TOES: Dark slaty blue

BLUE PLUMAGE

Color of Male

HEAD: Lustrous bluish black.
NECK: Hackle - a uniform shade of plain slaty blue clearly and sharply laced with lustrous bluish black. Front of Neck - same as breast.
BACK: A uniform shade of plain slaty blue clearly and sharply laced with lustrous bluish black.
SADDLE: Same as hackle.
TAIL: Main Tail - a uniform shade of plain slaty blue clearly and sharply laced with bluish black. Sickles, Lesser Sickles and Coverts - same as main tail.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts, Bows and Coverts - uniform salty blue clearly and sharply laced with bluish black. Primaries - a uniform shade of slaty blue. Secondaries - a uniform shade of plain slaty blue, outer webs clearly and sharply laced with bluish black, a lustrous bluish black shafting.
BREAST, BODY, STERN and LOWER THIGH: A uniform shade of plain slaty blue clearly and sharply laced with bluish black.
UNDERCOLOR: Uniform slaty blue in all sections.

Color of Female

HEAD: Salty blue.
NECK: Hackle - a uniform shade of plain slaty blue clearly and sharply laced with lustrous bluish black. Front of Neck - same as breast.
BACK, CUSHION, TAIL and TAIL COVERTS: A uniform shade of plain slaty blue clearly and sharply laced with bluish black.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts, Bows and Coverts - a uniform shade of plain slaty blue clearly and sharply laced with bluish black. Primaries - a uniform shade of slaty blue. Secondaries - a uniform shade of plain slaty blue, outer web clearly and sharply laced with bluish black lustrous bluish black shafting.
BREAST, BODY, STERN and LOWER THIGHS: A uniform shade of plain slaty blue clearly and sharply laced with bluish black.
UNDERCOLOR: Uniform slaty blue in all sections.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Red, yellow, orange or positive white in any section of the plumage. DEFECTS: Surface of feathers not laced with darker shade. Black in various sections of plumage.



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Blue Light Brown Dutch Bantam

Blue Light Brown cockBlue Light Brown hen

Blue Light Brown Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright Red
BEAK: Bluish horn
EYES: Reddish Bay
EAR LOBES: Pure White
SHANKS and TOES: Slaty blue

Color of Male

HEAD: Reddish orange.
NECK: Hackle golden red, tapering off at the extremities to a flashing gold; a dull blue stripe, free from shafting extending down the middle of each lower hackle feather, tapering to a point just short of lower extremity. Front of neck:– blue, slight salmon tinge allowed.
BACK: Reddish orange, no shafting.
SADDLE: Same as hackle, striping will be less predominant than hackle.
TAIL: Main tail - slaty blue. Sickles, Lesser Sickles and Coverts slaty blue.
WINGS: Shoulders fronts slaty blue, evenly laced with darker blue. Bows - lustrous rich orange red. Coverts – slaty blue, evenly laced with darker blue. Primaries - even shade of slaty blue, lower web edged with bay. Secondaries - slaty blue, lower web edged with bay, exposed portion of outer web forming wing bay, bay.
BREAST: Slaty blue laced with darker blue.
BODY and STERN: Body - slaty blue laced with darker blue. Stern slate, slightly tinged with darker blue.
LOWER THIGHS: Slaty blue laced with darker blue.
UNDERCOLOR: Light slate, all sections.

Color of Female

HEAD: Orange to golden yellow, tinged with brown.
NECK: Hackle, orange to golden yellow with blue stripe, free from shafting, extending through the middle of each feather and tapering to a point just short of lower extremity. Front of neck - light salmon.
BACK and CUSHION: Even shade of golden brown finely stippled with blue, the golden brown predominating; more importance is attached to the fineness and evenness of color and freedom from shafting than to the particular shade of color. It is important that the effect produced be that of a soft and even shade of golden brown.
TAIL: Main tail - slaty blue, two top feathers to be golden brown stippled with blue. Coverts - same as back.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts, Bows, and Coverts same as back. Primaries golden brown, lower webs slightly edged with slaty blue. Secondaries golden brown, outer webs finely stippled with slaty blue forming wing bay to blend with body.
BREAST: Salmon, shading to ashy gray under body.
STERN: Body golden brown, stippled with slaty blue. Stern ashy gray, tinged with brown.
LOWER THIGHS: Slaty gray tinged with salmon.
UNDERCOLOR: Light slate, all sections.

Disqualifications

Positive white in main tail feathers, sickles, or secondaries. DEFECTS:Red ticking or lacing in breast of male. Lacing or frostiness in female breast. Red lacing and/or shafting in male sickle feathers and tail coverts. Excessive white fluff at base of male tail. Penciling and/or vermiculation in female back, body, shoulders, fronts, bow and covert feathers. These feathers should be stippled over the entire surface right out to the very edge of the feather. Brown stippling on blue feathers where blue stippling on brown feathers is called for.



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Cream Light Brown Dutch Bantam

Cream Light Brown cock Cream Light Brown cock Cream Light Brown hen

Cream Light Brown Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright Red
BEAK: Bluish horn
EYES: Reddish Bay
EAR LOBES: Pure White
SHANKS and TOES: Slaty blue

Color of Male

HEAD: Rich creamy yellow.
NECK: Hackle - rich creamy yellow, a dull black stripe, free from shafting extending down the middle of each lower feather, tapering to a point just short of lower extremity, the black stripe increasing in intensity and brilliance to a lustrous greenish black at the lower extremity. Front of neck - black.
BACK: Deep golden orange.
SADDLE: Same as hackle, but fewer feathers with striping, a little darker permitted and with more luster.
TAIL: Main tail - black. Sickles, Lesser Sickles and Coverts - lustrous greenish black. Tail coverts nearest the lesser sickles with a straw colored edge to the tips.
WINGS: Shoulders and Fronts - black. Bows - golden orange. Coverts - black. Primaries - inner web and tip, black, outer web rich creamy yellow straw. Wing bay, a rich creamy yellow straw, shading to a brown when the wing is closed.
BREAST: Lustrous black.
BODY and STERN: Body black. Stern slate, slightly tinged with brown.
LOWER THIGHS: Greenish black.
UNDERCOLOR: Light slate.

Color of Female

HEAD: Creamy yellow.
NECK: Hackle - creamy yellow with a black middle stripe. Front of neck - light salmon.
BACK: (Creamy grayish brown,) surface finely stippled with black, the (creamy grayish brown) predominating; more importance is attached to fineness and evenness of color and freedom from shafting than to a particular shade of color. It is important that the effect produced be that of a soft and even shade of creamy brown. Unexposed portion of feather is a creamy brown shading to slate.
TAIL: Main tail dull black, two top feathers to be the same as BACK Coverts. Coverts same as back.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts, Bows and Coverts - same as BACK. Primaries - slate, the outer web slightly edged with creamy brown. Secondaries - slate, the outer web creamy brown finely stippled with black.
BREAST: Salmon fading to paler salmon underneath.
BODY and STERN: Exposed portion of all feathers, a creamy brown stippled with black, free from shafting. Stern - slate tinged with creamy brown.
LOWER THIGHS: Creamy brown with some stippling.
UNDERCOLOR: Light slate.

Disqualifications

Positive white in male tail feathers, sickles or secondaries. DEFECTS: Lacing or frosting in female breast, or body. Excessive white fluff at base of male tail. Penciling and/or vermiculation in female body, these feathers should be stippled over entire exposed surface right out to the very edge of the feather.



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Golden Dutch Bantam

Golden DB cock

Golden Dutch Bantam

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Cuckoo Dutch Bantam

Cuckoo DB trio

Cuckoo Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright Red
BEAK: Bluish horn
EYES: Reddish Bay
EAR LOBES: Pure White
SHANKS and TOES: Slaty blue

CUCKOO PLUMAGE

Color of Male

PLUMAGE: Bluish white, each feather barred across with irregular light and dark bars; the light and dark bars to be nearly equal in width and to extend throughout the length of the feathers and into all sections of the plumage; shade and depth of color to register the same throughout.

The bars should continue through the shaft of the feathers and into the underfluff and stop short of pure black or white. Each feather should end in a narrow dark bar.

Color of Female

PLUMAGE: Overall appearance is of a darker shade than the male. Each feather is barred across the irregular light and dark bars. The light bars of the female are about one half the width of the dark bars and to extend throughout the length of the feathers and into all sections of the plumage; shade and depth of color to register the same throughout.

The bars should continue through the shaft of the feathers and into the underfluff and stop short of pure black or white.



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Light Brown Dutch Bantam

Light Brown DB cockLight Brown DB hen

Light Brown Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright Red
BEAK: Bluish horn
EYES: Reddish Bay
EAR LOBES: Pure White
SHANKS and TOES: Slaty blue>

Color of Male

HEAD: Reddish orange.
NECK: Hackle orange red of blazing brilliance, tapering off at the extremities to a flashing gold; a dull black stripe, free from shafting extending down the middle of each lower hackle feather, tapering to a point just short of lower extremity, the black stripe increasing in intensity and brilliance to a lustrous greenish black at the lower extremity.
BACK: Lustrous orange, no shafting.
SADDLE: Same as hackle, but with less stripping than hackle.
TAIL: Main tail black. Sickles, Lesser Sickles and Coverts lustrous greenish black.
WINGS: Shoulders and Fronts black. Bows lustrous rich orange red. Coverts – lustrous greenish black. Primaries dull black, lower web edged with brown. Secondaries dull black, lower webs edged with brown, exposed portion of outer web forming wing bay, brown.
BREAST: Lustrous black.
BODY and STERN: Body black. Stern slate, slightly tinged with brown.
LOWER THIGHS: Black.
UNDERCOLOR: Light slate, all sections.

Color of Female

HEAD: Orange to golden yellow, tinged with brown.
NECK: Hackle, orange to golden yellow with lustrous black stripe, free from shafting, extending through middle of each feather and tapering to a point just short of lower extremity. Front of neck – salmon.
BACK and CUSHION: Brown surface finely stippled with black, the brown predominating; more importance is attached to fineness and evenness of color and freedom from shafting than to a particular shade of color. It is important that the effect produced be that of a soft and even shade of brown that is not suggestive of gray or red; unexposed portion of feather, brown shading to slate.
TAIL: Main tail dull black, two top feathers to be brown stippled with black. Coverts same as back.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts, Bows and Coverts same as back. Primaries – slaty brown, lower webs slightly edged with brown. Secondaries brown, outer webs finely stippled with black, forming wing bay to blend with body.
BREAST: Rich salmon, shading lighter under body, free from shafting.
BODY and STERN: Body, brown, stippled with black, free from shafting. Stern, slate tinged with brown.
LOWER THIGHS: Slate, plentifully tinged with brown.
UNDERCOLOR: Light slate.

Disqualifications

Positive white in male tail feathers, sickles or secondaries. DEFECTS: Gray or white in any except disqualifying sections. Reddish cast in female secondaries. Lacing or frostiness in female breast. Red lacing and/or shafting in male sickle feathers and tail coverts. Excessive white fluff at base of male tail. Penciling and/or vermiculation in female back, body, shoulders, fronts, bow and covert feathers. These feathers should be stippled over entire surface right out to the very edge of the feather.



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Self Blue Dutch Bantam

Self Blue trio

Self Blue Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright Red
BEAK: Dark bluish horn
EYES: Reddish brown
EAR LOBES: Pure White
SHANKS and TOES: Deep slaty blue

SELF BLUE PLUMAGE

Color of Male

PLUMAGE: Entire surface, an even shade of light slaty blue, free from mealiness, cloudiness or mottled appearance. Head, Neck, Hackle, Black, Saddle, Sickles and Wings Bows - richly glossed.

UNDERCOLOR: Similar to basic surface color, free from mealiness or any foreign color.

Color of Female

PLUMAGE: Entire surface, an even shade of light slaty blue, free from mealiness, cloudiness or mottled appearance. Head, Neck and Hackle - slightly glossed.

UNDERCOLOR: Similar to basic surface color, free from mealiness or any foreign color.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Red, yellow, orange or positive white in any section of the plumage. DEFECTS: Surface of feather laced, in any section of the body - Dark blue feathers in various sections - Varying shades of blue throughout the plumage.



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Silver Dutch Bantam

Silver DB trio

Silver Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright Red
BEAK: Bluish horn
EYES: Reddish Bay
EAR LOBES: Pure White
SHANKS and TOES: Dark slaty blue

Color of Male

HEAD: Silvery white.
NECK: Hackle silvery white, a dull black stripe, free from shafting, extending down middle of each lower hackle feather, tapering to a point just short of lower extremity, the black stripe increasing in intensity and brilliance to a lustrous greenish black at the lower extremity. Front of neck rich glossy black.
BACK: Silvery white.
SADDLE: Same as hackle, but with less stripping than hackle.
TAIL: Main Tail black. Sickles, Lesser Sickles and Upper Coverts lustrous greenish black. Lower Coverts silvery white.
WINGS: Shoulders and Fronts black. Bows silvery white. Coverts – lustrous greenish black, forming a distinct bar across wings. Primaries dull black, lower edge of lower feathers, silvery white. Secondaries dull black, lower webs edged with white, exposed portion of outer web forming wing bay, white.
BREAST: Lustrous black.
BODY and STERN: Black.
LOWER THIGHS: Black.
UNDERCOLOR: Light slate in all sections.

Color of Female

HEAD: Silvery gray.
NECK: Hackle silvery gray, with narrow dull black stripe, free of shafting, extending down middle of feather, tapering to a point just short of lower extremity. Front of Neck light Salmon.
BACK and CUSHION: Surface of feather gray, formed of silvery white, finely stippled with ashy gray with more importance attached to fineness and evenness of color and freedom from shafting or regular penciling than to a particular shade of color, but it is important that the effect is that of a soft and even shade of gray; unexposed portion of feathers to be slaty gray.
TAIL: Main Tail black, except top two feathers which should be same as back. Coverts same as back.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts, Bows and Coverts same as back. Primaries dark slate, outer webs slaty gray. Secondaries dark slate, outer webs finely stippled with ashy gray, forming a wing bay to blend with body.
BREAST: Light Salmon, shading to gray under body, free from shafting.
BODY and STERN: Body gray, formed of silvery white, finely stippled with ashy gray, free from shafting. Stern Fluff, light ashy gray.
LOWER THIGHS: Same as body.
UNDERCOLOR: Light slate in all sections.

Disqualifications

Positive white in main tail or sickle feathers. DEFECTS: Reddish cast in female secondaries. Lacing or frostiness in female breast feathers. Excess of white fluff showing at base of tail in male. Penciling and/or vermiculation in female body, shoulders, fronts, bow and covert feathers. These feathers should be stippled over the entire surface right out to the edge of the feather.



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Wheaten Bantam

Wheaten DB trio

Wheaten Bantam



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White Dutch Bantam

White DB cockWhite DB hen

White Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright red
BEAK: Light bluish horn
EYES: Reddish bay
EAR LOBES: Pure white
SHANKS and TOES: Light slaty blue

WHITE PLUMAGE

Color of Male and Female

The quill, undercolor and surface of each feather in all sections of the plumage over entire body, pure white. The head, hackle, back, saddle, sickles and wing bows of the male should have a lustrous sheen. The female should show brilliance of feather in the head, hackle, back, cushion and wing bows.

Disqualifications

Feathers other tan white in any section of the plumage. DEFECTS: Creaminess on surface or in undercolor - Brassiness, mealiness, sootiness or flecking in any section of the plumage.



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Non-Recgonized Varieties

Birchen Dutch Bantam

Birchen DB group

Birchen Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Mulberry
BEAK: Black
EYES: Black EAR LOBES: Pure white
SHANKS and TOES: Black

BIRCHEN PLUMAGE

Color of Male

HEAD: White.
NECK: Hackle: white, with slender black stripe through middle of each feather, terminating to a point short of its lower extremity, to match saddle. Front of Neck - same as breast.
BACK: White with some luster.
SADDLE: White, with slender black stripe through middle of each feather, terminating in a point short of its lower extremity, to match hackle.
TAIL: Main Tail black. Sickles and Lesser Sickles black, with brilliant greenish sheen. Coverts brilliant black.
WINGS: Shoulders and Fronts black. Bows white, with some luster. Coverts brilliant black, forming a distinct bar across wing. Primaries black. Secondaries black, exposed portion of outer web forming



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Blue Cream Light Brown Bantam

Blue Cream Light Brown cock Blue Cream Light Brown cock Blue Cream Light Brown hen

Blue Cream Light Brown Bantam



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Blue Silver Bantam

Blue Silver cockerel Blue Silver hen

Blue Silver Bantam



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Blue Golden Dutch Bantam

The color standard for the Blue Golden is pending at this time.



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Crele Dutch Bantam

Crele DB cockCrele DB hen

Crele Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright Red
BEAK: Light horn
EYES: Red
EAR LOBES: Pure white
SHANKS and TOES: White tinged with pink

CRELE PLUMAGE

Color of Male

HEAD: Pale golden, finely barred with orange red.
NECK: Hackle pale straw, finely barred with orange red, to match saddle. Front of neck dark gray and white barred.
BACK: Pale straw, barred with orange red.
SADDLE: Pale straw, finely barred with orange red, to match hackle.
TAIL: Main Tail- wide, alternate bars of dark gray and white. Sickles and Lesser Sickles wide, alternate bars of dark gray and white. Coverts - gray and white barred with some gray and orange red barring as they approach the saddle.
WINGS: Shoulders and Fronts dark gray and white barred. Bows pale straw, barred with orange red. Coverts-dark gray and white barred, intermixed with bay. Secondaries - dark gray and white barred, intermixed with bay.
BREAST: Dark gray and white barred.
BODY and STERN: Body dark gray and white barred. Stern fluff, irregular and indistinct gray and white barring.
LOWER THIGHS: Indistinctly gray and white barred.
UNDERCOLOR: Light slate in all sections.

Color of Female

HEAD: Pale gold, slightly barred with grayish brown.
NECK: Hackle - pale golden, irregularly mottled with grayish brown. Front of Neck salmon.
BACK and CUSHION: Dark slaty gray brown, with indistinct broad, soft, smokey barrings.
TAIL: Dark gray black, with some indication of lighter broad bars, top feathers stippled with bay. Coverts same as back.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts and Bows same as back. Coverts same as back except that feathers form two distinct bars across wings. Primaries dark gray and white barred, intermixed with bay. Secondaries dark gray and white barred, upper web forming wing bay, stippled with chestnut.
BREAST: Salmon, shading to ashy gray as it blends into body.
BODY and STERN: Body ashy gray, except at sides where surface where surface color blends into that of back and wings. Stern fluff, irregular and distinct gray and white barring.
UNDERCOLOR: Light slate in all sections.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Two or more solid black for solid white feathers in the primaries, secondaries or main tail feathers. DEFECTS:Irregularity in barring is not to be considered a defect. The dark and light bars should stop short of pure white or black. Lacing in feathers. Solid white feather in primaries. White in male sickles. More attention should be given to brightness and sharpness of barring than whether the bird appears lighter or darker than your individual preference. Strive for uniformity of color pattern. NOTE: For the sake of uniformity in classification of plumage colors, the crele pattern belongs in the barring section.



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Ginger Red Dutch Bantam

Ginger Red hen

Ginger Red Dutch Bantam

COMB, FACE AND WATTLES: Bright red
BEAK: Horn
EYES: Reddish Bay
EAR LOBES: Pure white
SHANKS and TOES: Medium slaty blue

GINGER RED PLUMAGE

Color of Male

HEAD: Lustrous red.
NECK: Hackle - lustrous bright orange yellow, free from striping. Front of Neck - ginger yellow.
BACK: Lustrous rich red.
SADDLE: Lustrous bright orange yellow, free from striping.
TAIL: Main Tail - black. Sickles and Lesser Sickles - lustrous black with beetle green sheen. Coverts - Lustrous greenish black, laced with red.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts, Bows and Coverts - rich red. Primaries - dull black, lower edges forming wing bay, ginger red.
BREAST: Ginger red, becoming darker as thighs are approached.
BODY, STERN and LOWER THIGHS: Dusky red. Stern - Fluff, slate tinged with red.
UNDERCOLOR: Slate in all sections.

Color of Female

HEAD: Solf ginger yellow.
NECK: Hackle - golden yellow, striped with black. Front of Neck - ginger yellow.
BACK and CUSHION: Ginger yellow, stippled with black.
TAIL: Main Tail - Dull black, except two top feathers which should be stippled with ginger. Coverts - same as back.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts, Bows and Coverts - ginger yellow, stippled with black. Primaries - dull black, lower edges light ginger. Secondaries - dark ginger, lower edges forming wing bay, lighty stippled with black.
BREAST: Even shade of ginger yellow.
BODY and STERN: Body - dull ginger. Stern - fluff slate, tinged with giner.
LOWER THIGHS: Dull ginger.
UNDERCOLOR: Slate in all sections.

Disqualifications

White in any section of the plumage. DEFECTS: Frosty or mooney lacing in breast of female - Striping in hackle and saddle of male - Sooty appearance in breast of female.



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Mille Fleur Dutch Bantam

Mille Fleur trio

Mille Fleur Dutch Bantam



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