Mechelen
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fun Fact
At their peak, Mechelen chickens were Belgium's most valuable agricultural export. Live birds were shipped in crates by train across Europe to Paris, London, and Berlin, where 'Malines capons' were a luxury restaurant staple.
Belgium's premier table breed, originating from the city of Mechelen (Malines in French) in Antwerp province. The Mechelen is a large, heavily built cuckoo-patterned bird — each black and white barred feather giving the breed a steely grey appearance — developed for its exceptional meat quality and impressive market weight. Méchelse Koekoek (Mechelen Cuckoo) was the centrepiece of the Belgian Christmas poultry market and was exported across Europe as a luxury table bird.
🏷️ Breed
Mechelen (Malines)
💭 Temperament
Calm, docile, friendly, slow-moving, easy to fatten
📏 Size
Large (4.1-5.4 kg)
⏳ Lifespan
4-7 years
🎨 Colors
Cuckoo (black and white barring giving grey appearance)
🌍 Origin
Belgium — Mechelen, Antwerp province; developed mid-19th century
🏠 Habitat
Enclosed run or farmyard; relatively sedentary breed
🍽️ Diet
Grower and finisher pellets; suited to intensive farmyard fattening
🎯 Purpose
Meat
🥚 Egg Colour
Brown
👑 Comb Type
Single
🏅 EE Class
Large Fowl