Brakel
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fun Fact
Brakels were nearly extinct by the 1970s with fewer than 100 birds remaining. A dedicated conservation programme in Belgium rescued the breed, and it is now considered a living piece of Belgian agricultural heritage.
An ancient Belgian breed from the Brakel region of East Flanders, with documented history stretching back to the 14th century making it one of Europe's oldest surviving poultry breeds. Brakels have a distinctive pencilled plumage pattern — silver or gold ground colour with fine black pencilling on each feather — and a white head and neck hackle contrasting sharply with the pencilled body. A productive layer of white eggs, the Brakel nearly vanished in the 20th century and is now actively conserved.
🏷️ Breed
Brakel
💭 Temperament
Active, alert, flighty, good forager, independent
📏 Size
Medium (2.3-2.7 kg)
⏳ Lifespan
5-8 years
🎨 Colors
Silver Brakel: white with black pencilling; Gold Brakel: gold with black pencilling
🌍 Origin
Belgium — Brakel, East Flanders; 14th century or earlier
🏠 Habitat
Free-range; historically a farmyard and village breed
🍽️ Diet
Layer pellets; excellent forager — historically semi-feral village birds
🎯 Purpose
Egg
🥚 Egg Colour
White
👑 Comb Type
Single
🏅 EE Class
Large Fowl