Mechelen
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fait Amusant
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.
🏷️ Race
Mechelen (Malines)
💭 Tempérament
Calm, docile, friendly, slow-moving, easy to fatten
📏 Taille
Large (4.1-5.4 kg)
⏳ Espérance de vie
4-7 years
🎨 Couleurs
Cuckoo (black and white barring giving grey appearance)
🌍 Origine
Belgium — Mechelen, Antwerp province; developed mid-19th century
🏠 Habitat
Enclosed run or farmyard; relatively sedentary breed
🍽️ Alimentation
Grower and finisher pellets; suited to intensive farmyard fattening
🎯 Usage
Meat
🥚 Couleur des œufs
Brown
👑 Type de crête
Single
🏅 Classe EE
Large Fowl