Overview
The Barbu de Grubbe is a Belgian bantam chicken breed. It developed as a naturally occurring rumpless variant of the Barbu d'Anvers, sharing many characteristics with its tasseled relative. This breed maintains the small stature typical of true bantams, without a corresponding large-fowl version.
While sharing its country of origin and physical similarities with the Barbu d'Anvers, the Barbu de Grubbe's distinct lack of a tail defines its unique identity. Accepted color varieties for both breeds are consistent. Its status as a true bantam means it has always existed in its small form.
Origins
Tracing back to Belgium, the Barbu de Grubbe earned its place in the lineage of bantams through generations of selection — a slow conversation between climate, husbandry, and human eye. Rumpless variant of the Barbu d'Anvers.
Temperament
Custodians describe the Barbu de Grubbe as its temperament is generally considered calm and docile..
Conservation
Current status: Not formally tracked, but likely rare. · rarity tier Rare. Working populations remain in the hands of a small global network — 0+ of them keep programmes on Best of Breed alone.
Barbu de Grubbe, in photographs.
A living plate — community submissions and high-resolution photographs from Wikimedia Commons, sorted by clarity.