A Pint Sized Family Favorite Breed
The Bearded d’Anver is a true gem for backyard enthusiasts looking for a lovable, friendly, and beautiful chicken breed. Known for their gentle demeanor and distinctive, full beards, these bantam-sized birds bring a unique charm to any flock. They’re wonderfully suited to small spaces, making them perfect for urban and suburban backyards where space is limited but the desire for companionship is high.
These delightful birds may be small, but they lay an impressive 100-150 small, cream-colored eggs per year. Ideal for families or individuals looking for a friendly pet, Bearded d’Anvers are naturally curious and enjoy being around people, often forming strong bonds with their caretakers. Their compact size, combined with their sweet and docile nature, makes them an ideal choice for first-time chicken owners and seasoned keepers alike.
Add a Bearded d’Anver to your flock today and experience the joy of having a devoted little companion who will bring a smile to your face every day!
Alchemist Farm Heritage Chicken Breeds
This breed is sold straight run meaning each chick has a 50/50 chance of being male or female.
Quick Breed Stats:
Egg Color: cream
Egg Bloom: not typically visible changing the color of the egg but always present protecting the egg
Egg Size: bantam sized around 1/2 the size of a regular chicken egg
Egg Texture: Very smooth
Egg Production During Spring and Summer: High 5 eggs a week
Meat Production: Best for companionship and egg production, males do not have very much meat on them.
Heat Tolerance: very good if shade is provided
Cold Tolerance: very good if free from drafts
Disposition: Friendly, interactive, inquisitive.
Weeks to Maturity: 22
Free Range Ability: Best if given plenty of shrubs/bushes to hide under from arial predators.
Likelihood They Will Want To Hatch Eggs (broodiness): low
Noise level: Small pleasant purring noises. Roosters have a crow that matches the size of their body
Bearded d’Anver
The Belgian pint-sized companion — full beard, gentle demeanor, perfect for urban backyards.
Bearded d’Anvers were developed in the city of Antwerp (“Anvers” in French) in Belgium during the 17th and 18th centuries. They were bred deliberately as a small, urban-friendly bantam — and three centuries later, they remain one of the most charming companion breeds you can keep in a small backyard.
Our Bearded d’Anvers carry the breed’s signature full beard — fluffy muffs of feathers around the cheeks and chin — and have the gentle demeanor that makes them ideal for first-time keepers, homesteaders in urban settings, and families with young children. They produce small purring sounds rather than loud clucks. The roosters’ crow is tiny.
Quick Breed Stats
| Trait | What to expect |
| Egg color | Cream |
| Egg size | Bantam (about half a standard egg) |
| Egg texture | Very smooth |
| Eggs per week (peak) | 5 — surprisingly productive for a bantam |
| Eggs per year (mature hen) | 100-150 |
| Adult hen weight | 1.5 lbs |
| Time to point of lay | 22 weeks |
| Cold tolerance | Very good with draft-free coop |
| Heat tolerance | Very good with shade |
| Disposition | Friendly, interactive, inquisitive — small purring vocalizations |
| Free-range ability | Best with shrubs or cover for hiding |
| Broodiness | Low |
| Rooster crow | Small and unobtrusive — viable in urban settings |
| Special feature | Full beard and muff feathering around face |
| Sexing | Straight run only |
What Makes Our Bearded d’Anver Different
- Belgian heritage breed developed specifically for urban / small-space keepers.
- Pint-sized adult weight (~1.5 lbs) — minimal landscape impact.
- Full beard and muff give them a distinctive, photogenic look.
- Roosters have a tiny crow — keepable in many municipal settings where standard roosters aren’t.
- Surprisingly productive for a bantam: 100-150 eggs/year.
- Gentle, interactive temperament makes them excellent for first-time keepers and kids.
Care Basics
- 1-2 sq ft of coop per bird, 4-5 sq ft of run.
- Provide shrubs or low cover in the run — they feel safer with hiding spots.
- Clean-legged, so they handle wet conditions well.
- Standard 20% chick starter, then a high-quality layer feed.
Pricing
| Product | Price | Notes |
| Bearded d’Anver straight-run chick | $20 | 50/50 male/female |
Shipping is a flat $70 for up to 25 chicks via overnight USPS Express. Seasonal minimums: 10 chicks March-May and October, 6 chicks June-September. Local farm pickup is free with no minimum (we recommend at least two chicks so none is brooded alone).
Pair Your Bearded d’Anver With
- Bantam Cochin — another gentle bantam for a small-yard flock
- Bantam Silkie — for variety in bantam temperaments
- Serama — for the smallest possible companion combo
- Sage Eggers — for a colorful-egg standard breed alongside the bantams
Common Questions
Are Bearded d’Anvers good for urban backyards?
Yes — they were specifically developed for urban keeping in Belgium 300 years ago. Their small size, modest vocalizations, and tiny rooster crow make them one of the most municipal-friendly breeds available.
Will the rooster’s crow bother my neighbors?
Probably less than you’d expect. Bearded d’Anver roosters have a notably small, soft crow — but always check your local ordinances before keeping any rooster.
How many eggs will I get?
About 100-150 a year per hen, in bantam size (roughly half a standard egg). Surprisingly productive for a breed whose main purpose is companionship.
Are they good with kids?
Yes. They’re gentle, friendly, and small enough that children can hold them comfortably. The full beard makes them especially endearing to younger kids.
| Ready to bring Bearded d’Anver home? |