Vorwerk Bantams

Having won ‘Best Bantam Vorwerk’ at the National show every year since 2011, it is clear that breeder Jane Freeman has a real passion for the breed - the bantams in particular. We caught with her to find out more about them…

- Jane Freeman

Jane, congrats on your wins with the Vorwerk bantams. What other wins of note have you secured?

Thank you. I got best in show at Kent in 2012 - my first ever show champion!, best in show at Royal Berkshire championship show in 2013, and reserve champion at Royal Berkshire the previous year.

As mentioned, best Vorwerk bantam at the National from 2011 to 2016, best overall Vorwerk at the National 2011, 2012, 2015, and best soft feather light rare breed at the National 2015

At the Fed I got Best Vorwerk from 2013 to 2016, best overall Vorwerk 2013, 2015, 2016, and best soft feather light rare breed in 2015.

I have won numerous best rare awards (about 18 in total).

How long have you kept the Vorwerks and in which sizes?

In 2011 I decided to venture into some rare breeds and purchased some Vorwerk hatching eggs via the Internet. From those 6 hatching eggs I managed to hatch two pullets, and realised after achieving a second in a large class of rares at a championship show that they were half decent birds. Then came the search for a good cockerel – this took some time to find as by then I had realised that there were many poorly coloured birds out there. I have only ever kept the bantams, and only in the classic black/buff colouring – I am not a fan of the blue Vorwerks – to my mind the blues lack the stunning contrast of the blacks.

Presumably they are good layers?

Yes, they are excellent layers, producing good-shaped white or cream eggs. I have just checked the weight of the bantam hens eggs, which come in at 43g. Not bad for a light bantam. Compare that to 49g for a large fowl Vorwerk egg! They are also meagre eaters, which makes them a good breed to keep for egg production.

Are they ever inclined to sit, and if so do you make use of them?