Lakenvelder

The Lakenvelder is a striking old breed whose name refers to its distinctive colour pattern: a clean white body set against a solid black head, neck and tail, often described as a "shadow on a sheet". It is an alert, lightweight fowl with a neat single comb, slate-blue legs and a tight, glossy feathering that shows the contrast off well. The breed is generally kept as much for its ornamental appeal as for its eggs, and it carries itself in an upright, active manner.

This is an active, foraging bird that does best with space to range, where it will busy itself hunting for much of its own food. Lakenvelders are hardy and economical to keep, but they are flighty and not naturally tame, so they suit a keeper who appreciates a lively, watchful breed rather than a lap hen. The clear black-and-white marking takes a generation or two to come true, which is part of what keeps it a specialist's favourite.