About the vorwerk
Origin: Germany
Classification: Light, Rare
Egg Colour: Cream to tinted
The Vorwerk breed was the vision of Oskar Vorwerk from Hamburg in Germany in the 1900. The aim of this new breed was to create a bird which would be dual purpose both a good layer and suitable for meat on the table too. The Vorwerk is believed to have come from Lakenvelders, Orpingtons, Ramelslohers and Andalusians and the result is what we have to day a bird that is hardy, easy to keep as long as it has the proper care, and is great for the smallholder as not only will the birds provide approximately 170 cream coloured eggs per season but the cockerels make a tasty bird for the table.
PROS.
The Vorwerk is very flighty, and can fly around 2 metres so it is important that adequate fencing is provided, otherwise you may find your Vorwerk flying out of your garden, or smallholding.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
MALE
Classification: Light, Rare
Egg Colour: Cream to tinted
The Vorwerk breed was the vision of Oskar Vorwerk from Hamburg in Germany in the 1900. The aim of this new breed was to create a bird which would be dual purpose both a good layer and suitable for meat on the table too. The Vorwerk is believed to have come from Lakenvelders, Orpingtons, Ramelslohers and Andalusians and the result is what we have to day a bird that is hardy, easy to keep as long as it has the proper care, and is great for the smallholder as not only will the birds provide approximately 170 cream coloured eggs per season but the cockerels make a tasty bird for the table.
PROS.
- The Vorwerk as chicks are fast growing and mature very quickly. The Vorwerk chicks are born with their colouring in reverse, a ginger head and black body, which change as the bird feathers up.
- The Vorwerk is very economical to keep as prefers to free range and forage for its own food, but will just as easily adept well to being confined to an enclosed run.
- The Vorwerk cockerel will happily live alongside another Vorwerk male with little or no fighting.
- The Vorwerk is very easy to tame and not at all shy and is also extremely intelligent and learns quickly.
- The Vorwerk integrates well with other flocks.
- The Vorwerk is very straightforward to keep not like many other rare breeds and is also very hardy even in cold and wet conditions.
The Vorwerk is very flighty, and can fly around 2 metres so it is important that adequate fencing is provided, otherwise you may find your Vorwerk flying out of your garden, or smallholding.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
MALE
The carriage of the male should be very powerful, compact and utility shape. The carriage should be low rather than high, and not too much bone.
Head should be of medium sized and moderately broad. The face should be covered with small feathers, the comb well rounded. The ear lobes of barely average size almond shaped, and coloured white.
The neck should be of moderate length with full hackle and carried fairly upright.
Legs and feet should be of moderate length with fine bone, four toes, small close fitting scales thighs fleshy and tightly feathered.
Plummage should be close fitting and glossy with velvety hackle. The legs are slate blue and they have four toes.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
FEMALE
Head should be of medium sized and moderately broad. The face should be covered with small feathers, the comb well rounded. The ear lobes of barely average size almond shaped, and coloured white.
The neck should be of moderate length with full hackle and carried fairly upright.
Legs and feet should be of moderate length with fine bone, four toes, small close fitting scales thighs fleshy and tightly feathered.
Plummage should be close fitting and glossy with velvety hackle. The legs are slate blue and they have four toes.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
FEMALE
The general characteristics are similar to those of the male, allowing for the natural sexual differences. Back to be broad with almost no cushion. The latter part of the small comb may bend slightly to one side.
COLOUR
Male Plummage: Head, hackle and tail should be velvety black. Body deep buff, undercolour grey. Wing secondaries buff: primaries dark grey to black. Saddle buff with light striping. Legs Slate.
Female Plummage: Hackle black with slight buff lacing permitted at the back of the head. Body and secondary wing flights buff; primaries greyish black and buff mixed. Tail black with the tail furnishings partly laced with buff. Undercolour grey.
In both sexes. Beak greyish-blue to horn. Eyes orange or orange-red. Cob, face and wattles red. Lobes white. Legs and feet slate.
COLOUR
Male Plummage: Head, hackle and tail should be velvety black. Body deep buff, undercolour grey. Wing secondaries buff: primaries dark grey to black. Saddle buff with light striping. Legs Slate.
Female Plummage: Hackle black with slight buff lacing permitted at the back of the head. Body and secondary wing flights buff; primaries greyish black and buff mixed. Tail black with the tail furnishings partly laced with buff. Undercolour grey.
In both sexes. Beak greyish-blue to horn. Eyes orange or orange-red. Cob, face and wattles red. Lobes white. Legs and feet slate.