Vorwerk

 

The Vorwerk is from Germany. It is a breed of chicken and not related to the German company that produces the Vorwerk vacuum cleaner. It is the only breed of chicken to share a name with a brand name of an appliance. It is a rare bird and comes in black-and-gold colors.

History

Oskar Vorwerk, a poultry breeder, began in 1900 to create a utilitarian fowl of Usable type, which would be medium-sized . He wanted a medium fowl with the pattern of the Lakenvelder (belted) but his would be dark gold in base color as opposed to the white of the Lakenvelder. In this regard, a Vorwerk is sometimes referred to incorrectly as a Golden Lakenvelder, particularly in North America. The Golden Lakenvelder is a plumage variety and a breed separate from the Vorwerk. The breeds used to create the Vorwerk were the Lakenvelder, Buff Orpington, Buff Sussex, and the Andalusian. By 1913, the Vorwerk was standardized. However, it never gained much use and is rare or extinct outside of Continental Europe.

Vorwerk bantam

In 1966, a U.S. man named Wilmar Vorwerk of New Ulm, Minnesota developed an interest in the breed but it had not been exported to North America. Thus, he created a bantam version from scratch, using Lakenvelder, Buff and Blue Wyandotte, Black-tailed Buff and Buff Columbian Rosecomb. The European fanciers have also created an independent miniaturized or bantam Vorwerk. There has never been an accepted single large fowl Vorwerk in the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection but the American Bantam Association recognizes the U.S. trait Vorwerk Bantam.

Characteristics

Vorwerks are dual purpose chickens suited for meat or egg production, or both.  Males in standard size weigh 2.5–3.2 kilos, and females 2–2.5 kilos.  The European bantam standard is different than the US standards, which makes sense as they were produced with different breeds.  For example, the Bantam males in the US are 765 grams, and female in the US are 650 grams, but are heavier in Europe at 910 grams for males and 680 grams for females.  If you are showing in Europe it is worth looking out for that standard, rather than relying on the US version.  Large Vorwerk hens are acceptable layers of cream eggs, and will produce around 170 in a year.  Bantams are also dual purpose, but (like all bantams) lay smaller eggs than large birds, and produce fewer of them.

Vorwerks are hardy, adaptable birds that have low appetites.  They are alert and restless in temperament, but not really flighty.  Their plumage is solid black on head, neck and tail, and buff colour on the rest of the bird.  The breed standard ideals state there should be no black spots in the buff parts, but this is practically impossible to breed.  Vorwerks have a single comb, slate grey underfluff, and white ear lobes.