The Vorwerk is a light utility breed originating from Germany. It is recognised by its striking deep buff and velvety black plumage. The breed was developed by Oskar Vorwerk around 1900. They were created using Lakenvelders, utility type buff Orpingtons, buff Sussex and Andulasians. The breed was first shown in Hanover in 1912 and standardised in 1913. The aim was to provide a middle-weight, economical utility fowl, good-natured, lively, but not timid. The bantam followed around 1920 using undersized large Vorwerks, buff Orpington bantams, Gold Duckwing German bantams and Barnevelder bantams. It is worth noting that a separate Vorwerk bantam has been developed in the USA which, although has the same colouration, is of very different type, having Rosecomb in its makeup.

Although often stated that males live happily with each other, this is not necessarily the case.

The ideal cock. Photo courtesy of https://www.erhaltungszucht-gefluegel.de

For the exhibitor, the challenge is getting the combination of the correct type (body like a rounded rectangle, with low carriage) with good clean colour of the plumage and a grey undercolour. Very often birds appear with black ticking in the buff body and buff in the black hackles. The type carries 25% of the points and the colour another 25%. They should have slate coloured legs, white ear lobes and a bright orange eye. Easy to say, not so easy to breed! Care also needs to be taken to limit the exposure to the sun as it will bleach the rich buff colour. Pullets often develop black ticking on their bodies after their moult, so it’s always best to wait until their second year before picking birds for the breeding pen. There are also so called ‘half-pinters’ around, where the large fowl has been crossed with the bantams to produce birds are neither large nor bantam.

They are a lively, intelligent, friendly breed, and good layers of good-sized cream eggs. They do best when allowed to free range and prove to be economical in their food intake. As such, they are particularly suitable for smallholdings and farmyards and they are excellent foragers and quick to mature.

Recently a blue version has been developed where the black is replaced with a blue, though this colour is non-standard at the moment.

We have developed a third colour: the palomino. It replaces the black with white. This is not to be confused with splash, which is a double dose of blue. Palominos can be crossed with the standard Vorwerks and will, theoretically, produce 50% of each colour. Our Palominos are not currently in circulation.