The Dutch Poultry Club first standardized the Dutch bantam in 1906, and today their standard recognizes over twenty varieties of the Dutch breed. The breed rapidly became very popular in Holland as it was possible to accomplish good conformity of type, color, comb and earlobes. Today the Dutch bantam is one of the most popular breeds in Holland, and is also a very popular breed in England. Dutch bantams are hardy, active and lively, and should be first small, second of good type, and third of good color. These gentle and quaint little birds often display attachment to their owners and are characterized by their smallness and elegance.
Dutch birds are good layers, good setters, and good broodies.
Because of their small size, Dutch females are only capable of covering a small clutch of eggs. Dutch bantams were first shown in this country in some of the larger eastern shows during the early 1950 s. The Dutch bantam did not acquire the attention of the fanciers and therefore soon disappeared from the exhibition. Perhaps due to the lack of interest, it is believed that the breed was either lost, or bred into other breeds as they begun to lose their fertility. Dutch bantams were again imported into this country in 1969 and 1970 into the Wisconsin area, and again in the 1980 s into the Tennessee region.