Malines

The Malines, also called the Mechelen chicken or Mechelse koekoek in cuckoo lines, is a large Belgian chicken from the Mechelen or Malines area. Developed in the nineteenth century from local farm fowl and heavy Asian stock, it was bred as a table bird with a broad body, a single comb, pale legs that are often lightly feathered, and a steady disposition. The best-known color is cuckoo or barred, though other varieties occur in European standards.

Small farms and heritage breeders keep Malines as a dual-purpose chicken, especially for meat quality; hens also lay a useful number of brown eggs but are not commercial layers. Large birds need room to move, dry litter, strong low roosts, and enough feed during growth to develop frame without becoming overly fat. Feathered shanks pick up mud in wet runs, so drainage matters. When buying hatching eggs or chicks, ask whether the line is selected for table type, exhibition color, or general backyard use, because body size and leg feathering vary.