Houdan chicken
The Houdan is a crested, bearded French dual-purpose breed with five toes, admired for both its table quality and its looks.
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The Houdan is a pure-bred chicken breed in the PCGB Rare Soft Feather Heavy class. Its origin is given as Houdan, France.
It is kept in large and bantam forms. Recognised colours: Green-Black with white mottles White, Cuckoo. Typical adult weights: cock about 3.2–3.6 kg, hen about 2.7–3.2 kg, bantam cock about 680–790 g and bantam hen about 620–740 g.
Expect roughly 180–240 eggs a year, with white shells. It is mainly kept as a dual-purpose bird and for exhibition or as an ornamental bird.
Compiled from poultryclub.org, poultrykeeper.com, en.wikipedia.org. See sources
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Identity
- Species
- Chicken
- Type
- Pure breed
- PCGB class
- Rare Soft Feather Heavy
- Origin
- Houdan, France
- Kept for
- Dual purpose, Exhibition or ornamental
History
It comes from the town of Houdan near Paris and was already established as a market bird by the mid-1800s, arriving in Britain about 1850.
Appearance
Medium-sized, mottled black-and-white (green-black with white tips) as standard, also white and cuckoo; full crest, beard and muffs, a V or leaf comb and five toes.
Recognised colours
Green-Black with white mottles White, Cuckoo
Size and weight
- Forms
- Large, Bantam
- Cock
- 3.2–3.6 kg
- Hen
- 2.7–3.2 kg
- Bantam cock
- 680–790 g
- Bantam hen
- 620–740 g
Eggs
- Eggs a year
- 180–240
- Egg colour
- White
- Notes
- Good for a crested breed: roughly 180–240 white eggs a year.
Temperament
- In short
- Docile and friendly
- Keeping notes
- Docile and friendly. The crest can block vision, so they suit a calm, secure run.
Hardiness
Fairly hardy; keep crest dry
Broodiness
Rarely broody
Flying
Not a strong flyer (unconfirmed)
Suitability
- Beginners
- Suitable for beginners (unconfirmed)
- Children
- Good with children (unconfirmed)
- Good to know
- Keep crests dry and check for mites.
Conservation status (RBST)
Not on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust's priority list.
Breed club
- The Rare Poultry Society, umbrella · Website
Sources
This page is compiled from:
Review
Some details are still being checked. In particular: flying; beginner and child suitability.
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