Chicken Breed Focus - Houdan

My new babies are here!

Has anyone ordered Houdans from Mypetchicken.com ?

This doesn’t seem to be the most active thread, but I’d like to join in nonetheless. I got 3 mottled houdan hens yesterday afternoon, just for a laying addition to my flock, and to keep my roosters company, and they’re actually adorable little birds.
All 3 houdans laid a little white egg today, and don’t seem stressed with the change of habitat. Their 5 toes were a surprise to me, but even more of a surprise is that all 3 of the hens I got also have spurs of varying size.

I think what’s slightly disappointing to me is their size. They are tiny little buggers, for sure.
Here’s one of the hens beside one of my roosters, for scale.

They are adorable birds though, and i’m trying to befriend them already.

I Like Turkeys said:

This doesn’t seem to be the most active thread, but I’d like to join in nonetheless. I got 3 mottled houdan hens yesterday afternoon, just for a laying addition to my flock, and to keep my roosters company, and they’re actually adorable little birds.
All 3 houdans laid a little white egg today, and don’t seem stressed with the change of habitat. Their 5 toes were a surprise to me, but even more of a surprise is that all 3 of the hens I got also have spurs of varying size.
View attachment 3385003
I think what’s slightly disappointing to me is their size. They are tiny little buggers, for sure.
Here’s one of the hens beside one of my roosters, for scale.
View attachment 3385002
They are adorable birds though, and i’m trying to befriend them already.View attachment 3385004View attachment 3385005

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May I ask where you got them from? I have 3 ordered from Mypetchicken. Due April, 2023.

feliciadawn said:

May I ask where you got them from? I have 3 ordered from Mypetchicken. Due April, 2023.

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MPC is a drop shipper, their source changes from time to time as far as I know. Not sure who they're working with lately. Hatchery Houdans on the whole run very small, though.

feliciadawn said:

May I ask where you got them from? I have 3 ordered from Mypetchicken. Due April, 2023.

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Purchased them from just a local person. They’d hatched the birds themselves, but as far as heritage goes, i’ve got no clue other than that. They still seem wonderful already though, and i’ve only had them a bit over 24 hours.

Edit: I also purchased an ayam cemani from them. She’s about the same size as one of my BC hens. When I first brought all the birds home(houdans and ayam cemani) I assumed birds from their farm were just naturally smaller,

I Like Turkeys said:

Purchased them from just a local person. They’d hatched the birds themselves, but as far as heritage goes, i’ve got no clue other than that. They still seem wonderful already though, and i’ve only had them a bit over 24 hours.

Edit: I also purchased an ayam cemani from them. She’s about the same size as one of my BC hens. When I first brought all the birds home(houdans and ayam cemani) I assumed birds from their farm were just naturally smaller,

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I’ve noticed with my Houdan hen he’s smaller than a standard by larger than a bantam, I think Houdan are more of a medium sized breed.

feliciadawn said:

May I ask where you got them from? I have 3 ordered from Mypetchicken. Due April, 2023.

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Mypetchicken gets their chickens from Meyer. I ordered one Houdan two years ago, but she didn't survive the shipping. I heard Houdans are easier to die during shipping. Wish you good luck with your chicks.

Purchased mine from Ideal. Good color on girls boys are ok but would prefer more white spotting on their backs. Beards and muffs look good too. I’ve got two roos in with 6 pullets. They are just starting to lay. Mine are good sized. They didn’t seem to be as thrifty as some of the other chicks I’ve raised. I started with 25. Sold 4 extra roos. Rest are remaining from that order. I’ll get pictures of my bunch to share.