Reviews by SnowChik

I'm just getting back in to Langshans (thanks Rodriguez Poultry for the re-start!) after about 15 years away from them, but I wanted to share my experiences with the flock I had growing up...(Both times my birds were from the Beuford line.)

They are truly the "Gentle Giant" of the chicken world. I also have Great Danes, and these birds are so similar its not even funny! The roosters get very large and take a while to do so (they'll look goofy until about 2, and then they're stunning!) Hens develop pretty normally and are very distinguished and sweet-but they do get broody! Both sexes will be very large and stand tall (sometimes as tall as a turkey!) so you need to have nesting/roosting situations appropriately sized for them.

My Langshans lived in a mixed flock and never caused any trouble. They were calm and elegant, really the "kings" of my flock. No one messed with them because they were so big. They were kind to people and animals alike, and I did have to worry about predators eating them because they were so friendly. They honestly felt more like dogs because they preferred being with people than the other chickens.

I can't stress enough about getting Langshans from a show line, not a hatchery line. The hatchery Langshans often are more flighty and do not have the same body type or temperament. A well-bred Langshan rooster is one of the most beautiful sights to behold. I can't say enough about how much I love this breed!

I flat-out LOVE my Crevecoeur. They're not the breed for everyone, as they are a lot like feathered goats. VERY SMART. (Smarts that can get them in to trouble if you don't watch what they're getting in to.) Very different temperament from some of the other crested breeds (especially Polish.)

Mine love to scratch, and I think they get that from their dad who is a feathered black rototiller. They will begin destroying your brooder and any place they can dig in at 1 day old. That said, they are EXCELLENT foragers and bug eaters and very intelligent and aware of their surroundings (especially if you keep a rooster with them.) The girls tend to be a little mellower than the boys, and the boys are just addictively charming. I fell in love with the breed thanks to the personality of my foundation rooster "Jim." He is feisty but sweet in all the right ways.

They can be high strung so they need a lot of handling and socialization. I had one batch that I missed being around for the first week and they took a long time to calm down. I find that if you can be with them a ton through their first week (talking to them, holding them, putting your hand in the brooder) they will reward you with lovely and trusting temperaments, even if they do have a mind of their own. It also helps to raise them with a calmer breed (I raise mine with LF Cochins and Langshans) because the mellower birds tend to even the Crevecoeur out.

Crevecoeur also LOVE to fly. They will want to perch on anything and will start trying to fly out of the brooder at an early age. I keep mine enclosed for this reason, but I give them fun perching options. They like brain games.

My boys are the definition of "cocky." Very jaunty and handsome and excellent lookouts. Also very good to their hens and they love to find food for the flock. Some can be jerks, but the more you handle them the better they will be. I have one little cockerel who is the "alpha" of his flock and when he gets to be a bit too rough all I have to do is tell him to behave and he actually does! (It's creepy, but I swear these guys know what I'm saying when I tell them to do something...I have not found that with any of the other breeds I've raised.)

The hens are very alert as well and very sweet. My girls all look at me like I'm the "rooster" so when I come home to say "hi" they all come and mob me. One of my girls is my little shadow and follows me everywhere. They also still keep their wits about them even if they have a larger topknot (which is way better than a Polish-you won't lose as many to predation.) Not excellent layers, though, and no broody instinct at all. You'll need a good incubator or another broody hen if you want to breed them. Their eggs are fairly petite and white.

These little guys are seriously AWESOME! Not as easy as some of the starter breeds (I think that's partly why they're endangered,) but so worth it! If you have a chance to try one, I highly recommend it!