Chantecler

I have owned over thirty breeds and varieties over the years, but Chanteclers (Buff and Partridge) are easily the best of all of them. They are very cold hardy and have small combs and wattles, so I don't have to deal with winter trimming every year. They have nice large frames that make processing old hens and extra cockerels worthwhile, and those same large frames give extra room for egg production. They're docile, yet range wary and certainly not dumb. If you live up north, please give these birds a shot.

Got some white ones, and I was love at first sight, Great brids, I have 2 that raised 3 white ones together!

They are good, I just got myself some of the buff, and I'm not dissipointed!

Just fantastic brids, double thumbs up!

I see a lot of people are saying that Chanteclers are flightily. That has not been my experience at all! They are the most friendly and curious of all my breeds. When I'm in the run there is usually at least one tapping at my leg wanting treats or picked up. Yes they like to be picked up and just being near you. They are also good foragers and are brave. Very smart. They do have a bit of an attitude like they just know they are special. They make unique noises, not loud just chatting. They are not bullies but will stand up for themselves. My rooster is very much the gentleman and sweet natured he has never shown any aggression at all, a bit shy in fact. He doesn't crow much and when he does its a bit different than your average, less obnoxious. The

hens are quite a bit heavier than my other heritage breeds. They would be a very good dual purpose bird if thats what you are looking for. When I chose to get them my reasons were primarily that they would do well in a cold climate and I also have to say that they have done just as good or better on hot days compared to my others. If I could have only one breed they would be it. In the pic my roo is 4 1/2 months old.

A good beginner breed, requires very little care, clean water, bedding and feed. Adults will forage all day long if allowed out noticeably reducing feed cost. The hens lay well without artificial light.

The standard size roosters are loud, the hens like to talk. The breed is not flighty and can be quite friendly.

I have 3 partridge chantecler hens. They are middle pecking order in my flock, not too bossy and not too meek. They are excellent foragers and good layers. My only strike against them is that all 3 of them are extremely broody, and it's difficult to get them off the nest once they've decided they're ready to raise chicks. I had one chantecler sit on a nest for almost 6 months! I let her because we have lots of nest boxes so she wasn't bugging anyone, and she wasn't losing weight (she was eating normally). We tried everything to get her off the nest box including 3 weeks in a nest-less cage, but she just got right back in that nest as soon as we let her back into the coop.
Having said that, I let two of them raise babies. One of them was a great mommy, but the other killed her one baby. Not sure if that's breed-specific but thought I should mention it.
Extremely broody hens are not great for small flocks as they take up nest space and don't lay while they're broody, so these are not great birds for small flocks, in my humble opinion.

My buff Chantecler is beautiful and sweet. I was a bit worried because my hen has a twisted wing feather.

These ladies are a sharp looking bird, the lack of typical chicken facial features give them a nice different appearance in comparison to other breeds. They are quick to run away but will come back and do their typical chicken routine of scratching the ground and eating if you stay still and / or toss treats. Mine were quick learners and seem to have responded well to a morning and nightly routine of letting them in and out of their run, I was actually a little surprised just how smart these birds seem.

I don't really want to comment on their production value at the moment as the days are shortening and they are still new, but in general I hear you can expect around 200 eggs a year.

Chanteclers are an okay breed. They are excellent in cold weather; as they come from frigid Canada. However, these birds do not do well in torrid, hot weather. They are fairly good layers, but they are flighty. If you are looking for a pet breed this isn't your breed ;]

I bought 6 of these pullets at the feed store last april and I just love them! I lost one chick to a predator and then one just died in the 90+ degree june weather. I think she got to hot, but i'm not sure.
My buff Chanteclers went through a few ugly phases, but now they are some of the prettiest in the flock. They have really thick, tight, glossy plumage and have small bodies that are surprisingly heavy when picked up. Also, they seem to fight a little more, but I am pretty sure all 4 are laying regularly and, one of them in particular is good and friendly.

There is no doubt in my mind that those monks in Quebec did a great thing! This is one of the best dual purpose birds I have had to date (let's keep in mind that I have only been keeping birds for about 5 years). Their egg production is very good, even through the winter months. Egg size is great and the colour is a lovely dark beige. My girls started laying at about five months. When I handle one of the girls, you can tell that there is a significant amount of meat on her and they are both filled out in all the right places. I only have the two girls so we haven't processed one yet, but I do know that if I was to be self-sufficient and wanting to find a bird that I could get both eggs and meat from, this would be my first try.

I like these birds because they get along with all with each other and they are very docile and pleasant, but very curious.

I have three White Chanteclers. The oldest one, Cottonball, is the head hen of our flock and is smart and kind. Our other two hens, Aurora and Borialis, are docile and lay many eggs, and are good friends with Cottonball. We used to have one more Chantecler, but she died of many strokes at the same time. She was Aurora and Borialis's half sister. Aurora and Borialis are sisters. Cottonball is very old, she is the last chicken we have left from the first three birds we got. Chanteclers are a great breed, and there is a breeder near my house. If you're looking for a dual purpose bird, or one that makes a good pet, that is good in harsh winters, Chanteclers are the breed for you.

I ordered 25 "hatchery choice" chicks last February, and a few days later the electricity went off while I was at work. The only chick to survive the hours of freezing temps. was what turned out to be a Buff Chantecler. Since then, she has earned her way into my heart. She's the friendliest of the several breeds I keep, started laying at only 17 weeks of age, laid regularly, and then 6 weeks later went into setting mode. The first batch of eggs she sat on did not hatch (I should have removed her from the others - they would try to lay eggs in her nest). However, she remained in setting mode, so I isolated her nest and put another batch of eggs under her. She has now hatched her first chicks and she's a great mom. Since one of my goals is to develop a self-sustaining flock of pastured poultry, "Mrs. Chantecler" has given me a sense of optimism that the setting instinct has not been bred out of all varieties.
I would have never thought to order Chanteclers, but after my experience with this Buff variety, I'm not sure I'd want to be without them. I would highly recommend this breed.

We got our girls as adolescents. Very nice birds, but kind of shy.

We got our first 12 pullets in the fall. Maybe it was the time of year but we had problems with illness and now only have 8 left. They are supposed to be very winter hardy but they are the last to leave the coop on cold days, while our Red Sex Links (much smaller) are out in all kinds of weather. We hatched some eggs from these pullets and the offspring seem to be larger and more hardy than the older ones, and more friendly. Even the roosters are gentle and allow us to pick them up. Eggs gradually get larger and these birds are supposed to keep laying for years.

I had 3 girls. They were quite shy and only laid a small egg a few times a week. They were very quiet, but a nice looking bird, and does well in colder climates. This was my own experience with them.

I have 2 females and im finding that they are very shy. They hide away from the main flock that they used to be a part of. My little Belgian d'uccle male has adopted them into his little flock, and they are doing very well. One of my fav breeds!

In want of winter hardy fowl we opted to purchase Partridge Chantecler chicks. They were a fearless bunch that jumped all over us as soon as we opened the brooder. Their growth and size amazed us, as roosters were ready for butchering at just three to four months. The meat was delicious, and tender without being fatty.

The hens started laying a little before six months, and have proven to be steady productive hens. We do not give our birds light during the winter, but they didn't seem to notice.

Chanteclers love food, and free-ranging will dramatically decrease your feed bill. Also, free-ranged fowl have grown just as quickly as those that where penned. (This has not been the case with many of the breeds we raise.)

Our roosters are friendly, and easy to handle. The hens are nice, but are stuck up. They don't just think, they know they are better then our other chickens, and prefer to be with other Chanteclers.