Houdan

We have two gorgeous Houdans, Dorothy and Peppa. Neither is show quality but both are such sweet, quiet chickens. Dorothy has bright yellow legs. Peppa just has the top knot and not the beard but her top knot is all white at the back which looks very cute (especially when she gets a bit damp in the rain and it goes spikey). We keep them with four Old English Game Bantams and two Bantam Wyandottes. They have caused no trouble during introductions (which were very short) and they all get along very nicely. Dorothy's little shadow is our smallest chicken, a mis-marked/unusually coloured OEGB and Dorothy doesn't mind a bit. I love their low voices and Dorothy starts honking at me as soon as she hears me coming - I do think she is queen of the coop. Peppa is very quiet and sweet and they both tolerate, with eternal patience, being caught and cuddled by our kids. We travelled a long way to get them (it was a six hour round trip) but it was totally worth it as they have been adorable additions to our little flock.

I have two Mottled Houdans that were sold to me as Mottled Javas. It was quite OK with me as our chickens are pets and we don't plan to breed or anything. Tink and Leah were handled extensively by myself andf my 3 year old daughter and they seemed to love it. They learned their names quickly and run/fly across the yard or street or wherever they have wandered when we call them. They are crazy good foragers. They still (at 9 months old) squeeze through the bars of our fence to forage in our front yard....neighbors yards... across the street on city land.... totally crazy. They have both started laying before my other breeds who are older (RIR, speckled sussex, and cochins) and lay reliably every other day...about 3-4 medium white eggs per week. At lay, Tink became crazy. She pecks us (hard) on feet and bites if she gets the chance when we are in the yard. With her crazy poofed head feathers she is easy to pick up and put back in the run as she can't really see me coming from behind. I have to put her in the run while my kids are in the yard (unless she if out foraging like a crazy chicken). She will be fine and friendly and then turn and attck boots/legs the next. I am thinking of changing her name to Sybil. Leah on the other hand, is the sweetest gal and bottom of the pecking order. They both love to be held, which was a surprise to me. I think they are great additions to my flock (other than the days of bites from Tink) and they are laying even though it is winter and the days are so short.

For around six months now I have own a wee Houdan, named Houdini.
Houdini is a sweet wee bird and loves to eat out of my hand. She can be a bit picky when offered food on the ground, but loves munching up wheat when her mumma offers to it out of the hand. She is a truly stunning looking chicken, but takes a little maintanence as my hens free range. For a while I did not trim her beard, muffs or topknot back, and she was extremely flighty and came across as stupid or slow. However, as soon as I gave her a trim, and she had her peripheral vision, she turned into a sweet and endearing bird and was no longer left behind by the flock.
If you're looking for a sweet, gorgeous and inquisitive chicken, I would recommend a Houdan



Houdini on her first day at her new home, before her new feathers covered her eyes