Chicken Breed Focus - Faverolles

[sumi]

The Faverolles is a French breed of chicken, developed in the 1860s near the village Faverolles from whence it took its name. Faverolles are known to have quiet and docile temperaments. Their good nature makes them an excellent choice for the backyard flock owner and they are popular as pets for children. Their excellent temperament combined with their production capabilities, has also seen them becoming popular with small flock owners looking for a gentle dual purpose breed. Their gentle nature does make them prone to being bullied by aggressive breeds though and they do best in flocks with other quiet breeds of similar temperaments. The males are said to make extremely quiet roosters.

They are quite unusual in appearance in that they have five toes and feathered shanks, as well as being heavily bearded and muffed, and their most popular color Salmon, is a color pattern which is exclusive to the Faverolles. Salmon colored birds have the females appearing a lightly colored pinkish wheaten and white, compared to the males which are a striking combination of black, gold and straw color, both have slate colored underfluff.

Many different breeds were used in developing the Faverolles, including the Houdan, Brahma and Dorking. They were originally bred to be a dual purpose production breed, and it is still fairly early maturing, quite winter hardy, an excellent table bird and the hens are good layers of large tinted eggs, especially in the winter. In the early 1900’s Faverolles were producing most of the eggs for the Paris, France market.

The Favorolles was imported into the US in the early 1900’s and is a very popular show bird today, both in standard and bantam sizes. They come in a number of colors, including the best known Salmon, White, Buff, Cuckoo and Blue among others.

It was recognized by the APA in 1914.
It is on The Livestock Conservancy's Threatened list.

Details:
Breed purpose: Dual Purpose.
Comb Type: Single.
Broodiness: Average, good mothers.
Climate Tolerance: Hardy, cold tolerant.
Weight: 8 lbs roosters, 6 lbs hens
Egg Productivity: Good / 160+ eggs year.
Egg Size: Large
Egg Color: Tinted


BYC Breed reviews:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/faverolles

General breed discussions & FAQ thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/268082/faverolles-thread/0_20

A Pictures & Stories Of My chickens thread about a special Faverolles:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/563302/derperella-the-weird-faverolles-friends/0_20



Favorelles hen, picture @appps



Favorelles Rooster & Hen, picture @jimnjay



Favorelles hens, picture @hcammack



Favorelles rooster, picture @comerspoultry



Favorelles rooster, picture @pfmerlin



Favorelles rooster, picture @pfmerlin


Favorelles Chicks, picture @Cloverleaf Farm


Do you own Favorelles? Are you a Favorelles breeder? If so, please reply to this thread with the your thoughts and experiences, including:

· What made you decide to get this breed?
· Do you own them for fun? Breeding? Some other purpose?
· What are your favorite characteristics about this breed?
· Post some pics of your birds; male/female, chicks, eggs, etc!

We have a bunch of other awesome breed-focus threads for you to enjoy. You can see all of them here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-breed-focus-project.975504/

 

[N F C]

I'm glad to see this be the featured breed focus...I've been wanting to learn more about Faverolles. Looking forward to reading members experiences with them (and pictures too)!

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

First, I would like to thank Sumi, for posting a pretty accurate description of the Faverolles. It's nice to see you did some research. Most of the time when I read a description of the breed, it is filled with partial truths and inaccuracies.

I got my first Faverolles from a friend who had gotten a mix of birds from a feed store. I had never heard of the breed before. But they quickly became my favorites, and I started researching. These hatchery birds were FAR from standard, both in color, and temperament, and as much as I liked them, I was so happily surprised when I hatched my first chicks from a reputable breeder!! I was AMAZED! And even several years later, they are still surprising me, and I would never choose any other breed.

I do want to answer to a couple of things that were mentioned above. One person mentioned how "flappy" her Faverolles is, at 11 weeks old. That is very common in these guys as youngsters. I almost guarantee you will find that she settles down around laying age. Though, hatchery birds are always a gamble, if they are going to be reliable to the breed standards or not, that's why I say I "almost" guarantee.

The other one was the person from Australia, who said that her Faverolles aren't very good layers. I can't speak for Australian birds, but I can assure the rest of you that is not the rule for the breed in the US, or UK. They were originally bred to be a good layer, and they are. It is possible that production is not something that has been selected for in Australia, and is a trait that has been decreased, or it could just be the particular line, but it is not the norm for the breed.


Club logo that I had re-done when I was club president. Cock that came out of that first hatch from a reputable breeder that I mentioned above, and hen that I hatched out of my own breeding.




"Fudge" the cock from the logo.



"Flo", a hen that I hatched, being shown by one of my 4-H kids. Won either champion, or reserve champion continental in every youth show she ever entered.



Posting this pic to show a nice wide skull, on a hen who had her beard plucked out when she was a youngster, and it never grew back in. But she was my favorite Fav hen I've ever had. Both for type, and personality.



Champion Continental hen. A little darker overall than I really prefer, but great type.



And, just for fun

 

[mame1616]

Faverolles are a fabulous breed! I'm continually delighted by their personalities and appearance, and very grateful for all of the great breeders I have met, and their wonderful advice.

Ok, soap box time, for those who are considering breeding Faverolles:

This is not an easy bird to breed. I strongly recommend that newbies do their research and ask lots of questions, before beginning a breeding program. One of the problems facing the breed in this country is a very small gene pool that is being regularly contaminated by people not breeding to standard, or breeding birds with faults, and then not culling strongly as the birds grow. (Granted, this issue is not limited to Faverolles only.) There are a small number of breeders out there doing it right, but a great number just breeding because "chicks are just so cute," or they want their kids to see the "miracle of life," or they just "want to see what happens if." Unfortunately, many of the results of these breedings end up producing even more birds that, because of poor genes, weaken the breed as a whole. It can take decades for faults (such as four toes, no beards, visible wattles, bad coloring, etc.) created through poor breeding to be eliminated from a line, and when the number of good birds is already so small, it can be devastating for the breed as a whole. You need to ask yourself - no matter what breed you're working with - why am I doing this? Is what I'm doing going to contribute positively to the breed?

No bird, no matter the breed, is going to be high quality from a hatchery. Some hatcheries are better than others, but only the occasional fluke will allow that bird to be showable to the standard. If you want birds that look like those in the standard, then you have to buy from responsible breeders. Starting a breeding program with hatchery birds can be done, but good results can take many years, because the good foundation just does not exist in those lines.

If you want birds that meet the standard, take your time, do your research, and start with the best stock you can get. Be willing to pay for the quality, and be willing to wait. A lot of the best breeders only have a handful of pairs and trios producing, so you may have to wait for next year's hatch. Trust me - it's worth it!

If you want birds for your backyard, then the hatcheries are a fine place to go. Many of us were introduced to Faverolles this way. The wonderful personalities exist in those birds, if not the looks. They are a great family pet, and great with kids.



***For the poster who commented that her chicks are freaking out every time she comes near - I have seen this with every single hatch, and have heard it from others. It's almost like Faverolles need time to grow into their brains or something. I don't even bother trying to get close to them until they are five months or more - they calm down a great deal by then. I have some 3-month-old pullets right now, and they have little birdy heart attacks every time I come to change their water and food. I just get in and out of there as quickly and calmly as I can, and leave them be. I know this seems like contrary advice, but it always seemed to me that I was stressing them more by forcing my attentions on them, instead of just leaving them alone to mature. Just be patient - they'll calm down. It's not you - it's them. I have no idea why this is.

For the poster that managed to get the birds to be friendly after a couple of weeks - good for you!

 

[keesmom]

***For the poster who commented that her chicks are freaking out every time she comes near - I have seen this with every single hatch, and have heard it from others.  It's almost like Faverolles need time to grow into their brains or something.  I don't even bother trying to get close to them until they are five months or more - they calm down a great deal by then. I have some 3-month-old pullets right now, and they have little birdy heart attacks every time I come to change their water and food.  I just get in and out of there as quickly and calmly as I can, and leave them be.   I know this seems like contrary advice, but it always seemed to me that I was stressing them more by forcing my attentions on them, instead of just leaving them alone to mature.  Just be patient - they'll calm down.  It's not you - it's them.  I have no idea why this is.  

We call them popcorn chicken during this stage. They stay this way for a while. They always do calm down as they mature.

 

[MaryOos]

I am a newbie to keeping chickens and have a backyard flock of 7. I ordered 5 salmon faverolles this spring. As chicks they were the only breed I ordered that got pasty butt. I had to check and clean their little bottoms twice a day. And between 2 and 3 weeks they all turned into screaming mimi's everytime I picked them up. I had planned to keep 2 because of their docile descriptions (and I love the muffs and feathered feet) but ended up selling off 4 and keeping an extra Columbian Wyandotte instead. The one I kept is still a screamer at 11 1/2 weeks. But now that she is feathered out she is also a flapper as she screams. She doesn't peck or nip and, in fact, always wants to be close to me. She'll even hop up on the garden swing to sit beside me and swing and lay in my lap. JUST DON'T LAY A HAND ON HER!!!!!!!! or she is screaming and running. I sure hope she mellows out with age. I am sure to hold and stroke her everyday to try and get her use to being handled.

I love her bright yellow eyes but she's gotten a lot of black feathers in her beard and muff. A huge disappointment as all the pictures I see of salmon hens have beautifully colored cream/ white beards. Maybe that's the difference between buying from mail order hatcheries verses a show breeder?

Rosie Fluffybottom at approx. 10 weeks old


her black coming in

 

[NeseO]

My Finicky Finas/Faverolles are my favorite group of ladies. They are a riot when they get ahold of grapes and have a soft honkish voice. My boy was anything but quiet, but very gentle and escorted me everywhere. Unfortunately my neighbor didn't like his serenades

 

[Chickassan]

You'll enjoy them no doubt there, that kind of enthusiasm is a flashing sign saying perfect fit.
Something you should know so you wont be worried, nothing bad just quirky.
O.k, here it is....this is the smartest they will ever be, by the time they lay eggs their brains are cotton candy.
They really embrace the ditz though, it is like a leg or an eye, an essential accessory to enter adulthood.

I'm so happy with them! I really can't wait to watch them grow into their crazy little chicken personalities I mean, the australorps are great in their own way, but these faverolles are a whole different thing from what I've seen so far, lol. And yes, for all I've heard about them getting picked on, none of these girls seem to be meek by any means. They have also been the first to figure out everything new I give them. So happy with our choices for first time chicken people

 

[Chickassan]

You did your homework!
I want to bronze you now, you have no idea

Lol, that was party of their charm to me! The descriptions of them "running around acting very busy doing nothing" and something about them tripping all over themselves, made me laugh and reminded me a little of myself... I don't need smart birds, just friendly with the added bonus of eggs

 

[RootyBoots]

Well, we tried for 5 pullets but it didn’t work out that way!
We have at least 2 cockerels.
They are 9 1/2 weeks.
They are funny creatures for sure!