Faverolles Thread

[BuffyBugSlayer]

I like all three! How are the toes? If I had to pick, I would go with the ones with the best type first - see that nice upside-down trapezoid shape in #3? - then with color - the white in the beard of #2 is less desirable, although it can be used for producing better females.

That being said, males are hard. They're not really set in their adult plumage until they are a year. That's why you go with type first - the stuff that you look at if they were a solid color. Toes, skin color, comb, eye color, the trapezoid shape, width in chest, weight, etc.

Thank you mame1616! I really appreciate your feedback. I am new to looking at chickens for qualities other than "cute". These are my first non-hatchery chickens. I am going to a show in May (not taking chickens) to see what is there, who is there and if I can get a feel for shows to see if it is something I would like to do. Even if I don't end up showing I would like to breed some good quality individuals.

I do see the trapezoidal shape in #3. Especially after you pointed it out

. He is also the smallest of the three, though not by a lot. I don't like his comb very well and he has the worst toes of the three. Although he does have 5 toes and they are separated, they just don't have as good of shape. Maybe that isn't as important? I am not entirely clear on what is acceptable when it comes to toes. Maybe if my husband is willing to help I can get pictures of all three of their toes.

I might post my girls too. I think they are nice looking as well, though two of the females had curled toes at hatch and even though I taped them they are still obvious now. This could be an incubation/humidity issue but I am not sure. I have noticed that three of the girls have some dark/black flecking in their hackle feathers (not their beards) even though over all they are quite light in color. The two that don't have the flecking are smaller in size and have a darker overall coloring. Body shape isn't as obvious to me right now.

I know with time I will be able to see what a good bird looks like. Right now it is difficult and I have a hard time weighing faults vs strengths. What aspects are more important, etc.

 

[keesmom]

I do see the trapezoidal shape in #3. Especially after you pointed it out

. He is also the smallest of the three, though not by a lot. I don't like his comb very well and he has the worst toes of the three. Although he does have 5 toes and they are separated, they just don't have as good of shape. Maybe that isn't as important? I am not entirely clear on what is acceptable when it comes to toes. Maybe if my husband is willing to help I can get pictures of all three of their toes.

I'd go for shape over toes and combs. As long as there are 5 toes judges don't really care, and extra points on the comb only get deducted 1/2 point. Of course which one may be better will also depend on the hens you are matching them up with.

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

Thank you keesmom. I won't be breeding him to the girls I have currently since they are closely related. But I might hold onto him for future use.

 

[keesmom]

How closely related? Siblings?

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

How closely related? Siblings?

They were all hatched from the same flock of about a dozen hens and a few roosters.

 

[keesmom]

Poultry inbreeding isn't all bad. Line breeding is a form of inbreeding. You could put one male over the hens and see what you get. Then next year put that male (or one of the other 2) over the daughters, and one son over the older hens. And keep going from there.

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

Poultry inbreeding isn't all bad. Line breeding is a form of inbreeding. You could put one male over the hens and see what you get. Then next year put that male (or one of the other 2) over the daughters, and one son over the older hens. And keep going from there.

Thank you for your thoughts. I appreciate it!

 

[mame1616]

Thank you mame1616! I really appreciate your feedback. I am new to looking at chickens for qualities other than "cute". These are my first non-hatchery chickens. I am going to a show in May (not taking chickens) to see what is there, who is there and if I can get a feel for shows to see if it is something I would like to do. Even if I don't end up showing I would like to breed some good quality individuals.

I do see the trapezoidal shape in #3. Especially after you pointed it out

. He is also the smallest of the three, though not by a lot. I don't like his comb very well and he has the worst toes of the three. Although he does have 5 toes and they are separated, they just don't have as good of shape. Maybe that isn't as important? I am not entirely clear on what is acceptable when it comes to toes. Maybe if my husband is willing to help I can get pictures of all three of their toes.

I might post my girls too. I think they are nice looking as well, though two of the females had curled toes at hatch and even though I taped them they are still obvious now. This could be an incubation/humidity issue but I am not sure. I have noticed that three of the girls have some dark/black flecking in their hackle feathers (not their beards) even though over all they are quite light in color. The two that don't have the flecking are smaller in size and have a darker overall coloring. Body shape isn't as obvious to me right now.

I know with time I will be able to see what a good bird looks like. Right now it is difficult and I have a hard time weighing faults vs strengths. What aspects are more important, etc.

Good for you for checking out the shows ahead of time! They can be very confusing for newcomers, and they pass their tension on to their birds. Talk to a lot of the people there - we're always happy to induce the addiction in others!

 

[BuffyBugSlayer]

I'd go for shape over toes and combs. As long as there are 5 toes judges don't really care, and extra points on the comb only get deducted 1/2 point. Of course which one may be better will also depend on the hens you are matching them up with.

About matching hens to roosters...I have 5 pullets and three are a lighter shade and two a slightly darker shade. I have seen discussion on light vs dark pullets and what rooster to use but I don't think I am clear about what exactly is being discussed.

For example my three lighter pullets have dark/black flecks in their hackle feathers. The two darker pullets do not. The darker ones are more consistent in coloration but are smaller than the other three. I don't think the black flecks are desirable even though the three that have them are lighter in color. I guess that is where my confusion lies when discussing dark vs light. Are we talking body coloration or black flecks?

Here are pics of the pullets. First a group shot from this morning. They are all dirty right now but they all have white beards with no flecks. The pullet on the far right is a light one and the one next to her is darker one:

Here is a picture of one of the lighter pullets followed by a top view that shows the flecking:


Here is one of the darker pullets followed by a top view that shows no flecking:

 

[keesmom]

The light vs dark coloration refers to body coloration. However color should be secondary to trying to get a good Faverolles type. It can get confusing. Do you have a copy of the APA SOP?