Faverolles Thread

[Snozzle]

My French Marans are awesome, just a suggestion

I would like to have a 'bator, but it does seem like a lot of work - and playing momma hen doesn't quite fit into my lifestyle

I have never heard of broody Marans, but I will give it a try. Would be nice to have a dark layer so I don't have to guess on who's egg I have.

 

[flowerchild59]

I had a marans hen last year hatch out a couple of chicks but she wasn't a good mama and I had to take them away. The sussex hen I had last year, what a splendid hen she was, and raised her chicks she hatched (5 or so) and I slipped another 7 under her at night that were day old chicks I had incubator hatched, and she raised them all.

 

[flowerchild59]

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[keesmom]

I was just wondering what everyones experience on broodiness is with faverolles. So far I have heard different things from everyone. I tried to hatch out a few standard Cochins to use as broodies, but it looks like the postal service has done a number on those eggs and none seem to be developing. I've tried silkies, but they seem to not be fit for the environment here, they get lost too easy with all the shrubs and their fluff in their face. I am just so tired of worrying about incubator failure and cleaning brooders all the time and would much rather have one of the ladies hatch and raise babies for me naturally. I have a few Cornish girls I was hoping to use, but they have been trouble makers, roosting in trees at night and leading the flock into neighbors yards.

My Faverolles rarely go broody. You mention silkies do not to well where you are - unfortunately my kids' silkies are my only reliable broodies. I have one blue hen who will say "Ooooh an egg - must sit on it!!". She's trying to hatch pine shavings even now. Usually I'll put a few more under her to make it worth it. Then once they start peeping the whole coop goes broody. Most times all the bantam hens will mother whatever hatches. Occasionally I'll have a second hen willing to sit long enough to hatch another bunch.

But I don't often rely on broody hens.

 

[n8ivetxn]

Last May both of my French Marans went broody in the same week. They successfully hatched and raised 7 kids....Not 2 months after weening those the Wheaten hen went broody again....2 weeks later the black copper was brooding too! But somehow they kept switching nests for a few days and in the end I got 2 kids out of the Wheaten and 1 from the BC.

I think if I end up with a broody Fav, I'll try to breed that trait into a small group.

I wish I had the kind of lifestyle that would allow me to have a 'bator and brooder, but I just have a hard time juggling it all.

 

[Snozzle]

I came home to 3 pink eggs(from the Faverolles) and 1 white egg(from my D'uccle) all in the same nest yesterday. They usually switch up the nest boxes, there are about 10 to chose from. Also Seagull, one of my oldest hens has just been sitting in random nest boxes without laying in them, I guess just test driving them. Hmm I wonder if she is thinking about going broody?

 

[thebanthams]

Hello I am curious since I dont own the breeds How is it different from Faverolles and Easter Eggers ? they look almost the same to me !! all I know is the color of their legs and eggs, are the sizes different?

 

[Snozzle]

The biggest difference has to be personality, Faverolles are so strange and sweet, but that's one of my main reasons why I love them. Mine follow me around and try to come in the house on get in the car with me and stand at the door squawking to get in. The roosters are great, they are beautiful, gentle, but protective. My boyfriend loves our roos, he said they never had sweet roos like that when he grew up. Both of my boys have been babysitters for younger peeps and were adorable with them, trying to show them how to be a real chicken. Faverolles have a very different body, they have a low chest and are more stocky build. Their feathers are a lot fluffier looking and they are a natural auto sexing breed, so within a few weeks you will be able to tell if you have a roo or a hen due to their very different colors. They also have feathered legs and an extra toe. Faverolles are great winter layers of light brown/pinkish eggs and don't need any artificial lights on them. Our temperatures just dropped below 0 a couple weeks ago and my girls started laying. They are also a very old breed and may not be as prone to modern poultry diseases that affect the newer super breeds, I have read that somewhere, but am not 100% sure, maybe someone else has more info on that then I do. They have become rare, but are making a comeback in small backyard flocks.
You should try some, they are the best, 2 of my friends are hooked on them now after meeting mine lol

 

[elizmartin]

Hello I am curious since I dont own the breeds How is it different from Faverolles and Easter Eggers ? they look almost the same to me !! all I know is the color of their legs and eggs, are the sizes different?

HI, there are alot of differences. Faverolles have white or off white eggs that are of medium size. The heads are slightly different and the body shape should be lower and blockier with slight feathering on the legs. Salmon coloration is standard outside the specialized colorations.
EE's can be any coloration even though the Wheaton variety of Ameraucana's are colored similar to Salmon Faverolles. EE should have slate or greenish legs, they are not quite so fluffy and vary to almost a more tight feathered look, more erect body style especially in the males, eggs are usually large green, blue or even pinkish.

Faverolles are bearded and muffed, where EE some are and some are not though Ameraucana's should be. These are just some of the differences......hope this helps

 

[thebanthams]

interesting ! Thanks for replying!