Faverolles Thread

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Quote: Thanks.

 

[keesmom]

I should be ashamed of myself, but I can't answer that question yet!

A while back I asked for the names of a couple of good books for beginners, but I wasn't able to follow through with it. Maybe now that the rain is coming back I'll be forced to stay in and read something! My SO is always asking me how I can tell them apart! He seems amazed that I know them all individually and I even know which one is missing from the coop at night..... I, however, can't understand why he doesn't see how different they all are!!

- Totally a legit question!

Get Genetics of Chicken Colours. There's another book by the same author that is also good - Genetics of Chicken Extremes. Jerry S (can't spell his last name!), the Serama guy in LA has both. I think you can find a link to him on the SCNA site. Neither is cheap but they are a good resource. The Extremes book covers more than just color - it goes into comb types, skin color, leg color, egg color, various genetic and birth defects, feather issues, crests, beards/muffs, etc. There are some other good ones out there but I can't remember them at the moment.

As for the variation in color it is related to the mahogany gene. Unfortunately I do not have my genetics books with me so I can't look it up the details on mahogany right now.

 

[appps]

Faverolles and heat - just how much do I have to worry about our girls this summer?

I ask because although technically we are still in winter its a gorgeous warm day outside today at 21c and the bantams are fine but some of the favs are already sitting with their mouths open like chickens do when hot. Just wondering if they are doing this at 21c what will happen when summer hits and we are in mid to high 30's? We even had some 40+ days last year though they were record hot days.

 

[n8ivetxn]

Get Genetics of Chicken Colours. There's another book by the same author that is also good - Genetics of Chicken Extremes. Jerry S (can't spell his last name!), the Serama guy in LA has both. I think you can find a link to him on the SCNA site. Neither is cheap but they are a good resource. The Extremes book covers more than just color - it goes into comb types, skin color, leg color, egg color, various genetic and birth defects, feather issues, crests, beards/muffs, etc. There are some other good ones out there but I can't remember them at the moment.

As for the variation in color it is related to the mahogany gene. Unfortunately I do not have my genetics books with me so I can't look it up the details on mahogany right now.

Thank you Cindy! - this time I'll get it..... Genetics are very interesting, in my opinion.

Sigrid van Dort is the author of the books ..... Yes, they are pricey

Like college text books.....

 

[lilypad]

Morning everyone. It's ilovechickensx, but I made a new account after someone pointed out my username could be seen as something a little inappropriate LOL!

Just wanted to share this photo, Willow has decided she likes sitting on my shoulder hehe. I hope she makes this a daily habit and doesn't grow out of it (I will probably take that back when she is huge haha!)

 

[Lunar Rain]

My first time hatching eggs and here are my three sweet LF Salmon Faverolles one day old. They melt my heart!

 

[mame1616]

Morning everyone. It's ilovechickensx, but I made a new account after someone pointed out my username could be seen as something a little inappropriate LOL!

Just wanted to share this photo, Willow has decided she likes sitting on my shoulder hehe. I hope she makes this a daily habit and doesn't grow out of it (I will probably take that back when she is huge haha!)

Ha-ha! I actually read your name as the inappropriate one first, but then realized what you really meant - funny!

Cute girl! What a beard!


As for your showing questions, what makes a bird show quality is several things. A good bird meets the standard as close as possible - remember that there is no perfect bird. (Pete Merlin has a good description on one of the club pages.) It's what makes the hobby - and this breed in particular - so challenging. Some truly beautiful birds have come from hatchery stock That only means the genes have all come together in the right combination in that individual, not that the lines are great. The reason you buy from a knowledgeable breeder is because the preponderance of those good genes is - it is to be hoped - heavier in those birds whose genetics have been carefully chosen than in birds that are only used to produce more birds of that breed, regardless of quality. A run-on sentence - did that make sense? Thus, the genes do make a difference, although the issue is not quite so black and white. Say you had that fabulous hatchery bird and decided to breed it. The next generation may come out all skewed because of the lack of careful selection of the preceding generations. All you know about that bird is that it carries at least some good genes. While it's probably worth a try to see what comes out, I would be hesitant to base a line on it. Seasoned breeders have entire clutches of beautiful birds as a result of several generations of carefully selected pairings, whose offspring are also carefully monitored for faults before they themselves are chosen to produce their own offspring. (Keep in mind, however, that for every 100 chicks produced, only about six are true champion quality - crazy, huh?) Because it takes so many generations to breed out faults, like a lack of a beard, or four toes instead of five, it is always recommended NOT to breed until you have birds that come close to the standard. Those inferior genes that you allow to be passed on will be carried forever, weakening the breed and the gene pool - which is already small enough with this breed.

Ok, off my soap box!

You are very lucky to have amazing Faverolles in the UK! I wish I could get my hands on some of those beards!

The best advice I give to people new to showing is to actually go to the shows and ask questions of the breeders. If they are anything like here, they will give freely of their knowledge to those truly interested in learning.

While your apprehension about exposing your birds to illness is valid, thousands of birds are shown every year with no adverse affects. A good education about illnesses and pests will help you deal with any unwanted "extras" you might bring home from a show. Again, ask the breeders at the shows you might show at yourself what risks you might encounter there. Each area seems to have its own peculiar issues.

 

[ashandvine]

Welcome to BYC again Lilypad Love that Willow.

 

[lilypad]

Ha-ha! I actually read your name as the inappropriate one first, but then realized what you really meant - funny!

Cute girl! What a beard!


As for your showing questions, what makes a bird show quality is several things. A good bird meets the standard as close as possible - remember that there is no perfect bird. (Pete Merlin has a good description on one of the club pages.) It's what makes the hobby - and this breed in particular - so challenging. Some truly beautiful birds have come from hatchery stock That only means the genes have all come together in the right combination in that individual, not that the lines are great. The reason you buy from a knowledgeable breeder is because the preponderance of those good genes is - it is to be hoped - heavier in those birds whose genetics have been carefully chosen than in birds that are only used to produce more birds of that breed, regardless of quality. A run-on sentence - did that make sense? Thus, the genes do make a difference, although the issue is not quite so black and white. Say you had that fabulous hatchery bird and decided to breed it. The next generation may come out all skewed because of the lack of careful selection of the preceding generations. All you know about that bird is that it carries at least some good genes. While it's probably worth a try to see what comes out, I would be hesitant to base a line on it. Seasoned breeders have entire clutches of beautiful birds as a result of several generations of carefully selected pairings, whose offspring are also carefully monitored for faults before they themselves are chosen to produce their own offspring. (Keep in mind, however, that for every 100 chicks produced, only about six are true champion quality - crazy, huh?) Because it takes so many generations to breed out faults, like a lack of a beard, or four toes instead of five, it is always recommended NOT to breed until you have birds that come close to the standard. Those inferior genes that you allow to be passed on will be carried forever, weakening the breed and the gene pool - which is already small enough with this breed.

Ok, off my soap box!

You are very lucky to have amazing Faverolles in the UK! I wish I could get my hands on some of those beards!

The best advice I give to people new to showing is to actually go to the shows and ask questions of the breeders. If they are anything like here, they will give freely of their knowledge to those truly interested in learning.

While your apprehension about exposing your birds to illness is valid, thousands of birds are shown every year with no adverse affects. A good education about illnesses and pests will help you deal with any unwanted "extras" you might bring home from a show. Again, ask the breeders at the shows you might show at yourself what risks you might encounter there. Each area seems to have its own peculiar issues.

Thanks so much for the detailed response! It was a big help!
I also found a UK faverolles society which had the breed standards on. When I bought my girls as 3 week old chicks I didn't expect them to look so wonderful, but Luna and Aurora are great looking girls IMO, Willow is too but she has flecks of black in her neck feathers which I understand isn't wanted (also the smallest). I'm going to have to go and count the points on their combs later and check their feet haha! They're no where near fully grown yet though so not sure if they'll have the right body shape.

I'll have to look up some poultry shows and see what they're like, I wanted to go to one over the summer to chat to some faverolles breeders/showers but none of the shows were showing them this year.

Another thing about illnesses is I understand that to show birds they should be vaccinated, but it seems incredibly hard to get birds vaccinated over here as they only come in batches of 1000. I asked the vet but I have yet to find a poultry vet who knows about vaccinations.

Thanks again!

 

[lilypad]

Welcome to BYC again Lilypad Love that Willow.

Hehe thank you!