Faverolles Thread

[keeko]

Hey everyone!

If you've seen my other posts, I am quite torn with which breeds to get when I start my *first* flock this spring. Though I originally wanted a good laying bird (was thinking Buff Orps, Australorps, and RIR), I am in love with Faverolles! Totally smitten. I've been advised NOT to mix them with breeds with stronger personalities though. So now, it's going through my head - "Faverolles-only flock?"

My questions are for you Fav owners out there!
How well do they lay?
Do they really lay through the winter?
How winter-hardy are they?
Are Fav's as sweet as they say?
If you've mixed them with any other breeds, do they end up the under-dog and how do they do with your mixed flock?

Thanks guys!

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

i have a mixed flock and have had only one girl get picked on so bad she can't be put back out there because she is very fearful of the other breeds. my other 2 girls are a little higher in the pecking order. 1 is actually close to the top from what i can tell. i tried to choose breeds that were friendly to see which ones i liked the most to later stick with that one. (the wyandottes i didn't do my homework on when i got them) i like the fluffy footed breeds but have come to like the favs the best. the brahmas and cochins have come in a close second.

i've noticed that my bantam polish hen (who is another breed they say gets easily picked on) is the one doing most of the picking on others when she can get away with it. i'm not going to be keeping that breed once she is gone. the same goes for the wyandottes and the houdans. i'll be sticking to the favs and probably LF and bantam brahmas or now i'm thinking of getting some bantam dorkings.

my 2 favs in the coop have been consistent layers-i've noticed the eggs are slightly speckled with white dots on a creamy tan shell. (can't get the spots to wash off). the one in the house hasn't given me an egg the last few days and i think it is because i've messed up her light cycle being on vacation and waking later.

as for winter hardy, this is my first winter with chickens and i haven't seen any serious problems vs those with larger/separated combs.

YES! they are sooo sweet. my girls jump into my lap or try for my shoulders to get attention when i go to the coop. they have even followed me out when i've tried to leave them.

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
Thats the plan maybe after a few years of my mom taking care of the flock and me coming back and hatching and replenishing them we will have our own Cammack/Warren Family line of Faverolles

I moved them into the coop today and they are really really happy running around and scratching.

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
My faverolles have always given me lots of eggs!
Yes my girls were laying up untill the big storm last week and they are slowly starting up again.
Mine lived in a chicken tractor exposed on 3 sides up until today.
Yes my boy and girls are very sweet birds.
I had my LF girls in with other breeds and they stood up for themselves fine. Those birds were all raised together though I wouldn't advise introducing young faverolles to an older mixed flock.

Good Luck get faverolles!
Henry

 

[thechickonthehill]

Hi Keeko! I have Standard Salmon Faverolles in a mixed flock (Cochins, Brahmas, EEs and Marans) and they hold their own just fine. They are very sweet birds that like to come and visit with me when I am out in the yard with them. My two pullets started laying in October and have been laying steadily since then without a slowdown. Even my rooster is friendly! I have put Vaseline on his rather large comb this week as we have had single digit lows and he has been fine so far. He actually enjoys having the Vaseline put on his comb - he just sits and goes to sleep! The Faverolles have become my "faverites" (ha).

 

[Baybrio]

Quote:
My Favs were my first chickens, they will be 2 years in March. They get along fine with the other hens, all of which are younger. I have Buckeyes, Australorps, Chanteclers and Speckled Sussex in with the Favs. I tried to pick breeds that I thought would be friendly with people and get along with the Favs. So far so good.

Rooster's unfortunately love the Favs - too much. This is a problem as the Favs really don't put the roos in their place. I had to move my sweet Speckled Sussex rooster into the rooster pen because he just became too large. Today one of the Favs was not pleased to be "favored" by the Fav rooster and put up a fuss. This didn't faze the rooster but one of the Australorp pullets ran over and put a stop to the rooster's fun.

My Fav roos will be two this year and they have never been aggressive. One did bite me but I had trimmed his toenail too close so I guess I deserved it

. Oh and one will pick up a small stick and shake it at the ground if he is separated from his girls. Talk about frustrated.

Two of my Favs brooded 8 eggs and produced 6 healthy chicks last spring. That and the slow down for molting reduced egg production for a time, they are laying now, in their unheated coop (we are well below zero tonight) with no additional lights. Last winter my Fav roos did loose the tips of their combs to frost bite, so far this year no additional damage.

I love my Favs but am enjoying having a mixed flock. I wouldn't hesitate to get a mix, just try and pick breeds that are know to be generally mellow.

 

[keeko]

Thanks so much guys! It's really encouraging to hear they will lay through the winter! I think Faverolles have now entered my "definite" list... with Buff Orps. Black Australorps and RIR's are still on the "probably" list, and Barred Rocks are on the "maybe."

I know you need at least two hens to have a flock, but is there such a thing as a flock that's TOO big???

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
Its all about the space you have how many eggs you need etc. You can keep 100s of chickens and your flock wont be too big as long as you have the time and money you need to proberly care and house the birds. I would start off with 15-20 hens and 2 roos depending on the size of your coop.

Henry

 

[hcammack]

Looks like a few of my Faverolles eggs are developing and they layed another one today they are so happy to be in their new coop! They also have light so hopefully I will get some more eggs to set with this new batch of eggs from Hattricksilkies. I really hope my nice blue salmon hen is laying I would love to have some of her chicks she is just to sweet. No one answered emails today guess they are all just to busy

I really hope my eggs were sent out today and I paid Rose for some eggs and hopefully I will get the cockeral from Leisha later on this spring. I am so excited I also have two incubators cranking my Hovabator has the eggs incubating and my LG is going to be my hatcher.

So here is the plan:
breeding pen #1 headed up by my current Hattrick Blue Salmon Cockeral (or a better hattrick cockeral)
- by next fall I plan on hopefully having pullets to put in with him from Isgrig and ComerxHatrick lines also pullets from Hattrick to.
- The pullets in this pen will be the ones that came from fathers with the best coloring to improve coloring
breeding pen # 2 Headed up by a cockeral from another line either the Leisha Comer blue salmon cockeral or an isgrig cockeral
- Mostly pullets from the hattrick lines
- Some pullets from Isgrig and ComerXHatrick

Holding Pen
- I will keep any cockerals that I don't need in this pen hopefully one or two
- The pullets will be for eating eggs cull faverolles and some BLRW pullets that hopefully hatch from this next set of eggs.

Plans always change but this is the long term plan so far hopefully I cna keep them at least a little on track and get some of the birds I want. The bators are cranking and remaining pretty steady in temperature and humidity right now. I will post pictures and updates as I set and hatch eggs and as the (theoretical) chicks progress.


Wish me luck,
Henry

 

[hcammack]

My flock is absoulutly so much happier in their new coop! I let them out in the run today and my mom said "wow the chickens looked really happy today when I went to check on them" this coming from a woman who really doesn't care at all about chickens. The Faverolles can win anyones heart