Faverolles Thread

[seminolewind]

Henry , I got the Mahagonys. Heehee.
I couldn't believe that I sexed the whites 100% last year. I kept the ones that feathered out the fastest, esp when they grew tails longer quicker up to the 2nd week. I was right on!

My first born last year was a dark winged one, she had me guessing , but what I noticed was that her wings were real dark, almost black, but still had browns in it, and seemed to grow lighter, while the males wings stayed black-black.

Yippee!!!!! I came home from work this morning to peeping, and 4/8 are pipped!!!!! Yea! So I should have some chicks by tonight. Then I have to work tonight.

 

[pasofinofarm]

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Assesing color from photos is pretty tough as evidenced by the fact that your background goes from looking a bright royal blue to a navy blue to almost charcoal or black depending on the photo (see chick five for an example). Also your own hand from a healthy pink to cadavar white (which I am sure it is not in real life). The chick down also appears to run the gammut from a deep golden to white but I would not really hazard a guess at adult color except to say that those with the white wing tips are your whites. Did we take out the mahogony girls for you? I was glad that you noted that the red head spot was ink... that gave me pause for a minute, LOL! From what I can see you have good feet and leg feathering and very healthy looking chicks... sorry I'm not much more help. Anyone else?

 

[thechickonthehill]

Yes, Melissa, I realized after posting the pics that they weren't going to be terribly helpful. The flash washes out the color so much. Maybe in another week or so I will be able to tell more. At least I know I've got two whites! They are both really big chicks, the one in the first pic especially - huge compared to the others! All of them are running around, eating and drinking well and pooping everywhere just like they should be. I'm very happy with them. I hope to get a Mahogany but I'll just have to wait and see. How do you tell the Blues from the Salmons?

 

[hcammack]

I know I have at least two whites and one is huge! They are going to be beautiful! Glad you got some chicks to nmine are only a few days behind yours.

 

[pasofinofarm]

I'm going to jump in here and say a couple of things about starting a flock that I think applies to any breed. The best way, I believe, to start an exhibition quality flock is to buy adult birds from a breeder who has done well showing. That breeder will have information on his strains strengths and weaknesses and will have culled many times over to achieve that quality that you see in adult birds. Traveling to shows and meeting folks and being willing to pay the price for adults (well over onehundred dollars per bird is you are going to have to ship) will get you there fastest. This kind of time/effort is only necessary if you plan to breed and show. If birds are for your own enjoyment try this:

Second choice would be to buy started birds (or if you have to, chicks) from a breeder with birds you like. This is a little more work because not every bird finishes as one would expect. In my experience with Faverolles, many a cockerel looks to be coming along well but when he is fully feathered color is a disappointment. I had a beautiful bird last year that I thought would be 'IT' until almost the last moment when he failed to finish well and showed off colored feathers in his chest... one moment they were black the next...he was adding joy to my life in the kitchen. To get the breeding Roos that you see in my photos I raised 30 cockerels last year. Not everyone can do that due to time/space issues. On a farm extra birds fill the freezer which also has value.

Lastly, you can buy hatching eggs. If you can not trapise all over the country going to shows... and you do not have tons of money to spend...it is a way to get started. Buy from a breeder you trust. Then hatch as many eggs as you can from that breeder. Once you have raised enough of those birds you can start a breeding program of your own. Lets use my Ameraucanas as an example I got 6 dozen hatching eggs from Paul Smith and 4 dozen Cree birds and then culled down to two breeding pens. I now have 7 mature hens and a Roo. I love them and will hatch from them again this year... generations down the road.

Many times expectations are unreasonable. I still have people to this day that expect that every one of their shipped eggs will hatch and that each chick will be a perfect specimen of the breed ready to be shown, all for $30. And I still get complaints that $30 is a LOT of money. And for some it is. I try to keep egg prices low so that everyone can have nice chickens. I see many people selling eggs from my breeds for two or three times what I ask...and some of them got their birds from my eggs, LOL! No matter how you decide to start a flock or what your budget is remember to keep it fun! Look at each bird that does not turn out beautifully as a learning experience and each one that does as an accomplishment. Never spend money that you need for necessities or that your will regret on chickens and always have the best chickens you can... it costs just as much to feed an ugly bird as it does to feed a beautiful one.

There is my cheap to free chicken advice and it is worth every penny you paid for it.

Peace and Blessings,
Melissa

 

[texasgal]

Great advise, Melissa.

 

[pasofinofarm]

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I know... and photographing eggs is even harder...

The dark girls have a deeper colored ring around the neck that is noticeable at hatch... I hope you got at least one!

 

[Ispahan]

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Please keep burdening us with your extensive writing! It is a pleasure to read these stories and to hear about the state of faverolles in this country, both past and present. You are inspiring a new generation of potential breeders and, for those of us like me who live in the city and cannot keep roosters or breed, you are inspiring a new generation of people who at least will be able to promote the breed and help get the word out there.

Great advice, Melissa. If only I had the space to start a breeding project! Sigh...

 

[Freeholder]

Peter, I've really been enjoying reading your posts. I'm just getting started with Favs after having wanted some for many years (always thought I had to get one of the 'practical' breeds -- didn't realize that the Favs ARE a practical breed!), and am learning so much on this thread. You are making a great contribution both with information on the birds themselves, and also with some of their history in this country, and information about other breeders. It would be very much too bad if all that history was lost; I hope someone has written it down somewhere.

Kathleen

 

[hcammack]

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I totally agree I don't expect to get pefect birds from these 8 chicks all I want is a pretty flock or layers and if I get a good cockerel I will keep him to. If I was as serious about breeding LF I would buy started and adult birds like I have been in the bantams. I look forward to seeing how the LF chicks grow out and learning more about this great breed through this thread and my contact with other breeders. I can't believe both the breed threads I've started have done so well. I love hearing from everyone keep it up!