2nd and 3rd pic the roosters have wattles...older standard? I'm not really picky but for where I live no wattles is excellent too!
Houdans
- Thread starter HaikuHeritageFarm
- Start date
- Nov 22, 2011
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In Europe it isn't a 'V' comb but a butterfly comb. That changed here in the U.S. -- here is another excerpt from the 1904 Houdan Chapter (a fascinating read!)
"Since then such improvements have been made in the Houdan by Americans that we should almost be justified in calling the present day Houdan American creation. The color of the plumage is much darker than in the early importations. The white mottling in a well established strain is small and distributed all over the body of the fowl. The ill shaped strawberry comb is a thing of the past. In place of it we have the much V shaped comb. The honor of this great improvement as to shape of comb is entirely due to the untiring efforts of America's Houdan breeder Daniel Pinckney. His Houdans for a lifetime well known in every show room of note in the United States into the matter regarding the V shaped comb I asked Mr Pinckney any Creve blood was used by him in fixing this form of a comb. To question he answered as here stated No Creve blood was used to introduce the V shaped comb into my strain of Houdans. I began them in 1871. Several years after I raised a cockerel which was a fine bird but with a very small V shaped comb. I mated him to a pen hens that also had small combs. From this mating I kept on and breeding the smallest combed birds until I finally established what now known as the V shaped comb. At that time Capt James E was an importer and breeder of the Houdan. Making a visit to my home he there saw for the first time the V shaped comb. This he much preferred to the open leaf comb which he said gave the fowl a much aristocratic appearance. It was through Mr White's efforts that V shaped comb was finally adopted by the American Poultry Association and the change made in the Standard of Perfection. This V shaped comb is now the established and accepted standard the Houdan fancy in America. No one desires to go back to the old type though there are still some critics that seem to think that the leaf is Houdan characteristic and ought to be bred I think differently and does every other Houdan breeder in this country. The V shaped comb has come to stay while the leaf has gone forever."
The current American SOP states for the male: Comb: V shaped of small size, resting against front of crest, Wattle: Uniform length, small, well-rounded, nearly covered by beard.
It would be interesting to see the European butterfly comb, but I think importations or out-crossing would be needed to accomplish it.
"Since then such improvements have been made in the Houdan by Americans that we should almost be justified in calling the present day Houdan American creation. The color of the plumage is much darker than in the early importations. The white mottling in a well established strain is small and distributed all over the body of the fowl. The ill shaped strawberry comb is a thing of the past. In place of it we have the much V shaped comb. The honor of this great improvement as to shape of comb is entirely due to the untiring efforts of America's Houdan breeder Daniel Pinckney. His Houdans for a lifetime well known in every show room of note in the United States into the matter regarding the V shaped comb I asked Mr Pinckney any Creve blood was used by him in fixing this form of a comb. To question he answered as here stated No Creve blood was used to introduce the V shaped comb into my strain of Houdans. I began them in 1871. Several years after I raised a cockerel which was a fine bird but with a very small V shaped comb. I mated him to a pen hens that also had small combs. From this mating I kept on and breeding the smallest combed birds until I finally established what now known as the V shaped comb. At that time Capt James E was an importer and breeder of the Houdan. Making a visit to my home he there saw for the first time the V shaped comb. This he much preferred to the open leaf comb which he said gave the fowl a much aristocratic appearance. It was through Mr White's efforts that V shaped comb was finally adopted by the American Poultry Association and the change made in the Standard of Perfection. This V shaped comb is now the established and accepted standard the Houdan fancy in America. No one desires to go back to the old type though there are still some critics that seem to think that the leaf is Houdan characteristic and ought to be bred I think differently and does every other Houdan breeder in this country. The V shaped comb has come to stay while the leaf has gone forever."
The current American SOP states for the male: Comb: V shaped of small size, resting against front of crest, Wattle: Uniform length, small, well-rounded, nearly covered by beard.
It would be interesting to see the European butterfly comb, but I think importations or out-crossing would be needed to accomplish it.
Interesting, thanks for the information!
- Nov 22, 2011
- 596
- 56
- 131
Houdan pullet and SFH cockerel facing off in the snow.
I acquired this pair of Houdan's a few months ago and the little lady
is dropping an egg a day I was unaware of their egg production
capabilities
I am trying to find out about the standard on these Houdan's ....
gander007
is dropping an egg a day I was unaware of their egg production
capabilities
I am trying to find out about the standard on these Houdan's ....
gander007
They are gorgeous! An egg a day? Wow, can't wait for mine to start laying...
- Nov 22, 2011
- 596
- 56
- 131
I acquired this pair of Houdan's a few months ago and the little lady
is dropping an egg a day I was unaware of their egg production
capabilities
I am trying to find out about the standard on these Houdan's ....
gander007
I don't believe there is an active club in the USA anymore...at least I haven't found one. There is a Polish Club that has some information on Houdans. I don't know why as they are not a Polish variety but an entirely different breed.
The APA SOP book still has the standard for the Houdan, both white and mottled. If you don't want to purchase it, try looking in the library or through an innterlibrary loan for an older edition. To the best of my knowledge, the standard hasn't changed in quite some time. (I've compared it to a 1980s edition in our local library.)
Yes she is a most amazing lady and all the egg's that I have put in to the incubator
are starting to develop but I am at day 9 right now so I will try to keep you updated
on the progress .........
Do you have any photos of your Houdan's ????????
gander007
Thank you for the information you have answered a lot of my questions with a very short expiation ....
gander007
- Thread starter
- #1,100
Does anyone still have bantam Houdans? My Houdan project met with an untimely demise due to dogs last year and I have come to the conclusion that due to my space constraints I should stick to banties. Really wish I had jumped on them back when BoggyBottoms had them. :/
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