Houdans

[Puddin Fluff]

I love it when they have crazy hair days.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Here's a recent pic of my girl.

 

[Outlier]

This houdan was exhibited in the junior show in Shawnee, OK yesterday. Unfortunately, she was the only houdan in the show. The exhibitor was from Arkansas and since it was in the junior show that makes me wonder if it came from Dr. Keith Bramwell from the University of Arkansas and his rare breed program. Still needs work but definitely has come far from the hatchery stock he started with. Size was pretty decent too. If this is what Dr. Bramwell has, I think these have potential...no outcross necessary.

 

[tommysgirl]

This houdan was exhibited in the junior show in Shawnee, OK yesterday. Unfortunately, she was the only houdan in the show. The exhibitor was from Arkansas and since it was in the junior show that makes me wonder if it came from Dr. Keith Bramwell from the University of Arkansas and his rare breed program. Still needs work but definitely has come far from the hatchery stock he started with. Size was pretty decent too. If this is what Dr. Bramwell has, I think these have potential...no outcross necessary.

This is a little exciting! Thanks for sharing.

 

[seminolewind]

This houdan was exhibited in the junior show in Shawnee, OK yesterday. Unfortunately, she was the only houdan in the show. The exhibitor was from Arkansas and since it was in the junior show that makes me wonder if it came from Dr. Keith Bramwell from the University of Arkansas and his rare breed program. Still needs work but definitely has come far from the hatchery stock he started with. Size was pretty decent too. If this is what Dr. Bramwell has, I think these have potential...no outcross necessary.

That's a beautiful houdan! Is it a good thing to be so dark?

I have 3 hens.

 

[aoxa]

Is anyone breeding in the US NPIP and able to ship live birds? I'm trying to have someone I can refer people to, as I cannot ship birds from Canada to the US without a heck of a lot of hassle. So not worth it for me.

I have someone looking for a breeding cockerel in WA. If anyone knows how I can direct them, I would really appreciate it!

 

[ParklandPoultry]

This is one of my girls. She's a little dirty from all the wet weather lately.

 

[Outlier]

That's a beautiful houdan! Is it a good thing to be so dark?

I have 3 hens.

From what I've learned, mottled breeds like houdans tend to get whiter as they get older. I can't remember what percentage of black vs white they should be when shown (Yellow House Farm would know), but you want them to be a little on the darker side when they are younger so that they are not too white when shown as hens. A houdan has a black base with feather tips dipped in white. I would be confident in saying that a bird that is 50% white as a pullet would be far too white. However, that's the show ring; you can make them however you like. As I mentioned previously, they still need work, but this is much better than hatchery birds.

 

[seminolewind]

Thanks Outlier.
I have one that's got more black than the other 2.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

That could possibly be Dr. Bramwells but all of his I have seen hand much better mottling early.

Here are some pics of my girl from him. These range from a few months to currently almost 3 years. All my other boys had more mottling than the one at the show you are talking about.