Houdans

[LesGus5]

How often do your Houdans lay? One of mine is laying reliably every other day ... about 3 per week and the other lays about 2 per week. One has been laying for two months now and the other for a month, so I know they are still young (and they started laying during short days). I was just curious how well older gals lay. I am just thrilled that they are laying at all since they coop themselves at about 4:30 in the afternoon right now.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I just have one girl and when she lays she is very consistent. It seems to me like she molts more than my others and she stops during that. She just finished a molt and with the days getting longer, hopefully she will kick in again.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

e spike is the picture of the week on the home page scroll! e

 

[Outlier]

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.

That's interesting. It was just a guess of mine. Most hatchery houdans look like poor quality polish. I just knew of his breeding program in Arkansas to get rare breeds including houdans for the 4-H kids (which is great) and figured the likelihood that anyone else was making any strong effort there with houdans would be slim. Since the junior exhibitor was from Arkansas, it made sense to me at least. There is always variation within the breeding program too. Some birds have more white than others. I agree, the bird from Shawnee could use a bit more mottling, but its still a tough balancing act. It would be good to see more people exhibiting his birds.

 

[seminolewind]

My hatchery Houdans look like Houdans. Different than Polish.
I have 2 hens who have turned into attack hens. It's almost like they love being picked up but then do nothing but peck at me and attack my feet. I think they're funny, but I wonder where they get that behavior from.

 

[LesGus5]

One

My hatchery Houdans look like Houdans. Different than Polish.
I have 2 hens who have turned into attack hens. It's almost like they love being picked up but then do nothing but peck at me and attack my feet. I think they're funny, but I wonder where they get that behavior from.

One of my 2 houdans is also an attack hen!!! The other is sweet as can be...and at the bottom of the pecking order. Tinker the stinker also seems to love being picked up, but she has bitten me hard a few timws, so I just can't trust her. She was flapping away and attacking my leg/boot today and my cochin and 2 RIRs got mad at her and pecked her and chased her away after I shook her off. She is laying about 4 eggs per week though... the attacking just started out of no where but certainly got worse as she got close to beginning to lay in September. I know they are not "pretty" houdans...especially Leah on the right without her beard and those huge wattles.... oh and being soaking wet in the down pour doesn't help them either,
.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

My girl is a little nutty too. She will seek me out and peck my leg until I pick her up. I think she would sit in my lap all day if I kept petting her. Our boys were bipolar. If you turned your back, they would attack but if you sat down, they would jump on your lap for a petting.

 

[seminolewind]

Glad I'm not the only one with a few nutty Houdans. I also have another one who has targeted a Polish hen and will stalk her from time to time. You would think a hen would just chase another hen away. But this one will follow her for an hour and threaten her. All over the yard.

 

[LesGus5]

Glad I'm not the only one with a few nutty Houdans. I also have another one who has targeted a Polish hen and will stalk her from time to time. You would think a hen would just chase another hen away. But this one will follow her for an hour and threaten her. All over the yard.

Today I called mine a "Mother Pecker!!" when she broke the skin above my boots through my pants! ....Probably going to be her new name. No free range for her today.

 

[Schipperkesue]

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

I have 3 hens. 

I would be proud to have that bird in my flock. Yes! The mottling is correct. Too much white, whole white feathers are faults. Unfortunately they tend to get more white with age.