Houdans

[seminolewind]

I like her, she's cute.

 

[seminolewind]

My chicks realized today that they can stretch and look over the bottom of the crate and see what's going on!!!

 

[PeppermintHen]

This is my rooster he is 5 months old. Hatched off eggs from ebay last year.

 

[PeppermintHen]

I purchased 6 eggs and three eggs hatched and all were roosters. I sold the others and this one is the only one I have. He has an awful personality, very aggressive towards the hens and fights ruthlessly with my huge BLRW. We call him Mr. Spotts. He is a standard size but a dwarf compared to my BLRW. He is just too cute to find another home. He has his own little room. Besides his aggression towards other chickens he is kinda human friendly he lets you pick him up.

My apologies I don't know how to rotate the image.

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[seminolewind]

These four-3 week old chicks I have are super flighty. Are Houdans flighty? They climb the walls when I am near the cage.

 

[Illia]

I think they're like any other crested breed - They go through the normal skittish phase when young, then as they grow it depends on their strain, handling, and how much they see.

 

[seminolewind]

Thanks, I'm glad it might be a passing phase. I was spoiled by my last 3 chicks, they were born to sit on my arm!

 

[ccshambhala]

I am trying to get more Houdans this year - I had one feed store order me some but they will only use Privett Hatchery (which according to the post here will have longer wattles than they should? and maybe no beard?) while another feed store will get me pullets only thru McMurray (which has big problems with crossed beaks?). Which do you think would be better to go woth and why... has anyone heard of improvements in Privett/ McMurray hatchery stock? any suggestions?
thanx

 

[ItsAZOO32]

These four-3 week old chicks I have are super flighty. Are Houdans flighty? They climb the walls when I am near the cage.

My houdan is flighty .. always has been. She started laying this week so we will see how that goes..

 

[langshan]

I can understand the frustration with the hatcheries. I have had McMurray Houdans, great egg layers, but there are crossed beaks, and size. I think you would have to order 100 pullets and 100 st run and cull down to 2 males and 6 females. Duane Urch has them, along with a fellow from MI who has the Barb Piper strain, which did win in the show room and from my understanding came close to size that is called for in the standard. Whites are hard to find, and if found are not up to size. The last good Large Fowl White Houdan male I personally saw was back in 1973 at the Ohio National and I can tell you that bird was all of 9 to 10 plus pounds. Houdans are supposed to be of the dual purpose, with fine white meat and a good producer of medium white eggs.

Wish I could provide more information for you. A good Houdan is very, very rare.


Mike in NC