Houdans

[farmer boy]

Between 8-12 weeks.
And he came from the same breeder as Gigi & Skittles. Only non-bearded. Strange, because everyone else has beards.

.

Here he is a week after I got him. The only one to have wattles, so this is how I know.
They remind me of Chambertin's birds.

my little boy haha so cute he is

 

[aoxa]

my little boy haha so cute he is 

By the way, you know your grandfather went later that day and was just wandering around?

 

[Kassaundra]

so you agree the black tailed houdan cockerel is the one I should keep? Hopefully that means I am learning

The girls are only 13 weeks old - so they have a lot of changing colorwise to do... not that you are wrong about the white - that seems to be a common flaw in the mottled birds (my hatchery speckled sussex are too white too!)

what do you think about their crests?

thanks Kassaundra!

I think the boys crests are both awesome looking, and the girls crests are going to mature and change quite a bit before they are done.

 

[Kassaundra]

I mean how can this not make you smile

 

[aoxa]

I mean how can this not make you smile

Classic Houdan Bedhead

 

[ashandvine]

So do you consider it cheating?

I don't know what I think. I don't think it matters really either because I am not a judge. We are a culture of fake so why not gloss them up and blow it down and what not in everything we do, right? (I am that gal who goes by the news stands and knows what they did to get tall the skin tone even and what not.) I have seen documentaries on how pictures of COWS are altered for sale even. Its a business I guess and if I look at it that way people will do what they can to make a sale. You clearly aren't selling a lemon with those two Houdans. They really are the prettiest I have seen this side of the Atlantic. Is it okay if the masses say so? Apparently, I am just not sure how I feel about it and was saying that. I face a similar situation when it comes to my Polish. Thankfully I don't have to pluck their crests for color division but a lot of folks do and IDK if I would. Whatever gets your Houdans some popularity and then gets the breed up and running back to its glory... why not?

To chime in on the comparatives...
The pullets will all change over time, first two years. I like the heavy bearding and the thick body type of your girls is good to offset the thinner boys. I would keep both cockerels till they were a year or a little more before trying to choose or cull. Heritage breeds often take two years. Its a long wait, but especially with the mottling, it takes that long.

 

[farmer boy]

By the way, you know your grandfather went later that day and was just wandering around?

ya he came here after he was supposed to pick em up later that day but my mom forgot to tell him that he didn't have to lol

 

[aoxa]

I don't know what I think.  I don't think it matters really either because I am not a judge.  We are a culture of fake so why not gloss them up and blow it down and what not in everything we do, right?  (I am that gal who goes by the news stands and knows what they did to get tall the skin tone even and what not.)  I have seen documentaries on how pictures of COWS are altered for sale even.  Its a business I guess and if I look at it that way people will do what they can to make a sale.  You clearly aren't selling a lemon with those two Houdans.  They really are the prettiest I have seen this side of the Atlantic.  Is it okay if the masses say so?  Apparently, I am just not sure how I feel about it and was saying that.  I face a similar situation when it comes to my Polish.  Thankfully I don't have to pluck their crests for color division but a lot of folks do and IDK if I would.  Whatever gets your Houdans some popularity and then gets the breed up and running back to its glory... why not?

To chime in on the comparatives...
The pullets will all change over time, first two years.  I like the heavy bearding and the thick body type of your girls is good to offset the thinner boys.  I would keep both cockerels till they were a year or a little more before trying to choose or cull.  Heritage breeds often take two years.  Its a long wait, but especially with the mottling, it takes that long.

Well let's just hope I don't have to pluck many feathers out of any others. Gigi doesn't have them, so that has to say something right? Maybe it won;t be much of an issue in the offspring. I definitely don't see it as a huge issue.

Your polish have the feathers on the feet as well? The owner of the polish I was talking with (awesome quality - really good stock) said that she plucks her birds feet if needed. It's nothing like a random feather on the leg. It's really like a tiny flick of lint. I clipped her toe nails without spotting it, that's how small they are. The judge did not notice it last time, but this one was REALLY good and thorough. He took his time.

 

[aoxa]

ya he came here after he was supposed to pick em up later that day but my mom forgot to tell him that he didn't have to lol

He looked lost lol.

 

[Chambertin]

i only could get a pic of my roo mottled houdan my camera died

what do you think of him .. hes 12 weeks old i think

Looks so much like my boys. Now I'm not the only one with a not so great crest and wattles anymore! Still, his crest is better than both of mine combined.
Interesing that you got the wattles, but no V-comb (that I can see)

My big boy is about 14 weeks, and my little boy who has just started to try and crow is 7 weeks. The big one has taken over the balcony and thinks the
whole neighborhood is his now. He loves to sit on the lighting rail and crow, ALL DAY LONG.
Poor neighbors.

Here are a couple pictures.


And the young one showing off his new red comb and growing wattles (and lack of crest).
He thinks its cool to slick it back on the wet water jug. Maybe the girls agree?