Houdans

[jeremy]

Barbara Piper in the Great Lakes area probably had the best Houdans around in the last 30 years. They were outstanding big birds. They were probably over the Standard weights.

Is she still breeding them Walt?

 

[fowlman01]

Is she still breeding them Walt?

Unfortunately ....no. The males where huge.

w.

 

[jeremy]

Unfortunately ....no. The males where huge.

w.

Darn.

Do you know if there are any good Houdans in Europe still?

I wonder if anyone has thought of importing fresh blood to improve what we have here?

 

[fowlman01]

Darn.

Do you know if there are any good Houdans in Europe still?

I wonder if anyone has thought of importing fresh blood to improve what we have here?

I don't know Jeremy.

w.

 

[farmer boy]

my houdan rooster is starting to be a pain but i don't want to get rid of him theres not to many of them around me (Canada NB) i don't know if mine is good quality or not i can get a pic of him tomorrow ... i have a pic of him when hes younger if you guys want to see him when he was young

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Well my Houdans will be three weeks old on Monday and I am impressed with them. They are significantly out-growing the whit Chanteclers so far, and are feathering in much more quickly. Very hearty eaters, and so tenacious. My three adult bantam hens were in the brooder the other day and the Houdans were all running up and pecking at their toes and combs and wattles. Fearless! LOL

I am avoiding making such an early decision, but I am already feeling so much more inclined towards the Houdans that I am considering selling ALL of my Chanteclers.

I wanted one standard breed and one bantam breed, after all, I guess. The Houdans have been on my "wish list" for so long, and the Chanteclers were kind of a last minute thing just to get the breed to Alaska since so many have wanted.

 

[Chambertin]

Be careful, Houdans have a habit of taking over your chicken time.
My only good reason for keeping other chickens was to have a little fun seeing them with some Houdan blood in them. (I know its not keeping the breed true, but there are PLENTY of goof Houdans in China) We still enjoy all our chickies, but Houdans are first shhh dont tell our flock

I say that contrary to others belief you can have a fun flock and a true flock.
Remember that as long as you dont start selling Houdans that are not true to breed you can have as much fun as you want. It is a shame that true stock in the US is dwindliling, however I'm sure that fact will be a good reason for other breeders to pick up the call.
If anyone is familliar with the TV show Firefly its popularity is due in part to being cancelled. When a breed needs attention it will come in droves, I bet the Houdan is poised for such a thing.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Be careful, Houdans have a habit of taking over your chicken time.

I'm ok with that! I've waited a long time for these birds. They can take all the chicken time they want, they are my top priority!

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Just checked...I started this thread over TWO YEARS AGO after becoming interested in the breed. And I just now finally got my first birds! A LOOOOONG time coming, indeed! LOL

 

[LemonMeringue]

My little mini me happened to pick out a pair of M Houdans at the feed store this spring. I was not familiar with the breed at all and have been doing plenty of looking for basic info on them. Some ???s I have had a hard time finding answers to. So for you that have actually bred Houdans.......at what age do you find that your Houdans reach sexual maturity? ie the hens laying eggs or the roos crowing and breeding successfully with the hens? I have come across some articles that say they mature early......well all chickens that we have had over the years are different......so that info wasn't helpful at all when I read it! lol One other question(I am sure more will pop up in the future) I have is what you consider the noise level of your Houdans to be. In comparison to any other roosters of other breeds that you have or have had. Thanks in advance!!!!


The feed store we get our chicks from order from Privette Hatchery.