Houdans

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Is anyone else growing out/hatching a large number of chicks this year? I'd love to share stories with someone else that's really working on these guys and in a similar spot, progress-wise!

 

[Chambertin]

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

Congratulations and thanks for the thread!


LemonMeringue-
About maturity the roosters we have had all mature rapidly. I'm very confident they were producing good egg butter long before the hens were sending out healthy and happy eggs. Our average is about 25 weeks before good eggs become standard. Compared to other breeds Houdans have fewer egg farts other than the Svart Hona (pure black girls who are egg machines) when compared to any other breed we have or see in the area.
So the boys are mature enough once they reach size, they will crow and try to mate earlier.
Girls are ready about a week after the first egg, or earlier.

Our Houdans have big voices. They arent annoying, but they are tride and true chickens: early morning, evening and whenever a crow is heard in the distance, they are very reactive to lights at night or unusual vocalizations too. Occasionally people complain about them we point out that if you dont yell at them, the chickens dont yell back (many people use the roof as a place to have a very loud cellphone call with a mate). Overall they arent "louder" than any other breed, and are possibly quieter than our Silkie boys. However the Houdan call is at a much higher pitch so it carries longer and penetrates windows or doors better than the low bass of our other chickens.

Hope that helps.

 

[caj1985]

I have a trio of Mottled Houdans that I would like to sell. These are from the U of A and are a year old. I have them listed in the Arkansas swap thread.














Pictures were taken early in the year. One hen is barebacked from being in the growout pen with 3 randy cockerels.

 

[LemonMeringue]

Congratulations and thanks for the thread!


LemonMeringue-
About maturity the roosters we have had all mature rapidly. I'm very confident they were producing good egg butter long before the hens were sending out healthy and happy eggs. Our average is about 25 weeks before good eggs become standard. Compared to other breeds Houdans have fewer egg farts other than the Svart Hona (pure black girls who are egg machines) when compared to any other breed we have or see in the area.
So the boys are mature enough once they reach size, they will crow and try to mate earlier.
Girls are ready about a week after the first egg, or earlier.

Our Houdans have big voices. They arent annoying, but they are tride and true chickens: early morning, evening and whenever a crow is heard in the distance, they are very reactive to lights at night or unusual vocalizations too. Occasionally people complain about them we point out that if you dont yell at them, the chickens dont yell back (many people use the roof as a place to have a very loud cellphone call with a mate). Overall they arent "louder" than any other breed, and are possibly quieter than our Silkie boys. However the Houdan call is at a much higher pitch so it carries longer and penetrates windows or doors better than the low bass of our other chickens.

Hope that helps.

Well, maybe I need to sound proof my greenhouse and keep him in there, lol. I think I am going to just let time tell how the two of us get along. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond about the age of maturity. That is really helpful.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Good news everyone. I've discovered some of that good Barb Piper blood is still around! Dave West apparently got her birds, but has since been grading in another breed to increase crest size. I don't know what results that has had on type, etc in the long run...but it does sound like he knows what he's doing and I thin there are pictures of a winning pullet from his flock on this thread somewhere.

Jeff Oxley in Ohio obtained birds from Dave in 2003 before Dave added the new blood. I've seen reference to his birds doing some winning. They sound VERY nice.

Duane Urch also has Barb Piper blood in his line and is apparently offering Houdans again this year though they were not added back into the price list. Urch has a good reputation and offers some nice birds.

This is all from a post I've found on the Polish Breeders Club from April of this year, so is current info.

 

[LemonMeringue]

Grrr.....butter fingers today. Had a post all typed up and then hit the wrong button! }:/

Anyway! Lol! Asterick crowed today!!! And we haven't even heard any practicing at all. He is 11weeks and very amusing.

 

[Tricoglossus]

Just a general question aimed at anyone with Houdans cockerels - at what age did they start to crow? My youngsters seem pretty boyish to me, but their voices have only just really "broken" from cheaping to that funny squeaky bok-bokking that the adolescents do. They are about 17 weeks old.

 

[Chambertin]

Good news everyone. I've discovered some of that good Barb Piper blood is still around!

I absolutely heard Professor Farnsworth when I read that.
Thanks for making my day.

Are any of these breeders in Michigan? I'm back here for a time and if I end up moving back out of state, or even back to China for work I want to work some of that prize Piper blood into my flock. With something special to keep I might finally get my own mad professor tendency to "see what happens" out of my system.

Tricoglossus:
My birds were crowing before 20 weeks, maybe at 16 they started obvious, but sporadic attempts to crow. Think of a 15 year old boy trying to sing like Chuck Barry, its gonna be humorous and crackly. By 18 weeks there was no doubt about which ones were boys.

 

[Tricoglossus]

Here are the latest pictures of my adolescents:
1.










2.







And here is my hen Queenie (unrelated):

 

[Chambertin]

Very nice looking birds, good dark motting on them. I see what you mean by boyish, but after maturity sets in all combs get redder and redder. Boys will have red from the time full feathers come in.
Could go either way, but I think you'd have clear evidence of roos with crowing attempts by now. Good luck!