Houdans

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

In culling for size...how long do you wait to weigh? Do you have to wait 'til maturity, or can you cull younger? I simply don't have the space to grow out the number of chicks I'm wanting to 6+ months. I'd love to be able to do first round culling no later than 3 months. Is that realistic?

I'm looking at ordering in at least 50 chicks and culling down to less than 10 by next fall.

Aside from clear malformations like cross beak and toe issue, what else can be culled for as day-olds? Has anyone had any problems with having no beards, etc?

 

[Bentley]

Most people want to wait until maturity to cull for body weight, which is probably the most accurate way to do this. However, you can do some 'bottom culling' and cull out the obviously smallest birds all along the way. However, you have to be careful to not cull for weight until you can tell the sexes apart because the young pullets will obviously be smaller than the males.

I want all bearded Houdans so in a new line you make have to cull clean faced birds. Muff and beard is dominant so its possible to have some bearded but heterozygous breeders. I was able to cull those out of my birds at the very beginning and for at least the last 6 generation I haven't had any clean faced birds. So my population is now, most likely, all homozygous for beards, which gives you a better and fuller beard anyway.

I also cull my chicks at hatch for toe arrangements to make sure I have the best toe separation and arrangement possible. Also you can cull for feather stubs on the shanks and toes which is common in some Houdan lines. I haven't had stubs in my line in quite a while but they used to.

 

[ashandvine]

I wanted to mention that there was a pair of Houdans being sold at the NE Poultry Congress. The female had way too much white on her but the mottling was even at least and their size wasn't the worst I have seen. I have the breeder info if anyone wanted it who didn't make the show.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

I would like the breeder's info. I don't give a flying rat's patooty about the amount of white—how was everything else?

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

So really...would anyone be willing to ship me eggs from UofAr or from their flock originating from uofa?

 

[ashandvine]

The show was awesome, really, an impressive size and lot of birds. The people were pretty great all around as well. I was awed by a few birds I saw there. There should be a thread just for this show so we can all relive the excitement of seeing some of these birds. IMO only.
I will pm you with the info on the Houdans. None of my eggs made it out of U of A but that was the postal service not anything else. I saw a gorgeous little Sultan while I was there but no Crevs. It was a great show and the Nationals will be there next year so start planning

I have a friend hatching out Houdans but IDK from where. If they get a pair I might try again.

 

[zach N houdan]

there is a congress Thread and can u pm me the breeders info 2? thx

 

[Lilwanis]

Quick question, what is the weight supposed to be for houdans? I have not purchased a SOP as the other breeds I am looking at have published their standard online. I am having a hard time justifying 59.00 for one What I can find online is 8lbs for cock and 6.5 for hen. Is that the ideal or what they weigh now?
I know I will eventually bite the bullet and get an sop, but for now...

 

[Bentley]

Quick question, what is the weight supposed to be for houdans? I have not purchased a SOP as the other breeds I am looking at have published their standard online. I am having a hard time justifying 59.00 for one

What I can find online is 8lbs for cock and 6.5 for hen. Is that the ideal or what they weigh now?
I know I will eventually bite the bullet and get an sop, but for now...

The APA SOP calls for a body weight of 8 lbs in cocks, 7 cockerels, 6.5 for hens, and 5.5 lbs in pullets. Most Houdans in the the US are FAR below this. They have been "Polishized"

 

[Lilwanis]

The APA SOP calls for a body weight of 8 lbs in cocks, 7 cockerels, 6.5 for hens, and 5.5 lbs in pullets.  Most Houdans in the the US are FAR below this.  They have been "Polishized"

Thank you so much for your response. This will be a challenge for me to figure this breed out. I am a very visual learner. With so few good examples out there...I am excited for the challenge though.