Houdans

[aoxa]

If you pull out s scraggly feather in the tail or wing or on the hocks it s very noticeable that a feather is missing. Watch a judge at a show, they will spread the tail and wings, missing feathers are noticed and this in itself is detrimental to the show quality of that bird. Pulling an off colored feather of the back or stubs on the feet is not noticed on inspection of the bird. So, pulling that scraggly feather out of a tail whether it is cheating or not will downgrade your bird anyway so you really don't gain much.

Thanks. I wasn't really talking about wings - That I really do understand. The tail I wasn't thinking a feather that would affect the shape or look. Not a Houdan, but this boy I have here went to show. I did not pull his lone tail feather out, but it feel out itself before show. He is getting his big boy feathers. That tail feather looked weird, and I think he looks far better with the random feather out, but that's me.

The judges took in consideration the time of year, and that a lot are going through a molt. They made a speech at our banquet about it. I didn't have any birds there that were older than a year old.

 

[Kassaundra]

Thanks.
I wasn't really talking about wings - That I really do understand. The tail I wasn't thinking a feather that would affect the shape or look.
Not a Houdan, but this boy I have here went to show. I did not pull his lone tail feather out, but it feel out itself before show. He is getting his big boy feathers. That tail feather looked weird, and I think he looks far better with the random feather out, but that's me.

The judges took in consideration the time of year, and that a lot are going through a molt. They made a speech at our banquet about it. I didn't have any birds there that were older than a year old.

Not a good placement for your drink.

 

[aoxa]

Not a good placement for your drink. 

Good thing I was done.

 

[ccshambhala]

I am so jealous of all the lovely houdans on here! Wish I was closer to a breeder.... it seems the hatchery houdan stock just keeps getting worse. This year I got three straight run chicks chicks from my local feed store (from Ideal I think)- both are roosters. Which do you think is better?

I really like the white in this guys tail




I think this one seems to have a better (thicker) build:








and then I got four houdan pullets thru a feed store farther away from McMurray - one of which died (this only happens when I buy Houdans!!) - their beaks are not perfect - which makes them talk funny lol and their crests are not pretty.... yet (holding on to hope) what do you think? (Bear in mind I do not plan on breeding - I just love houdans and would like to have some nice ones - or at least houdans that look like houdans lol)

 

[Kassaundra]

I am so jealous of all the lovely houdans on here! Wish I was closer to a breeder.... it seems the hatchery houdan stock just keeps getting worse. This year I got three straight run chicks chicks from my local feed store (from Ideal I think)- both are roosters. Which do you think is better?

I really like the white in this guys tail




I think this one seems to have a better (thicker) build:








and then I got four houdan pullets thru a feed store farther away from McMurray - one of which died (this only happens when I buy Houdans!!) - their beaks are not perfect - which makes them talk funny lol and their crests are not pretty.... yet (holding on to hope) what do you think? (Bear in mind I do not plan on breeding - I just love houdans and would like to have some nice ones - or at least houdans that look like houdans lol)

Keep in mind I am not a breeder or a shower, but from what I've read and understand about what they should look like this male is better body shape and mottling, actually his mottling is very good.

All your girls look the same to me body wise and all have to much white.

 

[farmer boy]

i will try to get some pics for you guys if you want .. mine are around 12 weeks old .. cockerel and pullet

 

[ccshambhala]

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!

 

[farmer boy]

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

 

[aoxa]

Keep in mind I am not a breeder or a shower, but from what I've read and understand about what they should look like this male is better body shape and mottling, actually his mottling is very good.

All your girls look the same to me body wise and all have to much white.

Actually they look pretty good to me as well. Could use a little better type, but their mottling is nice!

 

[aoxa]

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

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.