La Fleche Thread ~ PIC of my Black La Fleche

[poularde]

I just love this photo. Thank you so much for sharing!

Here's what La Flèche like doing....perching in trees

 

[chickmashnoon]

What a beautiful set of birds!

Well, my La Fleche eggs have only 2 embryos that have survived to day 13. If I had to do it over, I would have upped the humidity past the normal point and let them sit stationary for more than 3 days. I would love some nice birds, but my husband would like me to order from IDEAL, just to get the breed and make sure they are what I want before ordering better stock. Plus, I'm going to be on overtime soon and my time will be at a premium so driving more than 2 or 3 hrs to pick up birds or eggs (with the price of gas!) is not something we agree on

So, how far does ideal stock stray from standard? I realize hatchery birds are not going to fit the standard, but how badly? And will they have similar personalities? Anyone have any experience with them?

I'm still looking at breeders cause I'm torn, and then if I do "upgrade", I still have to find a few bloodlines.

 

[DaveK]

This thread was started by someone who purchased from Ideal and had gotten rid of them before the first breeding season because of temperament issues that weren't going to fly in their own situation. You can backtrack, read all about it and decide for yourself if his birds from Ideal look or behaved as you would like your own to.

 

[chickmashnoon]

I knew he didn't have them anymore- didn't know why. Good to know my worry about hatchery temperments is not unfounded. Thanks!

 

[pgpoultry]

On the temperament bit (though across the pond I can't comment on Ideal!).....they are very fast movers and great flyers (like being in trees....see above. I'd been told they would be difficult to 'tame'.....but they are fine....they come when they are called, they coop themselves as dusk approaches and are perfectly manageable. Sure, as compared to my (huge) Brahmas they look like they are on speed, but NOT too nervy, and they have a vast vocal range.

Single most impressive characteristic.....their amazing foraging ability as a free range bird. They have VERY little food from me, preferring to travel over several field finding their own. Second most impressive...their looks....beautiful shiny black feathers with 'beetle sheen' and their 'conversation opener' headgear.

 

[chrisf]

Here is my La Fleche hen, she has a great temperament, is very calm and not flighty...especially since onset of lay.....my young rooster is even nicer but that may be due to raising him from an egg.........what a great breed!..............................................................chrisf

 

[chickmashnoon]

she looks very inqusitive there Where did you get yours? and are you "across the pond" too?

Looking forward to getting more! One egg out of nine hatched of my LaFleche, but that one sure is a cutie, and I'm going to be getting more.

Almost all of my adorable but useless Serama hatched- go figure there's some irony in there somewhere . . . .

I hear that the strains that were bred thru english/american breeders have no/very little crest and that the french/german strains have a vestigal (sp?) crest. Anyone have birds with a crest? Just curious what it looks like.

 

[chrisf]

I am not across the pond.....I am in NY....this hen came from a private breeder in upstate NY who claims his stock is not hatchery.....my rooster origionates from Sand Hill...........my rooster has a small crest as does the hen......................................................chrisf

 

[pgpoultry]

Mine don't have any crest at all.

Chrisf....that looks a nice pullet.....she will need some company.

I have a rookie Brahma sitting on 5 La Flèche eggs.....only trouble being that i haven't split my mixed flock up yet, and I have 3 very active Naked Neck boys....so I'm sort of looking forward to Naked Flèche or Transylvanian Devils!

 

[chrisf]

Terrible picture, they are always on the move...............................................................chrisf