Leaf combs: an article by Craig Russell posted at feathersite.com
My recent article on La Fleche made me reflect about the French breeds in general. Since this is the SPPA, IÕll concentrate on the oldest types first. Birds of the La Fleche type can be documented further back than any other. The Crevecoeur and Houdans are usually grouped collectively with the La Fleche as the oldest breeds of French origin.
A number of poultry historians have speculated that the Crevecour is actually the oldest member of the group, and that it figured prominently in the development of the La Fleche and Houdan. Documentation of the Crevecoeur and the Houdan can be traced only to the 1700Õs. Both could be much older and might rival the La Fleche in terms of antiquity. The French certainly had a long history of crossing Polish with the old five toed breed (fowls that became known as Dorkings in England) to produce market fowl. Despite the often repeated suggestion that Crevecoeurs were developed directly from Polish by selection, it seems to be far more likely that both were developed by breeding the above mentioned market fowl and selecting for desired traits. Many writers have mentioned that, based on type and excepting the five-toe distinction, Crevecoeurs were linked to the Dorking.
Historically Crevecoeurs and Houdans displayed both leaf combs and horned combs. The leaf comb is a clear indication of horn or V combs crossed with single combs. As a point of interest, in England (and, I believe, in France), the Houdans are standardized with leaf combs.
My recent article on La Fleche made me reflect about the French breeds in general. Since this is the SPPA, IÕll concentrate on the oldest types first. Birds of the La Fleche type can be documented further back than any other. The Crevecoeur and Houdans are usually grouped collectively with the La Fleche as the oldest breeds of French origin.
A number of poultry historians have speculated that the Crevecour is actually the oldest member of the group, and that it figured prominently in the development of the La Fleche and Houdan. Documentation of the Crevecoeur and the Houdan can be traced only to the 1700Õs. Both could be much older and might rival the La Fleche in terms of antiquity. The French certainly had a long history of crossing Polish with the old five toed breed (fowls that became known as Dorkings in England) to produce market fowl. Despite the often repeated suggestion that Crevecoeurs were developed directly from Polish by selection, it seems to be far more likely that both were developed by breeding the above mentioned market fowl and selecting for desired traits. Many writers have mentioned that, based on type and excepting the five-toe distinction, Crevecoeurs were linked to the Dorking.
Historically Crevecoeurs and Houdans displayed both leaf combs and horned combs. The leaf comb is a clear indication of horn or V combs crossed with single combs. As a point of interest, in England (and, I believe, in France), the Houdans are standardized with leaf combs.
