Question about Houdans

[Sammbalina]

I have been trying to locate some breeding stock houdans, and in looking have read conflicting information about them. I found out about the breed via the Livestock Conservancy's site, where they are labeled as dual purpose meat and egg birds, but other places I have seen them labeled as purely show/ornamental, and not a good bird for either. What are your experiences with these birds? I am going for meat and eggs, but also want a bird that is interesting to look at and is from the Conservancy's list, I have had my heart set on these birds for a while now but am starting to doubt whether or not they are a good choice for my farmstead.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have had my heart set on these birds for a while now but am starting to doubt whether or not they are a good choice for my farmstead.

Thing is different lines focus on different things.

What I would do... get a whole bunch (at least twice as many as you wanna keep) from the hatcheries that offer them, grow them out... and select those with the best laying habits, match the SOP (standard of perfection) closest, those that grew out quickest and have the body shape you want, and importantly attitude! Put everyone else in the freezer.

For me... chickens are a hobby. I have discovered that it doesn't matter what other people think... and I raise the birds I like even if they aren't the largest in the freezer. That's right Silkies (great layers when not broody but excessive broodiness and slight stupidity is the reason I no longer keep them) and White faced black Spanish... go just as great in the freezer as any other breed I've raised. Come to think of it the Spanish are a great example... not reported to be good layers... mine were excellent layers! Slightly smaller (large size when mature) but almost as often as Leghorn. Size nor ability match the descriptions... and they looked GREAT on pasture! And were truly rare unlike the FBCM, said to be rare but available at umteen hatcheries.

In other words.. try it! I thought Swedish Flower Hens were so great on paper... And Lav Orpingtons were touted as friendly... MEh! After raising hundreds of birds in dozens of breeds... neither were special... to ME. I absolutely LOVED breeding and raising French Black Copper Marans... They were wonderful, hardy birds... BUT the hens had too many meat spots in their eggs... alas I have currently settled on bantam Ameraucana as I have learned that filling my freezer is secondary to all the other benefits of keeping chickens (for me).

No personal experience with Houdans specifically. They are cute birds though. The crest can cause handicap to intelligence in my experience. I might also consider the Spangled Russian Orloff..

And I absolutely love Rock's... maybe the Partridge variety for beauty.

To wrap up... it's hard to get perfect birds no matter what. You MUST select for the traits you want. And don't forget... selling chicks and hatching eggs, or even hens (your culls may still be perfect for other homes even if they don't fit your breeding goals, here I sell for not less than $20 depending on age maybe more and that's far more value than 1 pullet on my dinner table) is another great way to put food on the table.

Hope this is helpful. Best wishes on your adventure!

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

IMO, they're not up to snuff for a practical homestead bird at this point. I've been looking, and there are a few people still producing fairly typey birds with the deep body and size and heft that you would want to see in a dual-purpose bird, but their performance is not up to snuff for a utility bird. On the other hand, the birds you'd get from hatcheries are more in line with other Polish breeds as far as lighter layers... and somewhat mediocre ones at that.

In short, bringing them back to be even a decent dual-purpose homestead breed is going to be a MAJOR project that would require hatching just about every egg you get for a long time. I'd look for something a little farther along.

(I've wound up turning to old school dark brown leghorns and Isabella leghorns which are heavier from Orpington influence.)