Salmon Faverolles vs Delawares

[Godiva]

These are the two top breeds on my list at the moment. I like both, looks etc. How would you say they compare? Which is more hardy? I wouldn't freerange them unsupervised due to our high predator pressure but I would like them to be birds that will take advantage of foraging when I can be watching over them. I may also do chicken tractors...

How do the SF roos compare to the Delaware roos for size? And temperament? And how do these breeds compare for laying, heat tolerance etc... any information you may have is very welcome! And of course any pictures you may have are more than welcome!!!

 

[Mahonri]

Don't know about the roos.

I have a One dellie pullet and a delahorn (Dellie X Leghorn)... sex yet to be determined.

I have one little Salmon Fav pullet.

I just love to watch them. I think both breeds are beautiful.

I would imagine that the Delware would give you eggs more often and that the eggs would be larger than the Favs.

 

[speckledhen]

Alot will depend on where you get them, I'd say. A good Delaware will be meatier/heavier, lay better, lay larger eggs, be more heat tolerant (no beards or feathered legs) than a SF, IMO. Temperament will vary by individual. I have a hatching egg ad for my Delawares so you can see pics of them on that thread.

 

[Godiva]

I had sort of assumed that this would be the case. It seems that there are more and more Delawares appearing on this forum and I have been watching your stories with yours Speckledhen with much interest. I am not ready for a change yet, but I think that when I am I may be contacting you for hatching eggs. Right now I have a beautiful and very nice cochin roo that I couldn't bring myself to get rid of.... and my kids love him too. I just love the look of the Salmon Faverolles though, so pretty. THe Dellies are gorgeous too, very striking colouring but I am trying to be more focussed on the qualities of the breed rather than just the looks. I have plenty eye candy already!

How broody are the Dellies? I have broodies coming out of my ears!!!

 

[speckledhen]

They can go broody, but my year old hen still hasn't yet, which surprises me. I'll have to let you know. The breeder says these lines are broody, but I haven't had mine long enough to find out yet. My four pullets are only about 22-23 weeks old.

 

[isadream]

My faverolles have been very heat tolerant-I live in Alabama and no problems with them. They are in a very large pen and get minimal care. We have never had to treat or doctor them for anything. They are very laid back and never cause problems in the pen. My roo is also very non aggressive. They will follow us around when we are feeding and gathering eggs. I am no help in comparing them with the delawares as I have never had the delawares. My favs are good layers until they go broody.

Renee

 

[Faverolle]

Overall they are both excellent birds. I am working extensively with both and have some very fine examples. Both average about 5 eggs a week per hen on average for me. Some times of the year you may get more and other times a little less. The faverolles I would say on average would be friendlier and lay well into the winter when many of the other breeds quit. Delawares will be a little larger and will lay a larger egg. I have none that are by any means aggressive but they don't have that "lap dog" type personality that many of my faverolles have.

 

[speckledhen]

I've heard that about Faverolles. A couple of my Dels are like that, too, though. They are excellent foragers, too, I forgot to mention.

 

[gootziecat]

Could some one comment on the foraging abilities of the Faverolles? Are they able to rustle up grub without standing at the feeder half the day?

 

[Doug the Chicken Man]

We free range the Fav's most days in the back yard unattended as the birds of prey don't seem to want to take them on. They tend to be able to forage OK. They don't seem to eat from the bin as much as our polish who also free ranges with them. Ours are all extremely freindly. The roo will stare down and is always ready to take on any thing in the yard. When the dog and him were first introduced he was more than willing to flog but didn't do anything as the dog only did his normal perimeter check and is not concerned or interested in Chickens or Duck.