Faverolle: The French Breed

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The Faverolle is an excellent dual purpose backyard bird. These birds are commonly docile and good with children, although you can have the occasionally aggressive rooster.

Faverolle Facts:

Class: Standard Continental Bantam: All other combs, clean legged.

Size: Standard Male: 8 Ibs. / Standard Female: 6.5 Ibs. Bantam Male: 30 oz. / Bantam Female: 26 oz.

Comb, Wattles & Earlobes: Medium sized single comb stands upright. Wattles are small and well rounded. Earlobesare oblong but hidden by the muff. All are bright red.

Color: In addition to those listed below, the British have developed a cuckoo variety and an ermine variety that soonmay be in North American.

Black: Beak is black; eyes are dark brown; shanks and roes are black. Standard black plumage including beard and muff.

Blue: Beak is black streaked with gray; eyes are dark brown; shanks and toes are bluish black. Standard black plumageincluding beards and muffs.

Buff: Beak is pinkish white; eyes are reddish bay; shanks an toes are pinkish white. Standard buff plumage includingbeards and muffs.

Salmon: Beak is pinkish horn; eyes are reddish bay; shanks and toes are pinkish white. Male: Head and hackle are straw.Beards, muffs, front of neck, breast, body, tail, and legs are black. Back is reddish brown laced with light brown changing to straw at the saddle. Wings are black highlighted with straw and white. Female: Beard and muffs are creamy white. Head, hackle, back, wings, and tail are salmon-brown. Breast, body, and legs are creamy white.

White: Beak is pinkish horn; eyes are reddish bay; shanks and toes are pinkish white. Standard white plumage includingbeard and muffs.

Place of Origin: France

Conservation Status: Critical

Special Qualities: Excellent dual purpose bird.

The Faverolle was developed in France in the mid 19th century. It is known to be a strong meat bird as wellas a good layer of brown eggs in winter. Considering that no records were kept of the breeds development, it is unknownas to what breeds they originated from. Some experts feel strongly that there were some Dorking, Houdan, Brahma, and Langshan in the mix, as well as Cochin.

These birds have five toes, lightly feathered legs, a beard and muff and a broad breast that is carried forward. Theymake good backyard birds and are known to have a pleasant temperament. They often even become affectionate with their handlers.

The Faverolle was first admitted to the APA in 1914.