Started Salmon Faverolle
People own Salmon Faverolles for their silliness, their steady egg production, and their fine meat.
Production: You can expect between 150 and 180 tinted eggs per year from each Salmon Faverolles in your flock. They are known to continue laying through the winter. Originally bred as dual-purpose birds, they are suitable as table birds as well.
Temperament: Salmon Faverolles are described as docile, gentle, and friendly. They are not necessarily shy but don't deal well with extremely aggressive breeds. Due to their sweet nature, they are often kept as pets and they do well with children.
History: The name Faverolles comes from a small village in France, north of Paris, which is the region in which the breed originated. One interesting thing about the name is that a single representative of the breed is still a "faverolles" rather than a "faverolle." For many years, this was one of the most popular breeds in the north of France, with one expert estimating 98% of the chickens sold in the Houdan market were Faverolles.
Salmon Faverolles are certainly a composite breed - that is, several breeds were used in developing the current standard. What is not known is exactly which breeds were used. Salmon Faverolles have a fifth toe and especially white flesh, so it is suspected that the Dorking and Houdan contributed.
While many people keep Salmon Faverolles as exhibition birds, or as novelty pets, they are becoming popular with small flock keepers as well. Because they are good-tempered, dependable layers, and make good table birds, they make good members of small flocks. They are quite suitable for colder climates.
The Salmon Faverolles was first included in the American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection in 1914. There is also a breed-specific club dedicated to promoting these fluffy chickens, the Faverolles Fanciers of America.
Colors: Salmon Faverolles hens and roosters have drastically different appearances. Hens are lighter in color, with cream, buff, straw, and copper feathering. Roosters, though, have black, golden, and white feathering. Salmon Faverolles roosters are sometimes small when compared to males of other breeds, but they are always stunning in appearance.
Livestock Conservancy Status: Critical. More breeders are needed to help improve and preserve this hardy, useful, docile breed.
Body Type: Some owners describe their Faverolles as "roly-poly," "fluff balls," or simply "rounded." Indeed, they have deep, compact bodies and they tend to be short. They also have muffs, a fifth toe, whiskers, beards, and feathered legs.
Standard Weights: Rooster 8 lbs, Hen 7 lbs, Cockerel 7 lbs, Pullet 5.5 lbs
Classification: American Poultry Association Class: Continental
