Faverolles salmon hens are an endangered heritage breed originating from France. Their friendly, docile temperament and good looks make them popular with backyard chicken keepers. As winter layers, they can be a valuable addition to a flock that mainly lays in the summer.
Here are some quick facts you need to know:
- Primary use: Dual-Purpose (Meat & Egg-laying)
- Size (Roosters): 8 lbs
- Size (Hens): 6.5 lbs
- Egg production (Annual): 240
- Egg size: Medium
- Egg colour: Pink or Pink-ish Light Cream
- Origin: France
Would the Salmon Faverolles chicken be a good addition to your flock? - This dual-purpose breed is ideal for both meat and egg production. It's a heritage breed that's well-suited for children and beginners. Additionally, the breed's unique and eye-catching plumage, as well as their five toes, make them an attractive choice for any poultry enthusiast. Furthermore, Faverolles chickens are cold hardy, and adaptable to a variety of climates.
As you can see, Salmon Faverolles are both visually attractive and useful. We'll go into the origins of this breed, its physical traits, temperament, and health requirements in this in-depth guide. So, we will provide you all the knowledge you need to grow happy and healthy Salmon Faverolles, regardless of whether you are an experienced chicken owner or a beginner to the world of chickens.
Background and history of the breed
Like many other chicken breeds, Faverolles take their name from their place of origin. Faverolles chickens with salmon originated in France and the Eure et Loire region. They were raised by local farmers living in the villages of Faverolles and Houdan in the 1860s.
These early birds were a mix of many different breeds of chicken, including the Houdan, French Rennes, Brahma, Flemish Cuckoo, Dorking, and Mechelen, and were used to supply Parisian markets with meat and eggs.
One problem was that many Faverolles were relatively light and did not meet meat production standards. As the urban population grew, Asian chicken breeds were imported, including Langshans, Brahmas, and Cochins. These birds had white meat, thin skin, and laid eggs that are brown in color.
Faverolles were soon introduced to the Houdans and Dorkings, initially probably by accident, but over time there was careful selective breeding, and the standardized Salmon Faverolles chicken breed was created around 1886.
This new bird was much heavier than its predecessor, which made it more attractive as a dual-purpose breed, and it brought a better price to market traders.
The moniker "Tete de hibou" was coined by them, which translates to "head of an owl" in English. This name was inspired by the feathery face of Faverolles and their adeptness at foraging in wooded areas.
It is incorrect to call a single Faverolles bird a "Faverolle" without the -s at the end of the word, as that is not their proper name. They came from the town of Faverolles, and thus, solitary or multiple birds are called Faverolles.
Faverolles rapidly gained popularity in France and were standardized in 1893. The breed made its way to England by 1894 and was enthusiastically received. In America, the credit for introducing Faverolles goes to Dr. A.H. Phelps of Glan Falls, New York, who brought them between 1901 and 1902. Since then, they have been designated as a heritage breed.
The first precursors to battery cages were tested in France in the late 1890s, and although Houdans did not adopt them at all, Faverolles did. This caused a surge in their popularity at the time and prompted Houdan Club de France to change their name to Houdan Faverolles Club de France.
The Faverolles standard was revised in 1909 and by 1929 had spread to countries surrounding France, including Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Faverolles suffered a sharp decline during the Second World War, like many other chicken varieties, due to the suppression of distribution networks. By the 1960s and 1970s, the birds had almost disappeared, and it was only thanks to the work of the Houdan-Faverolles Club de France that the animal did not wholly disappear.
Temperament and Behavior
Salmon Faverolles have a very friendly and inquisitive temperament. They always seem busy and rush like they have a mile-long to-do list, but despite this, they are calm and easy to maintain.
They seem to enjoy human company, and those used to being around people will run towards you when you approach, presumably hoping to receive a tasty treat. They make excellent pets for children and are relatively easy on beginners, providing plenty of research into their proper care.
There is a debate about brooding Salmon Faverolles hens. Those raised by a non-commercial breeder are more likely to become brooders than those from large hatcheries. The incubating ones will stay on their eggs until they hatch and make good mothers.
They get along well with other herd members in the middle of the pecking order, but should not be kept with the very active and more dominant breeds as they can be bullied.
The Faverolles hen tends to be quite talkative, and the rooster will crow naturally. They are about average on the noise scale.
Faverolles salmon roosters are typically known for their calm and non-aggressive demeanor. That being said, there may be exceptions when it comes to roosters, and a lot hinges on how you treat them. Building trust and mutual respect with your rooster is key to ensuring a positive relationship.
It's not advisable to keep Faverolles in a wide-open free-range setting. While they are capable foragers and take pleasure in being in wooded areas, their fluffy faces can obstruct their vision, making them susceptible to predator attacks.
With their loose, fluffy feathers, they are cold hardy, and also fairly heat resistant, provided they receive enough cool shade and cool water. The easiest way to water soft-faced chickens like Faverolles Salmon Water is to use chicken waterers. These drinkers keep the bird's sleeve dry, which is especially important in winter.
Breed Specifics and Traits
Initially, Salmon Faverolles were created to be heavy poultry with a dual purpose of meat and eggs to meet the needs of the Parisian market. Today, they are used more as friendly backyard hens to lay a good number of eggs and, depending on the strain, maintain steady egg production even through the winter months. Due to their attractive appearance, they make excellent show birds, especially since they don't mind being penned for several hours at a time.
When fully grown, roosters can weigh around 8 pounds while the Saumon Faverolles hen weighs around 6 ½ pounds. The Bantam Salmon Faverolles rooster averages about 30 ounces and hens weigh 26 ounces. They live for around 5-7 years, although it can be longer with good care.
The Salmon Faverolles are very pleasant to look at. Their feathered legs, beard, and muffs make them slightly comical, and the hens have an attractive coloring and feather pattern.
The comb is red and unique and should have five defined points. They have very small wattles and a pale colored beak with reddish bay eyes.
The body is deep, broad, and broad across the back and chest. They also feature a deep keel. Overall, their shape is deceiving, making them appear larger than they actually are.
Faverolles have five toes on their feet and their legs are feathered with whitish skin. Additionally, the skin of their body is also white.
Faverolles mature a little younger than some other heritage breeds, around 19 weeks of age. Hens generally begin to lay at 20 weeks.
Color Varieties
Besides salmon, there are many other colors of Faverolles chicken, but the American Poultry Association only recognizes salmon and white. Salmon was first accepted into the standard in 1914 and white much more recently in 1981.
Other Faverolles colors include Buff, Black, Hermine, Laced Blue, Splash, and Cuckoo.
Salmon Faverolles hens possess a pale, creamy bronze breast with subtle darker salmon feathers. Their lower half is even paler and they have a darker salmon bronze on their backs, heads, and wings, with the darkest feathers around their necks. The darker feathers on the back and tail are often interlaced with a cream edge and center line. Their down is soft, fluffy, and greyish.
Their loose, fluffy feathers and pale speckled beards give them an extremely cuddly appearance.
Roosters look very different from hens. They have black beards and black chests with long pale straw-colored cavalry and saddle feathers. The wings are a mottled dark bronze and pale cream. The primaries are black with a white triangular tip.
The primary tail feathers are also black with a beetle-green sheen, often with a red-brown edge and shorter red-brown feathers. The legs are black and the down is white or dark gray.
Bantams
Bantam Faverolles, which took off in the 1950s, also comes in a variety of colors, including not only salmon and white but also ermine and cuckoo.
chicks
The chicks are born yellow with fluffy legs and feet and are quite adorable. They start feathering quickly and you can quickly tell if you have roosters because the breast feathers are black.
Health
There are no specific health conditions associated with Faverolles Salmon. Their thick feathered beards require regular checking for lice, and their feathered feet are prone to scaly leg mites. For this reason, it is wise to use regular lice and mite treatments to prevent problems before they can start.
As with other chickens, maintaining a clean environment and proper feeding with adequate amounts of gravel and crushed oyster shells will help keep your birds healthy and productive. Deworming must also be done systematically.
Faverolles salmon chicks can become dehydrated in a brooder or during transport, and it is essential to ensure that they receive enough clean water.
Perches and roosts should be a bit lower than other chicken breeds because birds can easily damage their 5th toe.
Eggs
Salmon Faverolles lay medium-sized cream-tinted off-white eggs. Hens have an average egg production and typically produce between 160 and 200 eggs per year and continue to lay through the winter.
The average age for a hen to start laying is around 20 weeks, although some will start earlier than that.
FAQs
Is Salmon Faverolle user-friendly?
Salmon Faverolles have a very friendly and inquisitive temperament. They always seem busy and rush like they have a mile-long to-do list, but despite this, they are calm and easy to maintain.
What color do the salmon of Faverolle lay eggs?
Salmon Faverolles lay medium-sized cream-tinted off-white eggs. Hens have an average egg production and typically produce between 160 and 200 eggs per year and continue to lay through the winter.
Are Faverolles salmon cold hardy?
With their loose and fluffy plumage, salmon faverolles are very resistant to the cold.
At what age do salmon faverolles begin to lay eggs?
The average age for a Saumon Faverolles hen to start laying eggs is around 20 weeks, although some will start earlier than this.
Do salmon Faverolles lay pink eggs?
Salmon Faverolles lay medium-sized cream-tinted off-white eggs. Hens have an average egg production and typically produce between 160 and 200 eggs per year and continue to lay through the winter.
Summary
Salmon Faverolles are a delightful breed of chicken that is great for children as they seem to enjoy human company. Their carefree nature and cute plushness, down to their feet, make them a farm favorite.
Although currently on the endangered species list, they are growing in popularity and make adorable pets and superb show birds for the Faverolles enthusiast.
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