CHAPTER XXXII 



THE FRENCH BREEDS 



The Houdan is by far the most popular breed the French have. 

 It is a very old breed, and in some parts of this State is very well 

 liked, but in many parts the top knot or crest is against the bird be- 

 cause it is a harbor for lice, fleas and is also a hindrance to the birds 

 in protecting themselves from the common enemy the hawk. The 

 Houdan is a good layer of large white eggs, these eggs are the size 

 of well bred Minorcas and command the best price. The birds have 

 large breasts and the meat is good. They are one of the best breeds 

 I know of to cross with on other white egg breeds, but to be good the 

 cross must be of female Houdans to a male of the other breed. 



The Houdan is really a black plumaged bird but the feathers are 

 stippled or penciled with white, and as the birds get older the white 

 markings increase. They are quiet and do very well in a low fence, 

 but they should never be mixed with other birds of a more aggressive 

 nature, as being so timid they fall back from the feed and let the 

 others have all of it. The Houdan has five toes. The chicks are so 

 hardy that it is hard to kill them with a club, and if the crest could be 

 bred out I know of no better fowl for a ranch fowl that is run for 

 profit. Standard weights are, cock, 7%, cockerel 6%, hen 6% and pul- 

 let 5%. The cock is tall and stately like the Minorca, giving an ap- 

 pearance of being much larger than he is, while the females are 

 shorter of leg. The comb is V shaped and a flock of well bred Hou- 

 dans are a good investment in localities where they fit in. 



Crevecoeurs and La Fleche. — Of these two varieties of French fowls 

 very few are found in California. They have black plumage and are 

 a little larger than the Houdans, the Standard calling for half pound 

 more in all classes. 



The Polish. — Polish fowls, like the French, run largely to crests 

 and beards. As they are more of a fancier's fowl we will not take up 

 much time with them. There are the White Crested, Black Bearded, 

 Golden, Bearded Silver, Bearded White, and the non-bearded var- 

 ieties of these colors. As pets and fancy, for anyone with the time and 

 taste, these little birds appeal. They lay fair sized eggs and plenty 

 of them, but are too small to be marketable. 



The Hamburgs. — These are another of the small varieties that are 

 from a fancier's standpoint beautiful in colorings and symmetry. In 

 my young days they were the common fowl for everybody and were 



