Houdans, 
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fine quality, beautifully white and juicy, and the bird having an enormous amount of meat on the breast. 
The chickens grow at an immense rate, and are ready for the table when most other breeds are still with the 
hen. In fact, I have frequently killed and eaten chickens at three and four months old, which were as many 
pounds in weight when plucked and drawn, and a great point in their favour as table fowls is the comparative 
smallness of the bones. The chickens when hatched are black, the crest black and white, and the under 
colour, yellow. The comb of the Houdan is peculiar, being triple, the two outside portions opening some- 
thing like a book, leaving the centre portion exposed to view. In mating Houdans to produce stock fit for 
the show pen, I have always found it necessary to select a bird excelling in a point in which the mate is 
defective, as if you attempt to breed from two birds with the same fault the chickens so bred will be even 
worse. In breeding for markings, I always select a dark cock or cockerel to mate with hens that are light 
coloured or vice versa ; but have found the best results come from a cock rather light mated with dark hens, 
noting especially that the hens are of good blocky shape and with well developed crests. The cock should 
also be good in this point or the chickens will come with straggling or broken crests, especially the cockerels. 
Another point not to be overlooked is to allow the cock sufficient hens, no cock of any other breed being 
as vigorous as a Houdan. In fact, a Houdan cock requires twice as many hens as would be allowed a cock 
of any of the other varieties of Poultry. If it is possible, I prefer to breed from two year old birds on both 
.sides, the results being hardier and more vigorous chickens. In rearing the latter I find no difficulty, though 
from various sources I hear that they are rather tender ; this is not my experience. It is an easy matter to 
select the cockerels from the pullets at an early age, the former developing the comb much more rapidly, 
the pullets' combs scarcely being noticeable till they are well advanced. The chickens cannot definitely be 
weeded out in this early stage, as often light coloured chickens will turn out the best when arrived at full 
feather, and on the other hand very dark birds will often moult out correct after the first year. The Houdan, 
though of marvellously quick growth, requires a long time to develop properly. Birds over two years old, 
unlike most breeds, turn out better plumaged birds than when younger, the cocks as a rule being much 
longer and better in feather. My advice is to breed and rear Houdans separate from other Poultry, as their 
large crests and whiskers handicap them considerably in obtaining their food if placed with other fowls 
The cocks are, however, one of the most valuable for crossing purposes to improve fecundity, early growth, 
and superior flesh; and frequently I supply birds to market farmers for this purpose, of which they speak most 
highly. 
" This breed requires great attention at the moulting period, so as to prevent feather eating, as they are 
decidedly prone to this vicious habit at the time when the feathers are appearing. The soft and fleshy quills 
in the crests, etc., are a great temptation to them, and, if once allowed to contract this bad habit, very little 
hope can be held out of ever exhibiting them. This can easily be avoided by separating the birds while 
undergoing the process of changing their plumage. Sometimes this feather-eating habit is contracted by the 
fowls not having a suitable water fountain to drink from, with the consequence that their crests and beards 
get wet, and naturally fall over the eyes, offering a great temptation to the other birds in the pen, which, as 
a rule, they take quick advantage of. There are two colours in Houdans, called the light and the dark. 
Properly speaking, and taking the standard as a guide, the former is the correct one, but the fashion tends to 
the heavier marked birds. Personally, I like one as well as the other, providing that type and crest are good. 
I can strongly recommend the Houdan as a thoroughly useful all round fowl." 
General Characteristics. 
Cock. 
The cock is a squarely built fowl of bulky appearance, the hen being very similar and much larger in 
proportion to sex than other breeds. 
The cock has a very solid body, slightly rounded, with firm carriage, on rather stout legs and feet. 
Head. — Smart looking and alert. 
Beak. — Moderate size, rather stout, horn coloured. 
Eye. — Bright red and sparkling, a pale eye may be tolerated in an otherwise good bird. 
