Judging French Fowls. 
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sweeping sickles, and carried rather upright. Size — Large, ranging in adults from eight to nine pounds. General Shape Square 
and deep. Carriage — Upright and lively, somewhat between that of a Dorking and a Poland. 
General Characteristics of Houdan Hen. — R esembling those of the cock, except that the comb and wattles are small, 
and the crest round and compact, owing to the difference of sex. Average weight six to seven pounds. 
Colour of Houdans. — In both Sexes— Beak horn-colour ; comb and wattles brilliant red ; eyes bright red (this is not 
imperative). Legs white, or pinky-white, mottled or spotted with lead-colour or black. Plumage black and white, as evenly 
mingled as possible all over the birds ; straw-coloured feathers objectionable, but not a disqualification. In the cock the colour goes 
in larger masses, and his tail is generally chiefly black, which looks best. 
General Characteristics of Crevecceur Cock. — Head and Neck — General appearance of head must be like that of the 
Polish, but more grand and stately ; beak medium size ; comb two-horned, and as free from tynes or small branchlets as possible, 
but of good size ; wattles moderate and well-rounded ; deaf-ears to be small and hidden by the muffling ; muffling very full and 
thick, hiding both throat and cheeks ; neck medium length, carried very upright, and full of sweeping hackles. Body General 
appearance neat, but very massive, with much fulness of “ build ” and development, somewhat as in the Cochins ; back being very 
wide and rather flat across, slightly drooping ; wings closely tucked in ; breast very deep, prominent, and full. Legs and Feet — 
Thighs short, shanks as short as possible, perfectly free from feathers, toes large and straight. Tad — Very large, with broad sweeping 
sickles, carried high. Size — Large, ranging in adults from seven to eight and a half pounds. General Shape — Wide and deep. 
Carriage — Lively, but noble and grand. 
General Characteristics of Hen. — S imilar to the cock, with the usual sexual differences. Her general appearance and 
carriage almost exactly like that of a Polish fowl, but somewhat more dignified. 
Colour of Crevecceurs. — In both Sexes— Beak black, or very dark horn-colour ; comb and wattles brilliant red ; eyes red 
(not imperative, but red denotes the best constitution) ; legs dark slate or black ; plumage a deep brilliant black all over, including 
crest, with as much gloss as possible. In White Creves the plumage is, of course, as denoted by the name. 
General Characteristics of La Fleche Cock. — Head and Neck — General appearance of head long, slightly coarse and 
cruel, but not very much so ; beak large and strong, with cavernous Polish nostrils ; comb a double spike, standing nearly upright, 
with very small spikes in front ; head to be quite free from crest ; wattles long and pendulous ; deaf-ears large ; neck long, and 
carried very upright, but not backward, with as much hackle as possible. Body — General appearance large, powerful, and rather 
hard, from the close plumage ; back wide, rather long, and slanting to the tail ; wings very powerful, and tightly carried ; breast full 
and very prominent ; plumage all over very close and hard. Legs and Feet — Thighs and shanks long and powerful, the latter being 
perfectly clean ; toes large and straight. Tail — Moderate in size, and carried at a medium height, neither upright nor yet low ; the 
sickles to be sound and glossy. Size — Very large in frame, but not looking so heavy as the bird really is ; adults averaging about 
eight to nine pounds. General Shape— “ Rangy” and long ; and with the carriage , which is bold and upstanding, presenting an 
appearance somewhat between Spanish and Malay. 
General Characteristics of La Fleche Hen. — S trictly analagous to the cock ; the comb, wattles, and deaf-ears 
being of course smaller. Size — Averaging say about seven pounds. General Appearance — Rather more compact than the cock’s, 
more resembling that of a Spanish hen. Carriage— The same remark applies. 
Colour of La Fleche. — B eak black or very dark horn-colour; comb and wattles deep bright red; deaf-ears a brilliant 
white ; face red ; eyes bright red or black, but generally red ; legs very dark slate-colour or leaden-black ; plumage glossy black 
all over, with bright green reflections. 
General Characteristics of Breda or Gueldres Cock. — Head and Neck — General appearance of head outrl and 
strange, caused by the (in this variety) excessively cavernous nostrils and depression over them ; beak rather small ; comb absent, 
except that the skin is red over the nostrils, just above which is a slight hollow or depression, as if cut out rather concave by 
a penknife held transversely; nostrils cavernous; wattles long and pendulous ; deaf-ears also pendulous ; a small and rudimentary 
crest on the top of the head ; neck medium length and well furnished, not carried back, as in other Polish Fowls. Body — General 
appearance neat, as in Polands ; back wide at shoulders and tapering to the tail ; wings medium size ; breast full and broad. Legs 
and Feet — Thighs rather short and vulture-hocked ; shanks short and feathered (rather slightly) down outside, but rarely to end of 
the toes ; toes medium-size and well spread. Size — Medium, averaging in adults say seven pounds. General Shape — Resembling 
Polish fowls. Carriage — Plain and “business-like.” 
The general characteristics of the hen correspond. Her weight averages about six to six and a half pounds. 
Colour of Bredas or Gueldres. — I n the Bredas or Black variety, the whole plumage is black, with generally little gloss, 
though this should be sought as in all black fowls. The beak is black or horn-colour ; comb, or where comb would be, red ; face 
red ; wattles brilliant red ; deaf-ears sometimes white and sometimes red, but white is decidedly to be preferred ; legs dark slate or 
black. In the Gueldres the plumage of both sexes resembles that of the Dominique fowl. There are also White Bredas. 
General Characteristics of La Bresse. — I n all respects resembling those of the Dorking as far as possible, with the 
exception of the fifth toe. The size should average eight to tew pounds in the cocks, and six to eight pounds in the hens. No 
standard can be given for colour. 
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