Breed:

Faverolles chickens  Temperament:

placid  Cost:

around $30  Lifespan:

5-7 years Recommended for:

backyarders 

BREED:

Faverolles Chickens

COSTS:

Around $30.00 per bird

$2.00 per bird per week to feed.

GROOMING:

Backyarders need only ensure that the feet and feathers don’t get covered in mud.

CHILD COMPATIBILITY:

A popular choice for a family with small kids. The birds are passive and easy to handle.

TEMPERAMENT:

Very calm, placid birds. Mix well with other breeds of fowl.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:

Enjoy a run and a scratch around the yard. Keep secure at night or when not supervised.

AVAILABILITY:

Not the most widely available breed. Most popular with show breeders.

TRAINABILITY:

Manageable and responsive to feeding calls.

SATISFACTION RATING:

Faverolles owners particularly love their appearance and easy to care for nature.

AGGRESSION:

Not an aggressive bird at all. Roosters are more dominant than hens.

HEALTH & LIFESPAN:

Susceptible to the usual conditions such as mites and lice. Vaccinate against Mareks disease.

NOISE:

Not a noisy bird. Have more of a ‘warble’ than a ‘cluck’.

INDOORS POTENTIAL

Strictly outdoors with adequate shelter provided.

IDEAL FOR:

Backyarders and hobby farmers. Great for families.

POPULARITY:

One of the least known breeds.

TURN-ONS:

Easy to care for. Placid. Won’t produce too many eggs.

TURN-OFFS:

Are susceptible to heat-stress.

INTERESTING FACTS:

Often incorrectly called the ‘Faverolle’. Faverolles is the correct term.

Faverolles are very placid, dual purpose birds, thus are suitable for the table and as layers. They do not produce as many eggs as other breeds but are suitable for backyarders.

History

The breed had its origins in the Eure et Loir area of northern France and was named after the village of Faverolles. Originally it was developed as a dual purpose breed, producing heavy table fowls and winter layers of tinted eggs. Faverolles were first imported to Australia in the 1920s by a Madame Masseran. Her husband was a chef at the Melbourne Club and she saw the chance to meet the exclusive tastes of the club's patrons by providing the sought after flesh of the Faverolles.

Appearance

The main physical attributes that characterise faverolles are:

Five toes, a beard and muff and feathered legs. The ‘fav’ is a deep-chested bird with a thick rectangular body and an unusual owl-like feathered face. They have small ear-lobes and wattles partly concealed by the muffling, and a long, full beard. The breed is polydactyl, with an extra toe positioned above the fourth, and the legs are sparsely feathered down to the outer toe. Salmon is the most popular colour, but they also come in black, blue, buff, ermine and white.

Roosters weigh 3.5-4.5kg (8-10lb) and hens 3-4kg (6.5-8.5lb). Faverolles bantams are exact replicas of their large fowl counterparts. Males weigh 1130-1360g (40-48oz) and females 910-1130g (32-40oz).

Temperament

Faverolles are quiet, placid and easily handled. Aggression is rarely seen, even in the males. Docile Faverolles chicks are often bullied if they are raised with other more aggressive breeds. Broodiness is also a characteristic of the breed.

Health & lifespan

Breeders say that Faverolles are strong, hardy birds. There are no breed specific diseases. Basic chook husbandry such as lice control and provision of adequate shelter from the rain and heat, plus vaccinations against Mareks disease is all that’s required.

Feeding

Breeders recommend a mixture of layer crumble and coarse mash, including grains, calcium and vitamins, along with grass, clean water and kitchen scraps.

Breeding and costs

The hens are persistent sitters - they are easy to handle and the chicks grow up quiet and trusting. Fertility is generally high. Chicks are strong and fast growing. Faverolles usually cost about $30-$35 each.

Uses

Faverolles are excellent table birds. Their meat is white, with good grain and flavour. They are also very good layers, and produce about 150 eggs per laying season. Three birds would be ample to supply a family with eggs.

Space and housing requirements

Faverolles need semi-intensive shedding during winter to protect their face and foot furnishings from rain and mud. All fowls should be penned at night to avoid predators, such as cats and foxes. It is essential to check with your local council regarding regulations for keeping poultry. Most councils will allow poultry but may have limits on the numbers and the type of shed allowed. Roosters are not permitted in residential areas.

Ideal owner

Ideally suited to those who want to start keeping chooks. These are a good beginner’s bird and are good for both the table and for eggs. They have a classic ‘olden style’ look to them and make for a good pet for children starting to learn about animal care.

Faverolles are not as prolific as the more well-known breeds. For information on how to contact breeders, call your state’s Poultry Fancies Association.

Some breeders include:

NSW
Robin de Chastel, Sydney
Phone: 0412 180 880

Chris Scholz, Albury-Wodonga
Phone: (02) 60 298 614

Vic

Hazel Faulks, Geelong
Phone: (03) 5281 1569

Gavin Wall, Ringwood East
Phone: 0429 463 789

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