Many poultry farmers are thinking about getting Faverol chickens. Chickens are known for their docile nature, tasty meat and high egg production. From this article, you will learn about the main types of the Faverolle breed and the signs of non-breed, about the feeding habits and keeping of such birds, read the reviews of people who kept this breed. All this will help you decide if the Faverol breed is right for you.
Breeding history
Cours Faverol was first bred in the village of the same name in France in the middle of the 18th century. They are the product of a cross between birds of the Gudan, Mantskaya, Cochinhin and Silver Dorking breeds. This breed was supposed to become "bouillon", but with subsequent crosses it became meat, and later, through the efforts of English and German breeders, and decorative.
Description of the Faverol breed
Birds of this breed are usually attributed to the meat and egg direction, although in some countries they are bred exclusively as an ornamental breed.
In appearance, this breed is easy to distinguish from any others. Birds have a slightly flattened head with a vertical ridge located just above the beak. The beak itself is short and powerful, in color - from milky white to light pink.
On the neck and upper back there is a characteristic collar, in which some of the feathers look up, and some to the side. The eyes are orange, the lobes are completely covered by the beard and feathery sides.
In general, the body looks heavy and even heavy. The muscles of such birds are very developed, the chest is massive, the abdomen is deep. From the side, the body somewhat resembles a trapezoid. The tail is raised, with short, stiff feathers.
The wings are located in the upper part of the body and fit tightly to it, there are five toes on the legs, there is no “hawk heel”. The fifth toe ends with a long, upward-pointing claw. This finger is one of the characteristic features of the breed.
Chickens generally have a more stocky and overweight build than roosters. The back of the chicken is wide and raised at the back, the belly is well developed.
The plumage in adults is soft and lush, the skin is always milky white. Coloring can be very diverse: black, blue, gold, salmon, etc.
Breed varieties
There are a number of varieties of chickens of this breed, the main of which are salmon, blue and Colombian. These species differ only in color.
Salmon
The most popular type of Faverol chicken is salmon. Chickens and roosters of this variety have a markedly different color.
The plumage on the back of a salmon rooster is red or yellow-brown. In this case, the collar and lower back are much lighter. On the lateral sides of the neck there are characteristic brown spots, which determine the purity of the breed. Wings - deep black with green or blue tint. Other parts of the body are covered with black plumage.
The color of the chicken of this breed is more uniform, salmon red, there is a narrow white border on the feathers. The chest, abdomen and legs are pale yellow.
Blue
Chickens of this variety have a uniform blue color throughout the body, but their feather border is not white, like Colombian or salmon birds, but a rich blue hue.
Colombian
Another name for this variety is silver. Chickens and roosters of this type have the same color - silver-white. On the mane and tail, black feathers with a blue or emerald tint are stripes, and the border of the feathers is white.
Signs of uncleanness
It is very important to monitor the purity of the Faverol breed. The offspring obtained from mixing with other breeds of chickens will be less hardy than the previous generation, and in the future may lose their characteristics.
The main symptom of a non-breed chicken or Faverol rooster is underdeveloped muscles. A very squat or, conversely, a very high body, a thin or not long enough neck, an uneven back (for example, too arched), a long pointed tail - all this leads to the culling of birds from the breed flock.
It is worth paying attention to the paws: birds without the fifth toe, with a “hawk heel”, with the wrong position of the fourth and fifth toes, cannot pass the standardization.
The absence or insufficient size of the hen's hairstyle, a slight splendor of the plumage on the neck and sides of the roosters are also a sign of unbredness. A yellow beak, a disproportionate crest, an excessive number of feathers on the metatarsus indicate a mixed breed.
Characteristics of Faverol chickens
Faverol chickens are bright, beautiful, attract attention, according to numerous reviews, they are good both for aesthetic pleasure and for the economy.
Temperament
Birds are trusting, docile, get used to and become attached to their owners. The character is calm, phlegmatic. They like to stop while walking and watch other chickens. They get along well with other birds and pets, do not have a tendency to aggression.
Productivity
Faverol is a productive chicken breed. Initially, they were bred as meat chickens, but at the same time they also have a high egg production.
Young animals quickly gain muscle mass, with increased feeding, chickens are suitable for slaughter by 4.5-5 months. Roosters often reach 3-4 kg of live weight, and chickens - 2.5-3.5 kg.
The meat is white, tender, not too fibrous, very similar to pheasant meat - Faverol was conceived as a bird for restaurant dishes.
Upon reaching 6 months of age, hens can begin to lay and are capable of producing 160-180 eggs in the first year of puberty and about 130 in subsequent years. The shell of faveroli eggs is of different shades: from yellow-brown to light pink, the mass of one egg is about 55-58 g.
If daylight hours last from 13 hours and chickens have a warm place to spend the night, then they can produce eggs all year round, but in winter egg production decreases slightly.
When approaching 3 years, the bird sharply loses performance indicators. The meat becomes tougher, loses its taste and egg production decreases (up to 100 eggs per year or less). Therefore, poultry farmers recommend regularly updating the livestock and slaughtering birds that have reached 2.5-3 years.
Conditions of detention and care
Chickens Faverol do not require special conditions of detention, with the exception of one - it is desirable that they do not share the chicken coop and walk with representatives of other breeds. First, it will help keep the offspring clean. Secondly, it will protect peaceful birds from more aggressive relatives, since often good-natured faveroli are not able to stand up for themselves.
If you need advice on how to make a chicken coop yourself, then this article may be helpful.
Keeping in cages and aviaries is highly undesirable, because the faveroli are large and obese birds, they need physical activity. Often phlegmatic birds can be prompted to move only by a wide range of grass and a small amount of food in the hen house.
Feeding
Faverol chickens are prone to overeating and obesity, so feeding norms must be carefully observed. You need a balanced diet with the obligatory presence of protein. It is the protein that contributes to good chicken growth and high egg production.
It is preferable to use dry food, as wet ones will stain the plumage and give the chickens an untidy look. Wet food can get stuck in the plumage, after which the hens will try to peck the food off each other, and this can result in injuries.
Poultry farmers often use whole grains, grasses and roots in the diet of these chickens. The addition of artificial vitamins is possible. One bird should receive about 150 g of dry feed (grain or compound feed) per day. In the case of obesity, the rate is reduced to 80-100 g.
In summer, about a third of the daily ration should come from pasture (nettles, dandelions, alfalfa, etc.). In winter, the green mass is replaced with sprouted wheat, pumpkin, pine needles; it is also permissible to use low-fat and unspoiled waste from the kitchen.
It is very easy to check whether the faveroli diet is correctly formulated - with a balanced diet, the normal egg production of a chicken is 2 eggs in 3 days.
Breeding
The optimal period for hatching chicks is considered the end of winter. Birds hatched in February will be able to walk in the spring, and in summer or autumn, young hens will begin to lay.
There are few good brood hens among the Faverolles, so their chicks are usually hatched in an incubator. Eggs are taken from chickens aged 1-3 years, it is undesirable to take eggs from individuals younger. You can store these eggs for no longer than 2 weeks at +10 degrees. It is important to maintain the incubator temperature at 37.6 degrees, even a small change in temperature can lead to hatching of chicks with crooked legs.
We recommend that you read the article about the features of incubating chicken eggs.
Newly hatched chickens are usually fed with boiled eggs and crushed parboiled corn, from the second day other cereals are added, from the fifth - herbs, vegetables and bran. At the same time, yeast is gradually introduced into the diet of the chicken, if it is grown for meat.
From 2 months, crushed grain and corn or special feed are added to the chicken menu. And after 3 months, the chick is already considered an adult and eats in the same way as its older relatives.
For the high survival rate of young animals, in addition to nutrition, the temperature regime (about 38 degrees) and a sufficient amount of light are important (additional lighting is necessary if the daylight hours are short or it is cloudy outside).
Chicks are born with yellow or yellowish-white down. It becomes possible to determine the sex 10 days after birth, in some cases later (in cockerels, tanks and a beard begin to appear, and the feathers at the ends of the wings darken).
Upon reaching 2 months, the males and hens are separated from each other, and then a herd of 10-15 hens and 2 males is formed.
Molting period
Molting is a difficult and painful process for Faverol chickens. They feel bad, do not show activity, hide in the chicken coop, temporarily stop laying eggs.
It is important during this period to provide the birds with adequate nutrition with a high content of vitamins. It is necessary to carefully monitor the conditions of detention, so that due to weakened immunity, the molting period is not complicated by diseases.
Walking
The walking area for Faverol chickens should be spacious, since in order to avoid obesity, they need to actively move. Adequate free space is one of the determining factors in poultry egg production.
It is important to make sure that there are no poisonous plants in the walking yard (black nightshade, cicuta, crocus, speckled hemlock, hellebore), because the faveroli love pasture and can accidentally eat them.
It is not necessary to protect the walking area with a high fence - mostly birds of the Faverol breed do not like to fly. You can enter the garden calmly, as they will not rake the flower beds and beds in search of worms.
Chicken coop
The dwelling for faveroli is made spacious to avoid crowding. Too many individuals in a small space are dangerous - this can lead to diseases and an increase in feed consumption (chickens will begin to trample it).
Chickens tend to scatter feed, and so that they do not do this, they hang narrow feeders or insert special crossbars in the feeding troughs. How to make a do-it-yourself feeder is written here.
Faveroli are large birds, so they can injure their legs by jumping off too high a perch. So the perches for them need wide, round and not very high, with special ladders for lifting.
Dryness in the hen house is extremely important - birds of this breed do not tolerate high humidity. They have furry feet and therefore too much moisture in the litter can cause infections. Coop bedding is made from sawdust and straw and is regularly checked for dryness.
It is advisable to clean the coop once a week, removing droppings and partially or completely replacing the litter.
Diseases
Under the right conditions, faveroli rarely get sick. They can be susceptible to infectious diseases, like all birds. The main cause of illness and death of chickens of this breed if not kept properly is wet bedding in the hen house.
Also, obesity can be the cause of health problems - the scourge of faveroli and those who deal with them. A neglected obesity problem can result in a sharp decline in egg production and growth rates of chickens. This situation can take up to several months to resolve.
Advantages and disadvantages
Although the Faverol breed appeared in Russia a long time ago, it is still not widespread and reviews on it are controversial. But breeders and poultry farmers already have enough experience with this breed to identify its main pros and cons.
Among the main advantages of the breed are called:
- high egg production;
- excellent taste of meat;
- fast growth;
- calm character;
- attractive appearance;
- the rarity of diseases;
- frost resistance.
The disadvantages are usually attributed to:
- the difficulty of maintaining the purity of the breed;
- tendency to gain excess weight;
- difficulties with the acquisition;
- the need for frequent cleaning of the chicken coop.
Reviews of poultry farmers
Alexander, 47 years old, Domodedovo. I advise everyone who chooses a bird for the taste of meat, health and beauty. Excellent character, good communication with children. Egg production is good, my 5 chickens usually produce 3 eggs a day. Chickens are born strong.
Elena, 54 years old, Moscow region The breed is calm, tame. Excellent foragers. I let them go free-range, the beds and flower beds are intact. They help me to loosen the berries under the bushes. Laying hens give 2 eggs in 3 days each. In general, the reviews are only positive.
Sergey, 52 years old, Kiev. Soon I will say goodbye to the faverole. Not very impressed, turned out to be a difficult breed. Some have no meat, only bones, others get fat quickly. Very late maturing, hatch at about 8-9 months, at the same age the roosters become adults. They don't rush very well. No meat, no eggs - at least for me. And there is a lot of trouble. But beautiful, of course, stately. Calm, good grazing like geese, hens are not bad. It is worth getting those who want to do them seriously, to take part in exhibitions. For the household, I would have started a different breed, but decide for yourself.
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There is a lot of information about Faverol chickens, and reviews of poultry farmers vary. It is difficult enough to buy a real bird of the Faverolle breed, and the price increases with the age of the individual. The accidental purchase of a crossbreed instead of a purebred bird is most likely the reason for negative reviews for the breed. Those who are more fortunate report high egg production, tasty meat, and ease of maintenance. But many agree that the chickens of this breed are beautiful, have a good character and are attached to the owner.