Houdan

Historical Origin

France · European

The Houdan is an ancient French breed combining a prominent crest, muffed beard, and the unusual trait of five toes on each foot. Once the premier table fowl in Paris markets before the Bresse claimed that title, they remain a dual-purpose heritage breed with distinctive ornamental qualities. Calm and relatively quiet, they suit smaller flocks in moderate climates.

Temperament & Behavior

This breed is classified as calm with a noise level of quiet and good foraging ability. Broodiness tendency: rarely.

Biological Reference

"Phenotypic analysis of Gallus gallus domesticus (Houdan) supports a metabolic feed efficiency of 0.28 lbs/day at a standard body mass of 6.5 lbs. Egg production frequency approximates 3.1 ova/week under optimal lighting conditions (14h photoperiod)."