About the Salmon Faverolles
The Faverolles is a distinctive French heritage breed, originally developed as a practical dual-purpose bird for both the table and egg production. Today it is equally valued for its unusual appearance and famously gentle nature.
Salmon is the best-known colour variety. Hens have soft salmon, cream and wheaten colouring, while the males are dramatically different, with much darker plumage. Their full beard and muffs, lightly feathered legs and five toes give the Faverolles an appearance unlike most other traditional poultry breeds.
Despite their elaborate looks, Faverolles are generally quiet, docile birds and are well suited to keepers wanting an attractive heritage breed with a friendly temperament.
History & Origin
Faverolles originated in the Eure-et-Loir region of northern France, around the villages of Houdan and Faverolles, during the nineteenth century. They were developed primarily as productive farm poultry for the Paris markets, where fast-growing table birds and reliable egg production were highly valued.
Several breeds contributed to the development of the Faverolles. Historical accounts commonly include the Houdan, Dorking, Brahma and Malines, although the precise ancestry varies between sources. Selection gradually produced the recognisable Faverolles type, combining good utility qualities with the beard, muffling, feathered legs and characteristic fifth toe seen in the breed today.
The breed takes its name from the French village of Faverolles. Interestingly, Faverolles is both the singular and plural form of the breed name.
Faverolles in Australia
Faverolles have a long history in Australia, although surviving accounts differ over exactly when the breed first arrived.
Australian poultry records place Faverolles in the country by the early twentieth century. One historical account records an importation during the 1920s by Madam Masseran, whose husband was chef at Melbourne’s prestigious Melbourne Club. The birds were reportedly imported with their qualities as table poultry very much in mind.
Whatever the precise date of their first arrival, Faverolles became established among Australian poultry fanciers and remain part of Australia’s heritage poultry population today. The Rare Breeds Trust of Australia currently lists large Faverolles in its “Watch” category, reflecting the importance of maintaining healthy breeding populations of this distinctive old breed.
Characteristics
Egg colour: Tinted to light brown, sometimes with a creamy or pinkish tint.
Egg size: Medium.
Average egg production: Approximately 150–200 eggs per year, averaging around 3–4 eggs per week across the year.
Weekly egg figures are annual averages. Actual laying varies with age, season, daylight, nutrition and individual bird.
Day-old sexing: Salmon Faverolles are not a sex-linked or autosexing breed, so males and females cannot be reliably distinguished by colour at hatch. As the chicks feather, however, the sexes develop noticeably different plumage and experienced breeders may be able to identify males and females relatively early.
Temperament: Docile, friendly and generally easy to handle. Their gentle nature can make them vulnerable to bullying from more assertive breeds.
Broodiness: Moderate. Some hens will become broody and can make attentive mothers.
Notable features: Full beard and muffs, feathered legs and feet, five toes, and the markedly different adult plumage of males and females.
Hardiness: Generally hardy and well suited to cooler conditions, with their dense feathering providing good protection in cold weather. Their feathered legs and feet can require extra attention in persistently wet or muddy conditions.
Rare Breed Status
The large Faverolles is currently classified as WATCH by the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia. This status indicates that the breed requires monitoring to help safeguard its long-term viability in Australia.
Current Availability
See what’s currently available from Deb’s Heritage Hens.