Faverolles chicken

Lore & Background

The Faverolles was developed in the 1860s in north-central France, in the vicinity of the villages of Houdan and Faverolles, and named after the latter. It was originally bred as a utility fowl, used for both eggs and meat. When Faverolles reached the UK in 1886, British breeders altered the breed to meet exhibition standards, developing a type with longer, higher raised tail feathers than their German and French cousins.

Faverolles are classified as a heavy breed and have a beard, muffs, feathered feet, and five toes per foot. They are well adapted to both confinement and free range. When battery cages began to be used at the very beginning of the twentieth century, Faverolles tolerated the close confinement better than the Houdan breed, making them the primary breed producing eggs for the Paris market during the early part of the century.

The most common color is Salmon, with females mainly brown and creamy white, and males darker with black, brown, and straw-colored feathers. Other varieties include white, black, ermine, cuckoo, mahogany, splash, and blue. Hens are good winter layers of medium-sized, light brown to pinkish eggs. Some cocks are the quietest of all breeds, and Faverolles are known for extreme docility, which can lead to bullying in mixed flocks.

Reader's Guide

The Faverolles holds significance as a historic French utility breed that adapted well to early twentieth-century battery cage systems, supplying eggs to the Paris market. Its dual-purpose nature—good egg production and fine meat—made it valuable, and its docile temperament has led to renewed popularity as a pet and for small home flocks. The breed's distinctive physical traits, including beard, muffs, feathered feet, and five toes, set it apart from most chickens. British, Australian, American, and French breed standards differ in weight expectations, reflecting regional breeding priorities. Though now primarily ornamental, the Faverolles remains an excellent layer, with a well-cared-for hen laying approximately four eggs per week. Its gentle nature makes it a favorite for children and a breed that thrives best with other docile chickens, such as the Sussex. The breed's history illustrates the shift from utility to exhibition, while its continued use in small flocks shows enduring practical value.

Did You Know?

• The singular form is Faverolles, not Faverolle; the final 's' is silent in French.
• Faverolles have five toes per foot instead of the usual four.
• When battery cages were introduced at the beginning of the twentieth century, Faverolles tolerated close confinement better than the Houdan breed.
• Some Faverolles cocks are described as the quietest of all chicken breeds.