The sea coast echo., 1910-06-18
A TYPICAL, HoUDAN HEN.

find records OF the Houdan breed;
they We're raised in great numbers
IN France and Spain. During all this
time they have held their own as the
leading utility fowl of France. It is
said they take their name from the
town OF Houdan. near where it is sup
posed they were originated.
On their native soil they are diff
ferent bird from those We find here IN
America. They are smaller. lighter in
color and with less crest, but with the
same marked tendency toward heavy
egg production The Houdan hens Of
France on an average lay eggs weigh
ing three ounces apiece.
The Houdans we find in Great Bri-
tain are easily as large again as the
French birds, and with enormous
crests, smooth as glass. In color
alone do they resemble the French
Houdan. Their great characteristic of
egg production has been neglected in
England and they are raised only as
fancy and show bird
The American Houdan has the fine
appearance Of its English cousin, and
the great laying ability Of it's true
French ancestors. We breed them so
they are as big-bCdied and weighty as
the English bird. and, while much
darker in color. they have the same
great smooth crests, the wonderful
glossy green hackle, tail coverts and
sickles. A very noticeable character
istic Of the bread is the eye, the
brightness Cf which indicates health
and vigOr. Nature gives the Houdan
an eye that is always on the alert,
which peeps out from between crest
and beard and permits no bug or worm
to escape it's notice The true FIOu-
dan eye is bright red in color and
large and full The oddity about them
the crest which is novel and attrac-
tive, especially to those not accus-
toned to seeing poultry with the fam
cy headgear-is not an Objectionable
feature as it might seem. but rather
protection and beauty mark. 1t is
not as Objectionable as large combs
are to some breeds or as thickly feath-
cred shanks are to others. The crest
should be smooth, medium in size and
dark.
Another most noticeable character
istic is the fifth toe. This should be
distinct from the others and curve
gently upward The Houdan is a
squarely built>fowl, long in body, full
in breast wide in back with grad
ual, even slope to the tail, which
should be carried at somewhat less
than 45-degree angle. The body
feathers should be as nearly black as
possible and evenly mottled with
white The wing should be as near
all black as possible as well as the
crest
The first Importation Of Houdans
was made in 1859. In a short time
the breed became very popular and
for ten years the Houdan was a great
favorite here and in Canada. The
American fancier then. like the Eng
lish, started in to improve the breed
with the result that about fifteen years
ago he almost had the breed improV-
ed out of existence. 1t was crossed
with inferior breeds several times I'M
til it lost much of its individuality.
halt was called. though. and now we
have the Houdan in all its original
beauty and good qualities. The Amer
lean bird has the shape of the English
Dorl1ing and the hardness of the
French Houdan: it has also the lat
ter's ability to lay large numbers OF
eggs.
The winter laying qualities, togeth-
er with its size. make it an ideal fowl
for the back yard fancier who wishes
fresh eggs and an occasional fowl to
eat. The hens need not be disposed
of as soon as those of many other
breeds, as they lay very we'll up 10
five and six years Of age. A yearlln2
hen generally will weigh six pounds
while older hers will often reach
eight pounds and the. cocks ten ana
twelve pounds. The pullets lay when
from five to six months old. Ine
comb. which has been changed from
the antler and leaf comb to the small
V-shaDed comb is never injured by
frost: but Houdans should be kept IN
out Of cold rains as their crest gets
wet easily and this in turn produces
colds The Houdans may be inclos-
ed in a four-foot fence and bear con-
finement we'll Should they OCCASION
ally get out they are easily distln-
guished, Of course, from any other
fowls in the neigh0crhood, Should
their carcasses be found in the mar
ket they are easily identified by their
five Oes-Indianapolis News.