The Houdan has a lovely full crest and beard. In addition to these distinguishing features they also have five toes on each foot and the leaf (or butterfly) comb which gives the effect of two branched antlers in the front of the crest.

We have found the Houdan to have an extremely docile nature, and if obtained whilst still very young, will give young children a great deal of pleasure as they are great pets and seem to enjoy the attention. The hens make the best pets, as the males can be flighty. 

The Houdan has glossy black feathering with beetle green sheen & white mottling.

The Houdan was once recorded in colours such as White, Blue Mottle, Black, and Red Mottled.

The White & self Black colours are still available, however they are not currently recognised by the Australian Poultry Standards.

Crests in Houdans are full and compact, round on top (for males) and globular (for females), they are not divided or split and are composed of feathers inclining slightly backwards fully to expose the butterfly comb and they are able to see in all directions except from behind.

Colouring of the crests should be glossy green-black ground colour with pure white mottles, the mottling is evenly distributed.

Serious defect in the crest is a loose crest obstructing the sight.

Comb leaf type somewhat resembling a butterfly placed at the base of the beak, fairly small well defined and each side level.

Comb face and wattles should be bright red.

Houdans have five toes on each foot.

The fifth toe should be well seperated from the fourth toe and curve gracefully out and skywards.

Serious defect in the toes is other than five toes on each foot.

Colouring of the legs and feet is white mottled with leaden blue or black.

Houdans are good layers (some have been known to lay into their old age i.e. 8-10 years) with a approximately 55g white egg. They are not a broody chicken, so you will need to either get a broody chicken or an incubator to hatch the eggs.

Try and hatch as early in the season as possibly this will give you the best vigour and healthy start your birds will need. If possible try and breed with only 2nd year layers and older hens. 1st year pullet eggs may be two small to breed successfully with.

If you are breeding for Bantams, make sure you give the bird the best of everything to ensure that it is truely a bantam and not a bird that has been simply set-back due to late hatching or poor nutrition. Always pick your true smallest and continue breeding with these birds and vice versa for the large fowl, always pick your best large birds to breed with.

To gain a good overall result with breeding each season, try to do a balanced breeding program.  If the females tend to be more on the ‘gayer’ side, then put in a male that is much darker or less mottled.

If the crests are becoming too big or loose, deliberately put together a pen where the male has a good, high, tight or smallish crest in with females that have this fault.

It is best not to breed with any birds that do not have good toes, aiming to only breed with birds that have a good fully separated fifth toe that is pointing up & away from the leg. We need to do this if we are to finally get away from the dreaded ‘four toe Houdan’ which has resulted from past breeding with polish.

Like so many other mottled breeds, the birds tend to become whiter (or "gayer" as it is more commonly known) with increasing age and some darker birds may not be suitable for showing until after the first seasons or so, whilst more gayer birds will not be suitable for showing after the first season. 

Basically, try to do balanced mating & you will find that you can continually improve on any issues that arise.

ORIGIN:
France

CLASSIFICATION:
Light Breed - Softfeather

EGG COLOUR:
White

CARRIAGE: Bold and active.

TYPE: Body broad, deep & lengthy as in the Dorking. Tail full with the sickles long and well arched.

HEAD: Fairly large with a decidedly pronounced protuberance on top and crested. Crest full and compact round on top and not divided or split composed of feathers similar to those of the hackle inclining slightly backwards fully to expose the butterfly comb and in no way obstructing the sight except from behind. Beak rather short and stout well curved and with wide nostrils. Eyes bold. Comb leaf type somewhat resembling a butterfly placed at the base of the beak, fairly small well defined and each side level. Face muffled; muffling large, full, compact, fitting around to the back of the eyesand almost hiding the face. Ear-lobes small, entirely concealed by the muffling. Wattles small and well rounded almost concealed by the beard.

NECK: Of medium length with abundant hackle coming well down on the back.

LEGS AND FEET: Legs short and stout well apart free of feathers. Toes five similar to those of the Dorking.

The general characteristics are similar to those of the male, allowing for natural sexual differences with the exception of the crest which is full compact and globular not in any way obstructing the sight except from behind and with the comb visible. Tail fairly full.

Male and Female: Glossy green-black ground colour with pure white mottles, the mottling to be evenly distributed, except on the flights and secondaries and in the male the sickles and tail coverts, which are irregularly edged with white. NOTE: In young Houdans black generally predominates, but what mottling there is should be even and clear. Mottling becomes gayer with age. Beak horn. Eyes red. Comb face and wattles: bright red. Ear-lobes: white or tinged with pink. Legs and feet: white mottled with leaden blue or black.

FOWL
Male 3.20 - 3.60 kg (7 - 8 lb)
Female 2.70 - 3.20 kg (6 - 7 lb)

BANTAM
Male 790 - 910 g (28 - 32 oz)
Female 740 - 850 g (24 - 28 oz)

SCALE OF POINTS:

Type	10
Size	20
Comb	8
Legs and feet	10
Colour	15
Crest	15
Muffling	12
Condition	10
Total	100

Red or straw-coloured feathers. Loose crest obstructing the sight. Spur outside the shank. Feathers on shanks or toes. Other than five toes on each foot. Any deformity.