We have been asked many times about whether a Houdan is just a mottled Polish, to answer your questions the answer is No it is not, even just looking at first glance at the two birds and you can see a difference, once you get down to specifics there are even more differences. We have done a comparision of the two standards for you to look at.
|
Characteristics |
Polish |
Houdan |
| Classification |
Light Breed - Softfeather |
Light Breed - Softfeather |
| Egg Colour |
White |
White |
| Carriage |
Sprightly & Erect |
Bold and active |
| Male - Type |
Back fairly long, flat and tapering to the tail.
Breast full and round. Flanks deep.
Shoulders wide.
Wings large and closely carried.
Tail full, neatly spread, and carried somewhat low, not perpendicularly, the sickles and coverts abundant and well curved. |
Body broad, deep & lengthy as in the Dorking. Tail full with the sickles long and well arched.
|
| Male - Head |
Large and decidedly pronounced protuberance on top, and crested.
Crest large, full, circular on top and free of any split or parting, high and smooth in front and compact in the centre, falling evenly with long untwisted or reverse-faced feathers far down the nape of the neck, and composed of feathers similar to those of the hackles.
Beak of medium length, and having nostrils rising above the curved line of the beak.
Eyes large and full.
Comb of horn type and very small if any (preference should be given to birds without a comb).
Face smooth, without muffling in the White-crested Black or Blue varieties, and completely covered by muffling in the others. White Polish are found in two forms, both bearded and non-bearded.
Muffling large, full and compact, fitting around to the back of the eyes and almost hiding the face.
Ear-lobes very small and round, quite invisible in the muffed varieties.
Wattles rather large and long in the White-crested and non-bearded varieties; the others are without wattles. |
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. |
| Male - Neck |
Long with abundant hackle coming well over the shoulders. |
Of medium length with abundant hackle coming well down on the back. |
| Male - Legs and Feet |
Legs slender and fairly long, the shanks free of feathers.
Toes four, well spread. |
Legs short and stout well apart free of feathers. Toes five similar to those of the Dorking.
|
| Female |
With the exception of the crest, which is of globular shape, the general
characteristics are similar to those of the male allowing for the natural sexual differences. |
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. |
| Colour |
Male and Female Plumage:
(See Polish page for all recognised colours, Mottled is not a colour in the Polish)
Beak dark blue or horn. Eyes, comb and face: red. Ear-lobes white. Legs and feet dark blue. |
Male and Female Plumage: 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. |
| Frizzled |
These birds to conform to the Polish Standard in all respects for type and colour. Their frizzled
plumage is made up of feathers which are curved back towards the head; the curl as close,
even and abundant as possible. |
(No mention of frizzling in the standard.) |
| Weights - Large Fowl |
Male - 2.7 - 3.20 kg (6-7lb)
Female - 2.00 - 2.5 kg (4.5-5.5lb) |
Male 3.20 - 3.60 kg (7 - 8 lb)
Female 2.70 - 3.20 kg (6 - 7 lb) |
| Weights - Bantam Fowl |
Male - 790 - 910 g (28-32oz)
Female - 680 - 790 g (24-28oz) |
Male 790 - 910 g (28 - 32 oz)
Female 740 - 850 g (24 - 28 oz) |
| Serious Defects |
Split or twisted crest. Comb, if any, other than horn type.
Legs other than dark blue.
Other than four toes on each foot. Any deformity. |
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. |
| |
To the Polish page |
To the Houdan page |
