The Faverolles is a star of the chook world. A supreme all-rounder, the charismatic 'fav' is a top-notch exhibition bird, table-bird, layer and backyarder.
The Faverolles is named after the French town where they originated. They are thought to have resulted from crossing Cochins, Houdans and Dorkings. There is also a thought that Brahma and Malines may have been added. The resulting bird first appeared in Britain in 1886.
The ultimate dual-purpose fowl, they are the past pre-eminent table-bird and egg-laying trial winners. Although those days are gone, the fav is still amongst the top table-birds and layers.
Add to the above qualities their cheerful personality, their docile, versatile, reliable nature, their beautiful, unique looks and you cannot get a better backyarder or ideal beginners bird.
They come in large and bantam, are resilient and hardy and are virtually vice-free. They make good broodies and mothers and it is unusual to come across a bad natured fav, although it can happen. Due to their gentle nature they can be prone to bullying if kept in a mixed flock so vigilance is important. They also need dry accommodation beause of their foot feathering.
The faverolles comes in a range of colours, the most common being salmon which is unique to the breed. They also come in blue, black, buff, birchen, ermine, cuckoo and white. In Australia work is being done on bantams in birchen and burgundy.
In the faverolles you will have a beautiful, happy, quirky, gentle friend who will pay for its' keep by converting your unused table scraps into an almost endless supply of wonderful eggs.
Large salmon male of Irene Hannan, Secretary of the Faverolles Club.