Salmon Faverolles are excellent egg producers that are docile and entertaining to watch. They can handle the cold well and will happily lay colored eggs for you all year in a small coop or yard. They’re a great beginning breed and also make for wonderful pets!.
We brought some new chicken breeds into our flock this year, and salmon faverolles were our favorite.
They can handle very cold weather, so they’ll do well in our cold Vermont winters. Their salmon-colored eggs add another color to our rainbow egg basket.
I need chickens that are friendly and easy to handle because I have two young children. These little fluffy cuties are about as friendly as they come. They’re so friendly, that you actually shouldn’t keep them with many other more “aggressive” chicken breeds.
Some of the other chickens in our coop are Bielefelders and Buff Orpingtons, which are calm, hardy in cold weather, and lay colorful eggs. Salmon Faverolle chickens fit in just fine in this mixed flock of friendly, hardy chickens.
Salmon Faverolles have been a standard breed in North America since 1914. Originally, they were bred in the town of Faverolle (recognize the name?) just south of Paris. In 1860 chicken farmers in the town began crossing French Rennes, Dorkings, Houdans, Flemish Cuckoos, and Malines. At that time, farmers wanted a bird that did well in captivity, laid eggs all winter, and was big enough to sell for meat.
While the farmers were successful, they also unintentionally bred a beautiful bird with unique coloring. Baby chicks are creamy white and very fluffy. When they are 3 to 5 weeks old, the males’ chests will start to turn black, and their bellies and tails will get dark feathers. The hens will stay lighter and show brown and salmon markings on their breast.
You can keep Salmon Faverolles in your yard without much trouble. They are fun to watch and easy to care for. Energetic birds, they’ll dart around bumping into one another, chatting all the while. The birds are very friendly and so docile they won’t stand up for themselves against any yard bullies.
Salmon Faverolles are excellent egg layers and handle cold weather with ease. This is thanks to their fluffy feathers which make them look bigger than they are. Males get up to 8 pounds while females are a bit lighter. They mature more quickly than other heritage breeds at about 19 weeks.
A rarity, you’ll notice the Salmon Faverolle has five toes and they’re all feathered. Wide bodied and almost trapezoidal in shape, this breed carries itself low to the ground. Most well known for its fluffy appearance, they have a wide muff, long beards, and feathered legs. Their wattles are almost not there and their earlobes are small.
Salmon Faverolles chicks don’t change sexes on their own, and it will take 3–5 weeks to be able to tell them apart.
Mature roosters have a straw-colored head and back. Their tails and bellies will be black with some iridescent green in the tail.
Easily swayed by treats, Salmon Faverolles will happily follow you around the yard any time you’re out. These chickens are known for being chatty but aren’t usually loud. Docile as they come, both hens and roosters will let small children pick them up for cuddles. Even though Salmon Faverolles like to hunt for food, they do best in cages and would be great in a small backyard coop.
The roosters in this breed are well known for being calm and docile. To the point that they tend to run from any aggression rather than confront it. For the safety of the birds, it may be best not to place them in mixed flocks.
Salmon Faverolles will do best in colder climates but can tolerate some heat. During the summer months they will need access to plenty of shade and cool water. If these birds don’t keep their feet dry, winter can be hard for them. If their feathers get wet on their feet, they can get frostbite.
Most weeks you can expect your hens to lay 3-4 medium-sized eggs. This adds up to about 180 eggs a year, but if the layers are really good, they can make that number 240. Salmon Faverolles were bred to lay during colder months and are early-layers. You can expect eggs from hens just before they turn 20 weeks old.
Lighter brown to cream eggs are typical. People often say that the eggs are “tinted,” and this tint can have a slightly pink, almost salmon color to it.
Salmon Faverolles have excellent meat, though to reach table-weight it may take 6-8 months. You might want to skip a few weeks of maturing and feed costs if you want to eat meat that is more tender when it is almost full weight.
Some owners will say this is a broody breed, but others will differ. No matter the report, there’s general consensus they’re easy to break from brooding. If left alone, though, they make excellent mothers to chicks.
Get ready for a bird that is always on the move! Salmon Faverolles are very active birds that will enjoy what your yard has to offer. Their fluffy cheek feathers make it hard for them to see danger, but they are always on the lookout.
Having been bred in 1860 there aren’t exact histories for the Salmon Faverolle. Most likely they’re a cross with Houdan, Maline, Dorking, French Rennes, and the Flemish Cuckoo. Some Faverolles are standardized, but in North America, only the Salmon and White breeds are.
Most issues associated with this breed are centered around their abundance of feathers. With feathers extending down their legs and toes, they may pick up some scaly leg mites. Keeping a close eye on their vents and under their wings, you should check them often for mites and lice.
As a mom of young children, I’m really excited about this breed, both for its friendly, calm personality and its beautiful feathers and eggs. Still, I’ll let you decide if the pros outweigh the cons.
These chickens are easier for beginners to take care of, but they still need good food and a good place to live in order to consistently lay eggs. Still, each chicken needs about 3–4 square feet of roost and 8 feet of run. They do well in smaller cages. Lack of space can lead to feather picking and antisocial behavior.
These chickens will happily eat kitchen scraps or find food in the yard, so their food won’t cost you much. However, since they are early layers, you will need to make sure the chicks get high-quality protein feed until they are at least 16 weeks old.
Still looking for some answers? There are some common questions below that will hopefully bring some your way.
Salmon Faverolles are a popular and beautiful breed of chicken known for their fluffy feathers and friendly personalities. People often wonder about this breed, though: do salmon Faverolles mate on their own?
Autosexing refers to the ability to determine the sex of a chicken based on its physical characteristics right at hatching. This can be a very useful feature for chicken breeders and backyard flock owners who want to know the ratio of roosters to hens in their chicks
The question of whether salmon Faverolles can be autosexed is discussed in depth in this article. We will also give you some tips on how to sex them.
An Overview of Salmon Faverolles
Salmon Faverolles come from the French town of Faverolles, where they were first raised in the 1860s. Farmers wanted to make a breed of chicken that laid good eggs, had good meat, and did well when kept in a small space.
The result was the salmon Faverolles – a docile, cold-hardy chicken prized for its egg laying abilities Here are some key facts about this breed
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Medium to large in size, with roosters weighing around 8 lbs and hens around 6.5 lbs.
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Recognizable by their light salmon colored feathers giving them a fluffy appearance.
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Hens are excellent layers, producing 4-5 light brown eggs per week.
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Known for being very friendly and docile, even the roosters.
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Mature early, starting to lay eggs at around 19 weeks.
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Originated from crosses between Houdan, Dorking, Cuckoo, and other French breeds.
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Cold hardy but do not handle heat very well. Need shade in summer.
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Prone to lice and mites due to their abundance of feathers.
The Debate Around Autosexing in Salmon Faverolles
Unlike some chicken breeds like Black Sex Links that can be autosexed, determining the gender of salmon Faverolle chicks is not as clear cut. There is much debate within the chicken community about whether this breed is autosexable.
Some breeders claim that certain methods can accurately sex salmon Faverolle chicks, such as:
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Vent sexing – examining the shape and size of a chick’s vent or cloaca.
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Feather sexing – looking at the wing feathers of 1-2 day old chicks.
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Down color – subtle differences in down color between males and females.
However, these methods are not foolproof according to many experts. The results can vary depending on factors like the individual bird’s genetics.
Other breeders report being unable to find any reliable ways to autosex salmon Faverolles. There seems to be little consensus within the industry.
The Livestock Conservancy, which works on preserving heritage breeds, states that salmon Faverolles are not autosexable.
Overall, while some claim it may be possible, autosexing salmon Faverolles remains challenging and inconsistent. There are no widely accepted, fail-proof methods.
Tips for Sexing Salmon Faverolles
Since autosexing salmon Faverolles is unreliable, here are some tips to determine the gender once the chicks are a few weeks old:
Look for Feather Color Differences
At around 3-5 weeks, distinct feather color patterns will emerge between males and females:
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Males will develop black breasts, belles, and tails. They have a straw colored head and back.
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Females stay a light cream color with salmon-brown feathers on the breast.
Check for Early Crowing
Young cockerels may start practicing their crows as early as 4-6 weeks old. Listen for raspy attempts at crowing, which indicate a male.
Examine the Hackle and Sickles
Around 6-8 weeks, males will develop pointed, elongated hackle and sickle feathers in their necks and tails. Hens’ hackles and sickles will be rounded and less defined.
Look at Comb and Wattle Growth
Young cockerels will have larger, faster growing combs and wattles compared to pullets.
Consider Vent Sexing
While not foolproof on its own, checking the vent can provide some helpful clues when combined with other indicators. Males tend to have a larger vent size.
Watch Behavior
Young males are often more curious, adventurous and tend to scratch and dig more than females of the same age.
By combining several sexing techniques and watching for differences as the chicks mature, you should be able to accurately determine males and females. Vent sexing at a hatchery can also improve your odds.
While not autosexable, with some patience and observation, you can successfully sex your salmon Faverolle chicks. Focus on the characteristics and behaviors that begin emerging at 3-6 weeks as the chicks enter the “chicken teenager” stage and their gender becomes apparent.
Raising Salmon Faverolles in Your Flock
Salmon Faverolles make wonderful additions to both small and large flocks. Here are some tips for successfully keeping them:
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Give each bird at least 3-4 square feet of coop space and 8-10 square feet of run space.
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Provide a quality feed with 16% protein for chicks under 16 weeks to support early egg production.
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Check often for lice and mites. Dust baths help keep their feathers clean.
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Make sure coops have good ventilation as they don’t tolerate heat well.
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Give access to shade and cool water in summer months.
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Keep their feet dry in winter to prevent frostbite on their feathered toes.
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Introduce them slowly to more aggressive breeds to prevent bullying.
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Handle them frequently so they become accustomed to human contact.
With proper space, nutrition, and care salmon Faverolles will reward you with friendly personalities, prolific egg laying, and years of enjoyment watching their antics! Let us know if you have any other questions about raising this wonderful breed.
Are Salmon Faverolle chickens autosexing?
No, chicks will look the same after hatching until they are 3-5 weeks old.
What color egg does a Salmon Faverolle lay?
Typically cream to a light brown. All their eggs will be a bit tinted and some tint may even reach a slight pink color.
Salmon Faverolle All You Need To Know Personality and Egg Color
FAQ
Are Faverolles autosexing?
What are the pros and cons of Salmon Faverolles?
What are autosexing chickens?
Are Salmon Faverolles docile?
Are salmon Faverolles autosexing?
Salmon Faverolles are autosexing — well, sorta. In some chicken breeds, the sex can be determined at hatching by color or color pattern. Very few chicken breeds possess this trait — the original American heritage breed the Dominique being one such chicken. Salmon Faverolles can be auto-sexed but not until they are over a week old or more.
Are salmon Faverolles friendly?
Salmon Faverolles are one of the friendliest breeds of chicken you can get, making them an excellent choice for families with children. They are also docile, and tame, and can enjoy human interaction more than many other breeds. What Color Eggs Do Salmon Faverolles Lay?
Are salmon Faverolles unique looking chickens?
Salmon Faverolles certainly are unique looking chickens. Their most distinguishing feature has to be their feathered legs and feet. Most chickens do not share this trait. There are only a few other chicken breeds that do. Additionally, just like with Silkies, they also have five toes on each foot. Let’s look a little deeper into their appearance.
What is a salmon Faverolles breed?
Record keeping for such crosses was not as common practice in the 1800s as it is now. However, it is believed that Salmon Faverolles breed is the result of French farmers initially crossing multiple chicken breeds: Initially, Salmon Faverolles had no set standard. They would come in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and feathering.