Salmon Faverolles are a fabulous French chicken breed and one of the most endearing breeds around. They are guaranteed to steal your heart.
What makes Salmon Faverolles so unique? They’re beautiful, fluffy, odd, talkative, loving, laid-back, and seem to love life. This chicken will make you laugh out loud and treat you to four eggs a week.
It’s hard to articulate how adorable this breed is. If you’ve never kept chickens before, then The Salmon Faverolles will soon have you hooked!.
Salmon Faverolles don’t tolerate humans, they love them. They seek out fuss and affection and make the perfect pets. This is why we love Salmon Faverolles.
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This beautiful breed is on the Livestock Conservancy’s threatened list through no fault of their own. But, and this is a good thing, they’re winning us back. If you like what you read, maybe you can help these hens get off the “at-risk” list for good!
La Faverolles is pronounced ‘fav-ur-roll’ – ideally with a fancy French accent and a rolled ‘r’. Faverolles is always written with an “s,” even when it’s a plural word. However, the “s” should only be spoken when it’s a plural word. I promise you that you won’t want to stop at just one Faverolles, so don’t worry about getting lost.
The Salmon Faverolles is a delightful French heritage chicken breed known for its gentle personality fluffy beard and salmon-colored feathers. While not the most prolific egg layers, Faverolles are dependable producers of medium-sized, light brown eggs. If you’re considering adding this adorable breed to your flock, you may be wondering – when do Salmon Faverolles start laying eggs?
Overview of Salmon Faverolles
The first Salmon Faverolles were made in the French village of Faverolles in the 1800s. They were bred as a dual-purpose fowl, raised for both meat and eggs. The breed was made by mating imported Asian breeds like the Brahma with French chickens that were already living in France.
Today, the Salmon Faverolles remains a popular backyard chicken for small flocks. They are docile, friendly chickens that tend to be at the bottom of the pecking order. Despite their large size, hens only weigh around 6.5 lbs and roosters around 8 lbs.
The Salmon Faverolles is known for the following qualities
- Medium egg production (160-200 eggs per year)
- Lay through winter
- Docile, calm temperament
- Friendly, enjoy human interaction
- Large, fluffy beard and muffs
- 5 toes on each foot
- Feathered legs
- Salmon coloring on body and wings
When Does Egg Laying Start?
Most Salmon Faverolles hens will start laying eggs at around 20 weeks old. Some people may start a few weeks before or after 20 weeks, though.
Here’s a breakdown of when you can expect a Faverolles to begin laying:
- 16-18 weeks – Early layers may start at this age
- 18-22 weeks – Average age range for first egg
- 20 weeks – Most hens will be laying by this point
- 22-24 weeks – Late layers will start closer to 6 months old
So while the average Pullet will start laying around 5 months old, be patient if your Faverolles hasn’t begun yet. It’s not unusual for them to start a little later, up to 6 months of age.
Signs Your Faverolles Is Ready to Lay
Since Salmon Faverolles can be slow to mature, look for these signs your Pullet is approaching lay:
- Increase in appetite and food intake
- More active foraging behaviors
- Visits nest boxes frequently
- Develops redder comb and wattles
- Start of “sex noises” like clucking
- Squatting when approached by rooster
You’ll notice a combination of physical and behavioral changes as your Pullet enters lay. Keep an eye out for these clues several weeks before you expect eggs.
How to Encourage Early Laying
While you can’t force a Pullet to start laying, you can create optimal conditions to support the onset of lay. Here are tips to help your Faverolles start egg production sooner:
- Provide a balanced layer feed with at least 16% protein
- Offer free choice calcium supplements
- Give access to an active rooster
- Provide 14 hours of daylight
- Ensure hens have adequate space (4 square feet per bird)
- Reduce stress and overcrowding
- Install clean, inviting nest boxes
- Collect eggs daily to stimulate production
Following these best practices will help your Faverolles reach lay at their full potential.
Expected Egg Production
Once Salmon Faverolles hens begin laying, you can expect around 160-200 eggs in their first year. That averages to 3-4 eggs per week. They are considered moderate layers, a bit lower than production breeds.
The benefit is that Faverolles tend to lay consistently year-round, even through winter. Their egg output remains steady in cold weather when other breeds slow down.
As your hens mature, they will max out egg production in their second year. After that, you can expect a gradual decline each year as they age.
Egg Color and Size
Salmon Faverolles lay medium-sized eggs with a light brown or creamy shell color. Some eggs may have a pinkish tint. Expect the following from a Faverolles egg:
- Color: Light brown, cream, off-white
- Size: Medium
- Weight: Around 2 ounces
- Shape: Round to long oval
The egg color results from the breed’s genetics. Light brown shades are common in other French breeds like the Marans that were used to create the Faverolles.
In Summary
For most backyard chicken-keepers, Salmon Faverolles start laying eggs around 20 weeks of age. However, some hens may begin a few weeks earlier or later. Give your Pullet until 6 months old before becoming concerned if she hasn’t started laying.
Once they begin laying, Faverolles will give you a moderate output of around 160-200 light brown eggs per year. They lay well throughout cold weather, making them a great addition for winter eggs. Following best practices for care and feeding will help your hen reach her full egg laying potential.
Do Salmon Faverolles Make Good Backyard Chickens?
Salmon Faverolles are brilliant for backyard keepers, so long as you’re okay with noise. They can handle being confined well and don’t need a lot of space to be happy, but bigger is better if you can!
“Faverolles are enthusiastic, curious hens who will often come to you hoping for treats. This chicken breed is just about perfect for any garden. Because of their gentleness, Faverolles have become a popular breed of chicken to keep, especially for children or new keepers of chickens.” (Feather & Egg Hatchery)
How Long Do Salmon Faverolles Chickens Live For?
Salmon Faverolles have a life expectancy of between 5 and 7 years. The healthier they are, the longer you’ll have them yabbering away at you.
They will make you fall in love and want the best for them. You will want them by your side until they are old ladies. Invest a little time in learning how to best care for your chickens and you’ll reap the rewards.
Things to consider before you buy Salmon Faverolles chickens
FAQ
What age do salmon Faverolle chickens start laying?
Do Salmon Faverolles lay in winter?
Do Salmon Faverolles grow slowly?
Do Salmon Faverolles go broody?
When do salmon Faverolles start laying eggs?
These birds mature quickly and will start laying eggs a little before 18 weeks old. They lay eggs into the older months and will hardly lay in those gloomy and dark winter months unless you add light. Salmon Faverolles are strong and healthy chickens born without any hereditary health issues.
How many eggs do salmon Faverolles lay a year?
Salmon Faverolles lay off-white, cream tinted eggs of medium size. The hens have average egg production and will typically produce between 160 to 200 eggs per year and continue to lay over winter. Are Salmon Faverolles cold hardy? With their loose, downy feathering, Salmon Faverolles are very cold hardy. What age do salmon faverolles start laying?
Do salmon Faverolles produce eggs?
Excellent layers, Salmon Faverolles tend to produce eggs all throughout the winter months. They also dress out nicely if you are looking for a good chicken breed for the dinner table. Salmon Faverolles are also reliable producers for the dinner table, producing five to ten pounds of meat per each mature bird.
How long does a salmon Faverolle take to mature?
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.