THE HOUDAN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1717, 25 January 1905, Page 67 (Supplement)

THE HOUDAN

One naturally turns from tlie Dorking to consideration of the Houdan, both breeds embodying the abnoi'mal feature of a fifth toe on each foot, though so lately as the introduction of the Houdan into England, some forty or more years ago, the fifth toe was by no means constant. The British desire for uniformity demanded, however, that Houdans should have neither more nor less than five toes, and now chicks of the breed with less than five are comparatively rare.

The Houdan is of French origin, and takes its name from the chief market town in the arrondissement of Mantes. It is not, however, specially a local breed, in fact, it is very doubtful if more Sure Houdans are to be found in that istrict than in any other poultry-rear-ing part of France. It is plainly a madeup breed, the component parts being Dorking (or birds of the Dorking family) and Polish. No doubt the latter has been frequently crossed in again by breeders for ebow purposes, to keep up tbe size and shapeliness of the crest. General characteristics of cock. —Head: Bold, crested; beak, short and stout; ©ye,

bold; comb, well defined, even, smooth leaf comb, in shape somewhat resembling butterfly placed in the centre of the head; neat, medium sized. Crest: Lairge, full, and compact, with sufficient inclination backward to expose the comb; wattles, rather short and well rounded; beard and muffling, or whiskers, large, full, compact; hackles, full, coming down well on back. Breast: Broad and deep, breastbone long and straight. Back: Broad, moderately long, and straight; wings, carried well np, but by no means on the back. Tail: very full and well arched, with long and prominent sickles. Thighs: Short, stout, and wide apart; shanks, rather short and stout, perfectly straight, free from feathers; toes, five in number, the fifth should start separately from the fourth, and curve gently upwards, the other toes being straight and well set apart. General shape and carriage: Bold and lively. Size and weight: Large, adult cocks 81b to 9lb; cockerels, 61b to 71b, if above these weights so much the better. General characteristics of hen : —Head : Crested; beak and eye, as in cock; comb,

leaf-shaped but small; crest, large, full and compact, and above all globular in. shape, evenly set on the head; wattles, very small and rather round; muffling, large and full; beard, pendulous; hackle, full. Body: As in cock. Tail : v Full, carried well away from the body. Thighs: Short and wide apart; shanks and toes, as in cock. General shape and carriage: Sturdy and active. Size and weight: Adult hens, 61b to 7lb; pullets, slb to 61b; if above these weights, so much tbe better. Colour of Houdans:—ln both sexes: Beak: Light horn; eye, red; comb, face and wattles, bright red; ear-lobe, white or pinky white; crest, black and white, but may be lighter than the rest of the plumage, the two colours to be as evenly distributed as possible; beard and muffling, same as crest; remainder . of plumage, glossy green black and white, evenly mottled; the former colour may, and often does, preponderate in chickens, but in every case the mottling should be as evenly distributed as possible. Legs and feet: Pinky white, mottled with, blue or blacky dark coloured legs not at all desirable. Value of points in Houdans: —lhe cock: Deficiency of crest, deduct up to 12; deficiency of beard and muffling, 8; faults in comb, 15; in colour, 15; legs and feet 10; want of size, 18; symmetry, 12; condition, 10. A perfect bird to count 1000 Soints. The hen: Deficiency of crest, educt up to 15; deficiency of beard and muffling, 12; faults to oomb, 8; in colour, 15; in leg 8 and feet, 10; want of size, 20; want of symmetry, 10; want of condi-

tion, 10. A perfect bird to count 100 points. Serious defects for which birds should be passed: —Any deformity, red or straw-coloured feathers, outside spur, other than five toes on each foot.