The Faverolles is a charming, multi-purpose chicken breed that originated in the village of Faverolles in northern France during the late 19th century. Developed from a mix of breeds including Houdans, Dorkings, and Brahmas, it was originally raised for both high-quality meat and egg production, but today it is equally prized for its unique appearance and gentle temperament.
Faverolles are medium to large birds, with roosters weighing about 3.9–4.5 kg (8.5–10 lbs) and hens around 3–3.5 kg (6.5–7.5 lbs). Their most distinguishing features are their full beards and muffs, five toes on each foot (unlike the usual four), and feathered legs. They have a single comb, small wattles, and a softly rounded body.
The most popular color variety is salmon, where hens display a lovely blend of cream, light brown, and salmon-pink feathers, while roosters show striking black, white, and straw tones. Other varieties include white, black, cuckoo, and ermine.
Faverolles are excellent layers for a heritage breed, producing 150–200 medium to large light brown eggs per year. They are also known for continuing to lay well through the winter months. Their meat is tender and delicately flavored, making them historically valued by French chefs.
One of the breed’s biggest draws is its docile, friendly nature—Faverolles are curious, social, and often bond closely with their keepers. They adapt well to confinement but also enjoy foraging if given space.
The Faverolles’ scientific classification is Gallus gallus domesticus, and it belongs to the family Phasianidae.
Plumage:
Faverolles are known for their soft, fluffy plumage that gives them a rounded, full-bodied appearance. The most popular variety is Salmon, where hens display creamy white to light salmon body feathers with darker salmon on the back and wings, and roosters have striking black beards, breasts, and tails with straw-colored hackles and saddle feathers. Other recognized varieties include white, black, blue, and mahogany.
Head and Comb:
The head is medium-sized with a single, upright comb of five distinct points. Faverolles are notable for their muffs and beard, which cover the sides and front of the face, giving them a distinctive, “fluffy-cheeked” look. The comb, wattles, and earlobes are reddish-pink, and the beak is short and horn-colored to pinkish. Eyes are bay to reddish-brown.
Body:
The body is deep, broad, and rectangular, with a full breast and a slightly upward-tilted stance. Dense feathering makes the bird appear heavier and rounder than it actually is.
Legs and Feet:
Faverolles are unique among most chicken breeds in having five toes on each foot instead of the usual four. The legs are feathered down to the outer toes, with skin color being white or pinkish.
Tail:
The tail is medium length, well-feathered, and carried at a slight upward angle. Roosters have long, arching sickle feathers, while hens’ tails are shorter and more compact.
Size:
Male Weight: 8 to 10 lbs (3.6 to 4.5 kg)
Female Weight: 6.5 to 8 lbs (3 to 3.6 kg)
Bantam Variety: Males around 30 oz (850 g), females around 26 oz (740 g)
Sexual Dimorphism:
Males are larger, with more pronounced coloring in patterned varieties, especially in Salmon. Hens have softer, lighter tones and more rounded body profiles.
The Faverolles’ combination of beard and muffs, five toes, and abundant soft feathering makes it one of the most visually distinctive and charming dual-purpose chicken breeds.
Mating Behavior:
Faverolles are generally gentle and docile, making them easy to breed in mixed or single-breed flocks. Roosters are usually non-aggressive toward humans and careful with hens during mating. Due to their heavy feathering, occasional trimming around the vent area may improve mating success.
Breeding Season:
While capable of breeding year-round in mild climates, Faverolles tend to be most productive in spring and early summer. They are also good winter layers, maintaining egg production when many breeds slow down.
Egg Laying:
Faverolles are valued for consistent egg production alongside their ornamental qualities.
Annual Output: Around 150 to 200 medium-to-large eggs per year.
Egg Color: Light brown to pinkish-tinted.
Egg Size: Medium to large.
Broodiness and Incubation:
Faverolle hens are occasionally broody, and when they do set, they are calm, dedicated mothers.
Due to their thick feathering, it’s important to ensure proper nest ventilation and clean conditions.
Incubation Period: About 21 days, with hens turning eggs regularly and maintaining steady warmth.
Chicks:
Appearance at Hatch: Fluffy, with coloration depending on variety; Salmon chicks often hatch with cream or pale yellow down and may have darker markings.
Self-Sufficiency: Active within hours of hatching and quick to begin feeding.
Growth Rate: Moderate, with full feathering developing steadily; beard and muffs become more prominent as chicks mature.
Maturity:
Hens typically begin laying at 5.5 to 6.5 months, while roosters reach full breeding capability around the same time.
The Faverolles’ good fertility, steady laying, and calm brooding behavior make them a practical yet ornamental choice for breeders who value both appearance and productivity.
Lifespan in the Wild/Farm Setting:
As a domesticated heritage breed, Faverolles are typically kept in backyard or small farm environments. With standard care, they generally live 5 to 7 years, with their most productive egg-laying years in the first 3 to 4 years.
Lifespan in Optimal Conditions:
With excellent nutrition, housing, predator protection, and veterinary care, Faverolles can live longer than the breed average.
Average Maximum Lifespan: 8 to 10 years
Exceptional cases: 10+ years, especially when kept more as ornamental or companion birds than for production.
Threats to Longevity:
Predation: Their calm, non-flighty nature makes them more vulnerable to foxes, hawks, raccoons, and dogs when free-ranging.
Feather Maintenance: Heavy feathering on legs and around the vent can trap moisture and dirt, leading to skin irritation or lice infestations if not cleaned.
Parasites and Disease: Susceptible to mites, lice, and internal worms, as well as respiratory illnesses if housed in damp or poorly ventilated conditions.
Heat Stress: Dense plumage makes them prone to overheating in hot, humid climates.
Faverolles are cold-hardy and adaptable, thriving best in clean, dry, and spacious housing where their feathering and gentle nature can be maintained for a long, healthy life.
Diet:
Faverolles are omnivorous foragers, thriving on a combination of commercial poultry feed and naturally sourced foods.
Primary Feed: High-quality layer pellets or mash with 16–18% protein, plus calcium and vitamins for sustained egg production.
Foraged Foods: Insects, worms, grass, tender weeds, seeds, and small invertebrates located while scratching.
Treats and Supplements: Whole grains (wheat, oats, corn), leafy greens, vegetable scraps, grit for digestion, and oyster shell or crushed limestone for extra calcium.
Feeding Behavior:
Faverolles are active yet gentle foragers, making them ideal for mixed flocks.
Their docile nature means they are less aggressive at food sources, so care should be taken to ensure they get enough feed if housed with more dominant breeds.
They drink frequently and require constant access to clean water, especially during warm weather.
Foraging Times:
Most active in morning and late afternoon feeding sessions.
In warm climates, they rest during midday heat and resume feeding in cooler hours.
Adaptations for Feeding:
Strong, short beaks suited for pecking grains and picking small insects from grass or soil.
Heavy feathering on legs may limit speed in chasing prey but offers no disadvantage in ground foraging.
Captive Diet Management:
Balanced feed is essential to support both egg production and their heavy feathering.
Overfeeding grain treats can cause weight gain and reduce laying efficiency.
Faverolles’ calm temperament, efficient foraging skills, and balanced diet needs make them well-suited for both free-range and contained coop systems, especially for keepers seeking a gentle dual-purpose bird.
Five-Toed Feature:
Faverolles are one of the few chicken breeds with five toes on each foot, a rare trait shared only with a handful of other breeds like the Dorking and Houdan.
Beard and Muffs:
They are instantly recognizable for their full beard and muffs, which give them a “fluffy-faced” look and add to their charm in both ornamental and backyard settings.
Distinctive Salmon Coloring:
The Salmon Faverolles variety is unique among chicken breeds—hens have a soft salmon-pink and cream plumage, while roosters display bold contrasts of black, straw, and reddish-brown.
Gentle and Docile Personality:
Faverolles are known for their exceptionally friendly temperament, often seeking human interaction and tolerating handling well. This makes them a favorite for families, children, and small mixed flocks.
Cold-Hardy and Winter Layers:
With their dense feathering and small single comb, Faverolles tolerate cold climates well and continue laying eggs in winter when many breeds slow down.
Heritage Breed with French Origins:
Developed in the 1860s in the village of Faverolles, France, they were bred from a mix of Houdan, Dorking, Brahma, and Cochin stock to produce a bird suitable for both meat and eggs, as well as ornamental purposes.
Exhibition Appeal:
Their unique combination of five toes, facial feathering, and soft plumage makes them popular in poultry shows, especially when bred to standard.
The Faverolles’ rare physical traits, distinctive plumage, and sweet-natured temperament make them a standout choice for keepers seeking beauty, productivity, and personality in one breed.
The closest related breeds to the Faverolles are the Houdan and Dorking, both of which contributed to its development.
These breeds share key traits with the Faverolles, such as five toes and origins in France (Houdan) or Europe (Dorking), along with calm temperaments and dual-purpose utility.
The Faverolles stands out from other chicken breeds by:
Having five toes instead of four.
Featuring a beard and muffs that give it a fluffy, distinctive face.
Offering a unique Salmon color variety not found in other breeds.
Maintaining egg production through winter thanks to dense feathering and cold-hardiness.
Being notably gentle and people-friendly, often ranking among the most docile chicken breeds.
While it may not lay as many eggs annually as top production hybrids, it provides a balance of beauty, personality, and year-round utility.
As a domesticated poultry breed, Faverolles are not found in the wild, but they can be seen at heritage farms, agricultural education centers, and living history museums, such as:
Le Village Gaulois (Pleumeur-Bodou, France – heritage farm animals)
Beamish Open Air Museum (United Kingdom)
Old Sturbridge Village (Massachusetts, USA)
Colonial Williamsburg Rare Breeds Program (Virginia, USA)
Netherlands Open Air Museum – Arnhem (Netherlands)
These sites often keep Faverolles as part of heritage livestock displays to preserve rare and historic breeds.
