The Houdan is a crested, bearded French dual-purpose breed with five toes on each foot. The Livestock Conservancy lists it as Threatened and describes it as calm and gentle, laying 150 to 230 large white eggs a year. Its crest is the main care issue: it can freeze when wet in cold weather and can block the bird's view of predators.
| Conservation Priority List status | Threatened |
|---|---|
| Origin | Village of Houdan in Yvelines, France, west of Paris |
| APA Standard of Perfection | Mottled 1874, White 1914 |
| Weight | Males 7 to 8 lb, females 5.5 to 6.5 lb (breed facts table and profile text) |
| Eggs | 150 to 230 large white eggs a year; good winter layers |
| Distinctive traits | Crest, beard, V-shaped comb, five toes on each foot |
| Climate | Prefers warm, dry weather; wet crests can freeze in cold weather |
Source: The Livestock Conservancy, Houdan Chicken breed profile, read 2026-10-08. Individual lines and strains vary, so ask each breeder about their own stock.
You can request Houdan through FastPoultry, which matches buyer requests with breeders. Choose from 3 request pages for hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and adult birds, then tell us your quantity, preferred age, and delivery state in the form on this page. Matched breeder options arrive within 1 business day, and you arrange payment, pickup, or shipping directly with the breeder you choose.
Prices for Houdan are set by each breeder and change with season, line quality, age, and quantity, so FastPoultry does not publish a fixed price. Submitting a request is free. Matched breeders reply with current pricing, and you should ask whether the quote includes boxing, shipping, and vaccinations before you pay the breeder directly.
The Livestock Conservancy describes Houdans as sweet, docile, and friendly, a good breed for children, although roosters may or may not be aggressive with people. Keep them with breeds of similar temperament, since their feathering can make them a target for pecking. Their large crests can limit what they see, so protect them from predators or trim the crest, and keep crests dry in cold, wet weather.
French heritage breed with V-comb, crest, and beard. 5 toes. Mottled. On FastPoultry, the Houdan is listed under Chickens, with request pages for hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and adult birds. Each request is matched with NPIP-certified breeders who can confirm variety, color, and line before you buy.
The Houdan can be requested as hatching eggs, day-old chicks, and adult birds. Hatching eggs are the most affordable start, ship USPS Priority, and should be set within 7 to 10 days of lay. Day-old birds ship USPS Express and need a 95 F brooder ready on arrival. Adults are proven layers or show birds at point of lay or beyond. Pick the age that matches your brooding setup and how soon you want eggs or breeding stock.
The USDA NPIP state importation table (May 20, 2026) lists VS Form 9-3 as required for shipments into 44 of 50 states, and 31 states list a permit, approval number, or other entry requirement, so check your state's location page before you order. VS Form 9-3 is the NPIP report of sales that the shipping breeder completes, and some states add a permit number, a Pullorum-Typhoid or avian influenza clean-flock rule, or a health certificate. FastPoultry does not ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands through standard requests.
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