What Is a French Hen?

A French hen is a female chicken breed of French origin. France's Normandy region produced the majority of the French chicken breeds. There are several different varieties of French hens with distinctive markings, behaviors and characteristics. Identify these traits and use them to distinguish particular breeds of French hens. Chicken breeders, preservationists, chicken collectors and French chefs find this information useful before purchasing hens.

  1. Faverolles

    • This utility breed developed in the village Faverolles in Normandy, France, during the early 19th century. Faverolles are good table birds, and they lay 150 eggs per season even during the winter. These chickens have five toes and a long beard with a muff over their wattles and small earlobes. They have feathered legs. Most Faverolles are salmon colored, but some are black, blue or white. Hens weigh between 6-1/2 and 8-1/2 lbs. The Faverolles hen is the main ingredient in the French dish petite poussin. These placid hens have a 6-year lifespan and are ideal for show breeders and families starting a backyard chicken coop. Faverolles require a shed to shelter them from rain, heat and snow. Keeping Faverolles in a pen at night and when they aren't being supervised protects them from predators.

    Houdan

    • This breed developed in Normandy before 1700 as a table foul for the upper classes. Houdan hens are docile, hearty chickens that lay medium-sized, white eggs. Houdan hens have full globular crests with leaf combs and beards, and five toes on their feet. Houdan hens come in a variety of color including white, blue mottle, red mottle and black. The crest is green and black with white mottling, and the legs are white mottled with blue or black. These chickens live between 8 and 10 years.

    La Fleche

    • The hearty La Fleche breed gets its name from the La Fleche village of France's Valley of La Sarthe. The breed originated there before 1660. La Fleche chickens have a distinctive comb and crest resembling the letter V. They are known for their tasty white meat. La Fleche lay large, white eggs from March to October, and each hen can lay 200 eggs during this period. La Fleche hens have long wattles, white earlobes and ornamental black feathers, legs and feet. The hens weigh between 6 and 7 lbs. and are black, white, cuckoo or blue laced. The chickens require tall fencing, and they prefer the company of other chickens to humans. They are good foragers and are not very broody.

    Marans

    • This broody breed developed early in the 20th century for laying eggs. Cuckoo was the most prominent variety, but the Black Copper is more widely recognized as the standard for the Marans breed. Black Copper hens feature black plumage with a green sheen and deep copper feathers on the head and neck. Dark Cuckoo hens have banded white and dark grey feathers and white legs. The hens are well known for laying dark-brown eggs, and they can lay up to 200 eggs annually.

    Crevecoeur

    • The Crèvecoeur breed developed in the Crève-Coeur en Ange village of Normandy around the 17th century for table purposes. This is the oldest known standard-bred French fowl variety. Crèvecoeur chickens have high proportions of meat to offal. The Crèvecoeur are black with average crests and beards and short legs. They tolerate confinement well but do not produce as many eggs as other French breeds. Crèvecoeur chickens have a weak constitution and often fall ill in damp living conditions.