Mia Patel
La Flèche chickens are an old French breed that were originally developed in Le Mans during the fifth century. They are known for their black plumage, white skin, and full, well-curved tails. While they are considered to be poor mothers, they are highly regarded for their meat and egg production. La Flèche chickens are also quite large, with males weighing around 8 pounds and females weighing 6.5 pounds. These chickens are quite rare and are listed as critically endangered.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Black, Blue, White, Cuckoo |
| Origin | Le Mans, France |
| Current Population | Critically Endangered |
| Egg Colour | White with a subtle rosy hue |
| Egg Size | Large |
| Egg Production | 140-220 per year |
| Meat Quality | Fine quality, juicy, tender |
| Behaviour | Wild, Flighty, Shy |
| Diet | Chicken pellets, grains, chicken mash, fruit and vegetables |
| Weight | Males: 8 lbs, Females: 6.5 lbs |
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What You'll Learn
Black is the only colour variety accepted by the American Poultry Association
The La Flèche chicken is a medium-sized, dual-purpose bird with black plumage and a full, well-curved tail. They are active and wild, and do well in a free-range environment. They are highly regarded for their excellent meat, with many fantastic qualities that make them very desirable. La Flèche chickens have very nice-looking carcasses with thin, white skin that looks great on a dinner table. They also have tender and juicy meat that makes them especially sought after for tasty dishes.
La Flèche chickens were accepted into the American Poultry Association in 1874. Up until that point, only the black variety of La Flèche chickens had been accepted by the American Poultry Association. They entered the APA's Standard of Perfection in the same year. The black variety is the only colour variety accepted by the American Poultry Association.
The La Flèche breed is said to have originated in the city of Le Mans in the 15th century before ending up in the town of La Flèche, from which the breed gets its name. The town of La Flèche is located within the Pays de la Loire region of France. A large population of La Flèche chickens were brought to America in the 1850s, where they were found to be delicate in constitution, especially in the eastern and central states. They were soon abandoned for newly arriving, hardier breeds.
La Flèche chickens are considered endangered and are in need of breeders to help bring their numbers up. They are extremely rare and will not be found at live poultry outlets and farms. The American Poultry Association and the American Livestock Conservancy may be able to help those interested in breeding these chickens.
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The La Fleche chicken also comes in blue, white and cuckoo
The La Fleche chicken is a unique French breed that was originally developed in Le Mans during the 5th century and later in Mizeray before it got its name from the town of La Fleche in the 15th century. They are known for their black plumage, which is their only colour variety recognised by the American Poultry Association. However, in Europe, the La Fleche chicken also comes in blue, white and cuckoo colour varieties.
The La Fleche chicken is a medium-sized, dual-purpose bird, prized for both its meat and eggs. They have tight-fitting feathers, giving them a deceptive appearance, as they are much heavier than they look. The breed is known for producing excellent meat with tender, juicy, and delicate flesh. La Fleche chickens have a small proportion of offal (edible internal organs) in comparison to their meat content. They were historically used for "gaver", an old practice of force-feeding birds to fatten them.
The hens lay large white eggs, with a subtle rosy hue at times, weighing around 60 grams each. A single hen can lay anywhere between 140 to 220 eggs per year. La Fleche chickens are non-broody and are considered poor mothers. They are also known to be wild and flighty, making them less suitable as pets. These chickens are active and do well in a free-range environment, requiring ample space to roam and explore.
La Fleche chickens are slow-growing birds, taking around 10 months to reach a good table weight. They were once famous in the markets of Paris and Anjou for their fine-quality meat, but they are now critically endangered and on the verge of extinction. Various breeding programs have been established in recent years to increase their population.
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The breed's white earlobes contrast with its black plumage
The La Flèche chicken is a unique French breed with a distinctive appearance. The breed's most recognisable feature is its V-shaped comb, which resembles an arrow, giving the breed its name, as "la flèche" translates to "the arrow" in French. The breed also has bright red eyes, large nostrils, and red facial features, including wattles and a red face.
The La Flèche chicken's plumage is black, and this is the only colour variety recognised by the American Poultry Association. However, the breed's white earlobes contrast with its black plumage, creating a striking visual effect. These white earlobes are a distinctive feature of the breed and help to set it apart from other chicken varieties.
The La Flèche chicken is a dual-purpose bird, valued for both its meat and egg-laying capabilities. The breed is known for its excellent meat quality, with tender and juicy flesh that is highly sought-after for culinary purposes. The chickens have a small proportion of offal in relation to their meat content. Their breasts are notably meaty and full in shape.
In terms of egg production, La Flèche hens can lay between 140 and 220 large to extra-large white eggs per year, depending on various factors such as weather and comfort. The eggs may sometimes have a subtle rosy hue. La Flèche chickens are also known for their ability to tolerate confinement, although they prefer to free-range and require ample space to roam and explore.
The breed is considered endangered and is the subject of conservation efforts to increase its population. La Flèche chickens are known for their active and wild temperament, making them less suitable as pets. They are also susceptible to external parasites such as lice and mites, as well as internal parasites like worms, requiring regular health checks and deworming treatments.
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The hens lay white eggs, sometimes with a rosy hue
La Flèche hens lay white eggs, sometimes with a rosy hue. The eggs are large or extra-large in size, weighing approximately 60 grams each. A single hen can lay around 140 to 220 eggs per year, from March through October. To ensure the quality of the eggs, it is recommended to provide a balanced diet for the hens, including extra protein and calcium.
Supplemental calcium can be offered in the form of oyster shells or crushed eggshells, served separately from the laying rations. La Flèche hens are known for their decent egg production, given their size as larger, dual-purpose birds. Their eggs are sought-after for their taste and appearance, with thin, white skin that presents well on a dinner table.
The La Flèche breed is known for its tender and juicy meat, with a good distribution of fat across the breasts, legs, thighs, and even the back. They have a small proportion of offal (edible internal organs) in comparison to other breeds. The breed is also noted for its slow growth rate, taking around 10 months to reach a good table weight.
La Flèche chickens are considered flighty and often avoid humans, making them less ideal as pets. They can tolerate confinement but prefer to free-range, and they require ample space to roam and explore to prevent boredom. These active and wild tendencies can be advantageous in a free-range environment, allowing them to forage for food and exercise their natural behaviours.
Overall, the La Flèche hens are known for their white eggs with occasional rosy hues, contributing to their reputation as desirable dual-purpose birds for both meat and egg production.
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The chickens have white skin with juicy, tender meat
La Flèche chickens are known for their juicy, tender meat and thin white skin, which makes them desirable for meat production. They are a dual-purpose breed, also known for their large white eggs. The hens can lay up to 220 eggs per year, depending on various factors such as weather and comfort.
The La Flèche chicken is a medium-sized bird, originally from France, with black plumage and a distinct V-shaped comb. They have tight-fitting feathers, giving them a deceptive appearance, as they are heavier than they look. The breed is known for its slow growth, and farmers would often force-feed them to fatten them up for market.
La Flèche chickens are active and wild, and they do well in a free-range environment. They are considered delicate and require careful breeding to preserve the bloodline. They are extremely rare and are listed as critically endangered.
These chickens have unique personalities and are known to be flighty and shy, preferring to avoid humans and other chickens. They are not ideal as pets and are not known for their broody or motherly instincts.
To ensure the health of La Flèche chickens, they should be checked regularly for mites, lice, and other parasites. A balanced diet of chicken pellets, grains, and chicken mash or grain mix is recommended, along with treats like vegetables and fruits.
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Frequently asked questions
La Fleche chickens come in black, blue, white, and cuckoo. However, the only colour variety accepted into the American Poultry Association is black.
La Fleche chickens are wild and flighty, so they are not a good choice for a pet chicken. They are also slow-growing, which makes them less popular with producers.
La Fleche chickens are considered dual-purpose birds, meaning they are good for both meat and eggs. They lay large white eggs, with a possible rosy hue, and a single hen can produce about 140-220 eggs per year.
Yes, La Fleche chickens are listed as critically endangered by the Livestock Conservancy. Various breeding programs have been established to raise the breed's numbers.
