If you plan to raise chickens, Crevecoeur chickens could be an ideal choice. If you have seen one or their photos online, don’t be discouraged. At first glance, they have faces that only mothers could love.
But then, don’t judge the Crevecoeurs because of their odd appearance. You’ll be surprised once you know what they can do well for you.
Crevecoeur chickens are a French breed that is very common nowadays. They have an unusual appearance and good temperament and are ideal even for beginners. Being one of the oldest chicken breeds, Crevecoeurs are not only decent egg layers and good for meat production; they can make good pets, too.
Without a doubt, this ancient breed has a lot to offer more than you can expect. Continue reading to help you know them better.
Crevecoeur Chicken Identification
Where Do Crevecoeur Chickens Originate?
Crevecoeur chickens originate in Crève-Coeur en Auge, a small town in Normandy, France. Interestingly, their name means “broken heart” when translated into English.
The Crevecoeur breed has been documented since the 12th century and is the oldest French chicken breed in England. It was imported to the US in 1852, 1867, and the 1870s.
What Do Crevecoeur Chickens Look Like?
Crevecoeur chickens are known for having compact, well-proportioned bodies, medium-sized but attractive crests and beards, and short legs. They also have reddish-bay eyes, black or dark horn beaks, black or dark leaden-blue legs and toes, and relatively long tails. Each foot has four toes. Their wattles, earlobes, and faces are small and bright red.
Crevecoeur chickens come in black, blue, cuckoo, and white. Nonetheless, the black variety is the most common and the only one to be admitted to the American Standard of Perfection back in 1874. Black Crevecoeur chickens have black feathers from head to body. Under direct sunlight, their crest and back may have some green sheen.
What Are the Distinct Characteristics of a Crevecoeur Chicken?
Aside from their striking body appearance and feather colors, Crevecoeur chickens have unique “V” combs, also known as devil’s combs. They also have pronounced beards that have three lobes – two muffs and a beard. Their beard also covers a large portion of the lower part of their faces, making their wattles and earlobes look smaller.
More importantly, Crevecoeur chickens have prominent feathers on their head. This is due to an autosomal incompletely dominant mutation. Other crested chicken breeds include the Houdan, Silkie, Sultan, and Polish. However, Crevecoeur chickens have their crests pointing a bit backward instead of pointing in almost all directions.
What Do Crevecoeur Chickens Eat?
Despite being a rare breed, Crevecoeur chickens don’t require a special diet. Like other chicken breeds, chicks between 8 and 12 weeks old should be fed with high-quality chicken starter feed.
Once pullets start to lay eggs, they need more calcium for stronger eggshells. For a balanced diet, give them grain, vegetables, and a healthy chicken feed mix.
How Long Does a Crevecoeur Chicken Live?
If properly cared for, Crevecoeur chickens can live between 5 and 8 years.
How Big Crevecoeur Chickens Can Grow?
Crevecoeur chickens are considered a small to mid-sized breed. Although the original ones from France are large, the modern American strains became smaller since they were bred as ornamental birds instead of meat producers.
Are Crevecoeur Chickens a Heavy Breed?
Crevecoeur chickens are not considered heavy birds but rather middleweight. Roosters weigh around 8 lbs (3.6 kilos), while hens weigh 6.5 lbs. (2.9 kilos). Bantam roosters weigh around 30 oz (850 grams), and bantam hens weigh approx. 26 oz (737 grams).
Crevecoeur Chicken Wingspan
There are no records showing the average wingspan of Crevecoeur chickens.
What Is Crevecoeur Chicken Known For?
In general, Crevecoeur chickens are dual-purpose birds. They were originally bred for meat production in France since they have a high proportion of meat and offal (internal organs).
But again, the American strains were bred as show birds and are not famous as meat birds. Nevertheless, Crevecoeur chickens are considered good egg layers.
Are Crevecoeur Chickens Rare?
Crevecoeur chickens are now considered rare. As of posting, the Livestock Conservancy lists this French chicken breed as “Threatened.” It means that there are less than 5,000 Crevecoeur chickens worldwide, and less than 1,000 of them are in the United States. Fortunately, more American breeders are now interested in breeding them.
Crevecoeur Chicken Temperament
Crevecoeur chickens are generally friendly, sweet, and calm. They can be lap chickens, as long as their crests are kept protected. In short, Crevecoeur chickens can be great pets.
But because their beard and crest affect their vision, they easily get nervous or excited and tend to fly away. And yes, Crevecoeur chickens are a quite flighty breed.
Being active birds, Crevecoeur chickens love the free range and are decent foragers. Yet, they prefer being in confinement due to their sensitive crest.
But although hardy and can tolerate cold climates, Crevecoeurs also do well in warm environments. These rare chickens are also not known to be loud and noisy, except when hens are laying eggs.
Are Crevecoeur Chickens Aggressive?
Crevecoeur chickens are not considered aggressive. They don’t tend to be hostile towards humans, especially small children.
These crested chickens are also friendly to other breeds, especially the roosters. However, their head feathers are a favorite target of bully chicken breeds. Therefore, you should avoid mixing them with larger breeds.
How Many Eggs Do Crevecoeur Chickens Lay?
Crevecoeur chickens are generally good egg layers and can lay 120-150 eggs a year. This is equivalent to an average of 3 eggs a week. Yet, they can lay eggs continuously even in the winter.
Hens are moderately broody and will defend their nest if you try to get their eggs. But then, they are not exactly good mothers and don’t sit on eggs that long.
What Color Eggs Do Crevecoeur Chickens Lay?
Crevecoeur chicken eggs are white to tinted, medium to large, and weigh around 55 grams (2.0 oz). Interestingly, American Crevecoeurs are among the few chicken breeds that don’t have white earlobes but lay white eggs.
Breeding Crevecoeur Chickens
Crevecoeur chickens are quite easier to manage, as compared to other crested breeds. Aside from having a good temperament, they are also adaptable to extreme weather conditions.
Although they are not excellent egg layers and not the best in meat production, Crevecoeurs are ideal pets and companions and can excel as show birds.
Crevecoeur Chicken Care Tips
Raising Crevecoeur chickens can be done by beginners with less effort. These odd-looking birds are relatively healthy and resistant to diseases. However, you should be protective of their crest and beard. Although these traits are head-turners, they can be a hindrance in some situations. Here are some simple tips on how to care for Crevecoeurs:
- If the feathers on their head make them difficult to see and avoid predators, trim them carefully. Just don’t trim emerging pin feathers.
- If it is raining or snowy, make sure that their crest and beard are always dry. They are also prone to frostbite. If you cannot trim their crest and beard, cover them at least.
- To keep their beard from getting wet, use poultry nipple waterers instead of bowl-type waterers.
- WIDE APPLICATIONS- you can apply them on pipes, buckets and more...
- EASY TO CLEAN- these drinker nipples are made of durable plastic...
- NEAT and DRY- with Livestocktool screw style drinking nipples,...
- QUANTITY- 25 packs; It is recommended that 3 chicken/ birds share...
- WATERER MEASUREMENTS- screw size is 11/ 32 inch, and the pilot...
- Crevecoeurs are very energetic and need a lot of space for exercise. Their coop should have a space of at least 4 square feet per chicken.
- Crevecoeur chickens can jump and fly high, especially when they get startled. To prevent them from escaping, build a 4-foot fence around your property.
How Much Is a Crevecoeur Chicken?
The cost of Crevecoeur chicks depends on the location of the breeder and how many pieces you will buy. As of December 2022, the price range per male chick is from $4.61 to $5.37. Female chicks range from $7.34 to $8.56, and unsexed chicks cost $5.82-6.78 each. Make sure you buy quality chicks only from reputable farms and hatcheries.
List of Sources
Poultry Breeds – Crevecoeur Chickens
The Crest Phenotype in Chicken Is Associated with Ectopic Expression of HOXC8 in Cranial Skin
