Description
The Mottled Houdan chicken breed was imported from the town Houdan (France) into England around the 1850’s. The Mottled Houdan chicken was introduced to America in 1865 and later in 1874 it was admitted into the American Standard of Perfection. This unique chicken breed has a fifth toe, is an old French breed, has a wide cavernous nostril, a large crested feather head and is a white egg layer. The females are extremely docile and gentle and make good pets. Not particularly a good free range chicken if you have predators because of their top knot that blocks some of their vision. They are known as the “French Hen” and make a great backyard chicken for pets and show.
NOTE: In a low percentage of these you will encounter some cross beaks. We have tried to breed this out of them for decades but still there is a low percentage of occurance..
Also may like our Crested “Top Hat” Special.
We also offer at limited times of the year Mottled Houdan Fertile Hatching Eggs
Availability
Available Low Availability Unavailable
| Date |
Available? |
| 2025-02-05 |
|
| 2025-02-12 |
|
| 2025-02-19 |
|
| 2025-02-24 |
|
| 2025-02-26 |
|
| 2025-03-03 |
|
| 2025-03-05 |
|
| 2025-03-10 |
|
| 2025-03-12 |
|
| 2025-03-17 |
|
| 2025-03-19 |
|
| 2025-03-24 |
|
| 2025-03-26 |
|
| 2025-03-31 |
|
| 2025-04-02 |
|
| 2025-04-07 |
|
| 2025-04-09 |
|
| 2025-04-14 |
|
| 2025-04-16 |
|
| 2025-04-21 |
|
| 2025-04-23 |
|
| 2025-04-28 |
|
| 2025-04-30 |
|
| 2025-05-05 |
|
| 2025-05-07 |
|
| 2025-05-12 |
|
| 2025-05-14 |
|
| 2025-05-19 |
|
| 2025-05-21 |
|
| 2025-05-26 |
|
| 2025-05-28 |
|
| 2025-06-02 |
|
| 2025-06-04 |
|
| 2025-06-09 |
|
| 2025-06-11 |
|
| 2025-06-16 |
|
| 2025-06-18 |
|
| 2025-06-23 |
|
| 2025-06-25 |
|
| 2025-06-30 |
|
| 2025-07-02 |
|
| 2025-07-07 |
|
| 2025-07-09 |
|
| 2025-07-14 |
|
| 2025-07-16 |
|
| 2025-07-21 |
|
| 2025-07-23 |
|
| 2025-07-28 |
|
| 2025-07-30 |
|
| 2025-08-04 |
|
| 2025-08-06 |
|
| 2025-08-11 |
|
| 2025-08-13 |
|
| 2025-08-20 |
|
| 2025-08-27 |
|
| 2025-09-03 |
|
| 2025-09-10 |
|
| 2025-09-17 |
|
| 2025-09-24 |
|
| 2025-10-08 |
|
| 2025-10-15 |
|
| 2025-10-22 |
|
| 2025-10-29 |
|
lajems65 –
Received 4 of these in total in two different top hat special orders. Gorgeous birds, ended up with two females and two males. Lost one of our females to a predator and sold the extra male. The coloring is much better than the ones i have gotten from other hatcheries, and the rooster is actually nice and not mean.
Kathy Arnold –
This year, I added 2 more little houdan hens to my perfect two year old hen. My new hens have the most profuse feathering I have seen in any houdan. They are 4 months old now. They are beyond sweet and tame. They sit calmly for me to groom them, just like my standard poodles. 🐩 🐩🐩
Kathy Arnold –
I have the most WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, SWEET, AND PERFECT little Houdan hen. I wish I had shown her when she was young. She is older now…. about two years old. And still lays the most perfect medium size eggs ever. Her name is Poodle. 🙂 for her top not. She fits right in with my three standard poodles.
mossyoakmama36 –
I bought the assorted rare bird package. I have two Lil roo unfortunately one had one my little guys chip his joint and legs was started to twist and he wasn’t able to walk by 4 mo had to put him down. But I have a healthy 5 month old he is so silly I love him to death thanks
Sondra Bashaw –
I was very worried about ordering as I have tried shipped eggs from individuals with no results. I couldn’t find the Mottled Houdans local. I figured I would try live chicks. I will order again. I ordered 16 and received 17. They are all very healthy and doing wonderful.
Jamie Williams –
WOW!
I ordered 30 chicks and recieved 32 healthy babies. I have had these guys for over three weeks, and all survived. Good quality stock.
Amanda –
Very fun looking healthy chickens
We ordered 3 of these chickens (along with other breeds) and got an extra. All 4 of them turned out to be male though which was super unlucky for us but they aren’t sexed so can’t blame the breeder. We found homes for them due to having too many roosters. We plan to try again with this breed in hopes of getting females because they are just so fun to watch as they grow. Their head feathers are just so crazy and fun along with the speckled coloring. They were all over the range of friendly and skittish. These are such fun chickens to have in your flock.
SH Farm –
All healthy but note the warning for these birds
All four that came with my order grew up healthy but the cross beak occurrence they warn you about is true. One of my cockerels has a pretty bad cross beak. He eats and drinks just fine but his ability to survive off free range foraging alone is impacted a good bit. He’ll hang out with the rest of the flock and go through the motions of trying peck for food but he can really only eat the laying crumbles in the feeders hanging in my coup.
David –
Thanks
Just wanted to drop a note Thanking your business for the Great birds. Could not have gone any better, Thank you, I bought 10 Top hat specials and 10 Houdans..
Sierra, Florida –
Very Happy 1st Time Chick Mom
Received my 3 Mottled Houdans along with a 3 other breeds. All chicks arrived healthy & full of energy. 3 weeks later they’re doing Great! Super sweet chicks & very fast growing – I’m glad I did my research & ordered from Cackle Hatchery!
Scott –
Great
wish you could order some females separate love my 9 birds not to friendly but they are better than a watch dog lol
Kayla –
Mottled houdans with dislocations
I ordered 5 of this breed of chicken and all seemed to be healthy upon arrival but upon closer inspection of them, one had a dislocated leg which made it very difficult to walk, incapable of scratching and digging and weaker than the rest..I hoped it would pull thru but sadly it died after only 2 weeks..a second one had dislocated jaw making its beak not able to close. The top beak crossed over one direction and the bottom beak crossed over to the other direction. It was unable to drink because it couldn’t hold water in its beak long enough to tilt it’s head back. I gave it water with a medicine dropper many times a day tryin to help it get big enough to learn to drink with this disability but she died to. I ordered 2 other breeds in the same order (5 cuckoo marans, 11 white leg horns) and they are all still healthy and thriving.
Lynda –
Beautiful and healthy!!
Received my chicks today and all arrived alive and healthy! I was leary of sending for little baby chicks in the mail, but was so pleased in the health and quality of these little babies! Thanks so much! Can’t wait for my Houdans to grow up! I will definately be ordering more from you in the future.
Mason, Newville, AL –
Big fast growing chicks!
We ordered 4 breeds of laying chickens this year from Cackle Hatchery. The Mottled Houdans are the biggest and fastest growing chicks! They even exceeded our Rhode Island Reds! They are a little less interested in us than some of our other birds, but they are healthy, big and strong. We are looking forward to discovering if we received any pullets or if they are all cockerels.
Bekah –
Amazing
Very good quality chickens. LOVE people and do very well at shows
Kristi, Virginia July 2013 –
Our new chicks
Our new babies arrived yesterday. I want to commend you. They arrived carefully packaged with the somewhat larger chicks in a separate space and all looking spry and safe. I had sworn I would never order from a hatchery again after an absolutely HORRIBLE experience one time with another hatchery. If you order less than 25 they put in extra chicks for warmth during shipping. i didn’t know that having never ordered them before and I ordered 20 banties. Some person put in extra-regular-size chicks (leghorns) with the banties and seven of my little banties were crushed in transit. Nevertheless, nothing would bring back those poor little chicks and I knew I would never do business with them again. When we have occasion to order chicks again, you can be assured it will be from Cackle Hatchery.
Mark Ohio March 2014 –
Thanks Guys! Excellent Order
100% live arrival when I picked up this morning at Post Office. It’s been many years since I ordered from you , from the looks of today’s chicks that won’t happen again. Excellent chicks, strong solid bodies, vitality and good crest on. One jumped into the brooder to drink before I even had a second to dip its beak. Never have I had that before even in ones I hatch.
Ed, California May 2011 –
Thanks
Just wanted to let you know the chicks arrived safely this morning and all had eaten and had a drink within the first 15 minutes out of the box. They have been in the brooder for several hours now and are doing great! Thanks you for the great chicks, including the extras.