The Salmon Faverolles is a delightful heritage chicken breed known for its friendly personality, beautiful plumage, and good egg laying abilities. As backyard chicken keepers eagerly await the first eggs from their Salmon Faverolle pullets, a common question arises – when do these charming chickens start laying?
An Overview of Salmon Faverolles
Originating in France in the 19th century, the Salmon Faverolle is a dual purpose breed valued for both eggs and meat. They have a distinctive salmon-colored plumage and adorable fluffy cheeks thanks to their beards and muffs.
Salmon Faverolles are known to be extremely docile, calm, and friendly. They make wonderful pets and are very child-friendly. Their gentle nature does mean they can be bullied by more aggressive chickens, so they need to be kept with other placid breeds.
While not as outstanding as some hybrid egg laying breeds, the Salmon Faverolle is still an excellent layer of light brown eggs even through cold winters. Their fluffy plumage also makes them very cold hardy.
Maturity and Egg Laying in Salmon Faverolles
Salmon Faverolles are generally slower to mature than commercial egg laying chicken breeds. As a heritage breed, they take a bit longer to reach full size and begin laying eggs.
Here’s a look at what to expect as your Salmon Faverolle pullets grow
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12-16 weeks – Pullets will be fully feathered out but still growing to full size No eggs yet!
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16-20 weeks – Getting close! Pullets are reaching maturity but unlikely to lay eggs this early.
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20-24 weeks – Here come the eggs! This is the most common age for first lay in Salmon Faverolles.
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24+ weeks – Any pullets not laying by 24 weeks should start very soon after. Time to gather those first precious eggs!
While the average age of first lay is 20-24 weeks, some individual Salmon Faverolles may start a bit earlier or later. The timing can vary depending on factors like diet, season, and each bird’s rate of development.
It’s perfectly normal for some pullets to reach 6 months old before beginning to lay. Have patience, provide proper care, and the eggs will come!
Tips for a Good First Lay
Here are some tips to help set your Salmon Faverolle pullets up for a successful and productive first lay:
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Provide a quality feed – Feed a complete layer feed with 16-18% protein from chick stage onward. This provides proper nutrition for growth and development.
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Supplement calcium – Make oyster shell or layer crumbles available at 8-10 weeks old so pullets can get accustomed to calcium sources.
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Use artificial light – Adding artificial light to extend day length to at least 14 hours encourages pullets to mature and begin laying sooner.
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Allow free-ranging – Access to grass and insects while foraging helps provide additional nutrients for optimal health and growth.
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Reduce stressors – Minimize moves, introduction of new flock members, predators, and other stress during the lead up to first eggs.
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Gather eggs promptly – Collect eggs right away so pullets learn the habit of laying in the nest boxes you provide.
Following these tips will give your Salmon Faverolle pullets the best shot at starting their egg laying careers off on the right foot!
When You Can Expect Peak Production
While Salmon Faverolles may start laying eggs around 20-24 weeks, they’ll take some time to reach their full production potential.
You can expect:
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Age 20-28 weeks – 1-3 eggs per week as they begin laying
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Age 28-40 weeks – Increase to 4-5 eggs per week as they hit their stride
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Age 40+ weeks – Peak production of 4-6 eggs per week through the first couple years
After the first year or two, egg production may decline slightly each year as birds get older. But Salmon Faverolles will keep laying reliably for many years!
For best results, follow proper feeding and management practices. Provide free choice calcium, fresh water, and a quality complete feed. Allow birds access to grassy outdoor areas if possible. Keep stress low and watch for signs of illness.
With good care, your homegrown Salmon Faverolle eggs will grace your breakfast table for years to come! The wait for those first pullet eggs is well worth it when this charming breed joins your flock.
Egg Color and Production
Salmon Faverolles are great layers of medium-sized, light brown to pinkish eggs. You can expect:
- 4 to 5 eggs per week (about 180–240 eggs per year).
- Good winter laying – They continue to lay when many other breeds slow down.
- Early maturity – Hens start laying at around 5–6 months old.
While they’re not as high-producing as hybrid breeds like the Golden Buff, their steady production and friendly nature make them a favorite among backyard keepers.
Salmon Faverolles Appearance: Fluffy and Fabulous!
Salmon Faverolles have a truly unique look that makes them stand out in any flock:
- Feathered beard and muffs – Giving them a charming, puffy-cheeked appearance.
- Thick, soft plumage – Makes them extra cold-hardy.
- Salmon-colored feathers – Females have a warm buff-pink color with light cream underbellies, while males have dramatic black, white, and mahogany plumage.
- Feathered legs and five toes – Unlike most chickens, which have four toes, Faverolles have five!
Their fluffy feathers and expressive faces make them one of the cutest chickens around.
Salmon Faverolle All You Need To Know Personality and Egg Color
FAQ
FAQ
Do Salmon Faverolles lay in winter?
Yes, Salmon Faverolles chickens are known for their ability to lay eggs, even during winter months, according to the Livestock Conservancy and other sources.
Do Faverolles lay pink eggs?
Faverolles hens usually lay tinted eggs (though colors of light brown to pink tint are not unknown) and some lines are excellent sitters and mothers. Hens have been known to lay from 150 to over 200 eggs per year. The breed produces fine broilers and roasters.
Are Salmon Faverolles cuddly?
Yes, Salmon Faverolles are generally considered a cuddly chicken breed. They are known for being friendly, docile, and affectionate, making them good candidates for pets, especially for families with children.
What is the lifespan of a Salmon Faverolles?
Salmon Faverolle chickens typically have a lifespan of 5-7 years. With proper care, they can live even longer.
When do Faverolles start laying eggs?
When Do They Start Laying? Your typical Faverolles hen will begin laying at around 5 months of age, some slightly earlier and others slightly later but that is a good benchmark that you can depend on. What Color Eggs Do Salmon Faverolles Lay?
How many eggs can a salmon Faverolles hen lay a week?
You can expect at least 4 eggs each week, which is excellent for a meat chicken! Salmon Faverolles hens will start laying eggs at around 20 weeks of age. The egg size will typically be medium size to large size, and will reach its full size when your hens mature.
Do salmon Faverolles chickens go broody?
Salmon Faverolles chickens aren’t known to go broody, but you may come across some broody hens that would make good sitters. These chickens lay tinted eggs. It could be brown or pink eggs, however, you may come across one or two eggs with a cream tint or pale color.
Are salmon Faverolles rare?
When first kept by farmers in France, the Salmon Faverolles was bred for cold hardiness and to lay eggs in winter. Today, the Livestock Conservancy lists these chickens as rare, partly because they’ve been replaced by faster maturing breeds and are only now becoming a popular novelty bird for urban and backyard chicken enthusiasts.
Where did salmon Faverolles come from?
The Salmon Faverolles are believed to originate from a quaint French village by the name Faverolles (makes sense!) in Lower Normandy. A common theory is that their heritage relates to breeds such as the Brahma, Dorking, Flemish Cuckoo, French Rennes, and Malines, but other local chicken breeds could be a part of their origin story too.
When did salmon Faverolles become popular?
But, in the late 1800s, they were introduced to England, and their popularity soared. The famous Salmon Faverolles chicken, named after its unique pinkish-white plumage, was recognized by the American Poultry Association in 1914, while the white variation wasn’t recognized until the 1980s!