Standard France (in French) Comb type two vertical spikes Primary use dual-purpose meat/eggs Temperament Wild, Active, Flighty Egg color White | Skin color white APA continental Egg size Large Recognized variety Black Origin Sarthe | |
 | ||
Other names French: Poule de La Flèche Weight Male: Standard: 3.5–4 kg
Bantam: 900 g
Female: Standard: 3–3.5 kg
Bantam: 800 g Similar Crèvecœur chicken, Houdan chicken, German Langshan, Kraienkopp, Lakenvelder | ||
The La Flèche, French: Poule de La Flèche, is a rare French breed of dual-purpose domestic chicken. It originates from the Sarthe département, in the Pays de la Loire region, and is named for the town and commune of La Flèche in that area, not far from the capital of the Sarthe, Le Mans. The breed was once famous for the fine quality its meat; since the Second World War, numbers have fallen very low.
Contents
History
Many authors date the origins of the La Flèche breed to the fifteenth century. An early description dates from 1846. The breed enjoyed a period of fame and success in the first part of the twentieth century, but, as with all native French breeds other than the Bresse, numbers fell heavily after the Second World War. In the 1960s and 1970s it came close to disappearing. There has since been a gradual recovery. In 2011 a rescue project was launched by the Conservatoire des races animales en Pays de la Loire, the regional animal breed conservation body of the Pays de la Loire region.
Characteristics
Their main distinguishing feature is their unusual V-shaped comb. They are of medium size, with males usually weighing between 3.5–4 kg and females weighing between 3–3.5 kg. They have white eggs. They are usually used as ornamental birds, but still are appreciated in high-level restaurants in France for their fine meat.
