La Fleche

LA FLECHE

La Fleche have been bred for many years in the Valley of La Sarthe, where the town of La Fleche is located. That this breed originated from crossing of Black Spanish-Crevecoeur-DuMans blood lines is evident by its high carriage, activity, large white lobes, V-shaped comb which crops out on specimens of the French breeds.

The remarkable whiteness and quality of its flesh, however, is attributed to the rich pastures of La Sarthe, upon which La Fleche have been bred for generations, and to the system of feeding adopted by the French.

The breed was admitted to the Standard in 1874.

Economic Qualities: General purpose fowl for the production of meat and eggs. Colour of skin, white; colour of eggs, white.

Disqualifications

More than one-half inch of positive white in any part of the plumage or two or more feathers tipped or edged with positive white. Shanks other than black or slate in colour.

STANDARD WEIGHTS

Cock 8-9 lbs (3.5-4kg). Hen 6-7 lbs (2.7-3.2kg).

SHAPE OF MALE

Comb: V-shaped; rather large.

Beak: Rather long, strong, well-curved.

Head: Of medium size, long.

Nostrils: Wide, cavernous.

Eyes: Large, oval.

Wattles: Uniform, long, well-rounded, pendulous.

Ear- Lobes: Large.

Neck: Long, erect, with abundant hackle flowing well down on shoulders.

Wings: Long, powerful, well-folded, carried without drooping; primaries and secondaries, broad, and overlapping in natural order when wing is folded.

Back: Broad, very long, sloping to tail; saddle feathers, abundant.

Tail: Very long, full, carried at an angle of forty-five degrees above the horizontal; sickles, well-curved; coverts, abundant; main-tail feathers, broad and overlapping.

Breast: Broad, full, very prominent.

Body and Fluff: Body, large, powerful, tapering slightly to tail, with close plumage; fluff, rather short.

Legs and Toes: Legs, set well apart, straight when viewed from front; lower thighs, long, stout; shanks, long, medium in bone; toes, straight, well-spread.

SHAPE OF FEMALE

Comb: V-shaped, moderately large.

Beak: Rather long, strong, well-curved.

Head: Of medium size, long.

Nostrils: Wide, cavernous.

Eyes: Large, oval.

Wattles: Uniform, small, well-rounded.

Ear-Lobes: Small.

Neck: Long, carried upright, with full plumage.

Wings: Long, powerful, well- folded, carried without drooping; primaries and secondaries,' broad, and overlapping in natural order when wing is folded.

Back: Broad, long, sloping to tail.

Tail: Long, well-expanded, carried at an angle of forty degrees above the horizontal; main-tail feathers, broad and overlap ping.

Breast: Broad, full, prominent.

Body and Fluff: Body, large, deep, tapering slightly to tail; fluff, rather short.

Legs and Toes: Legs, set well apart, straight when viewed from front; lower thighs, long, stout; shanks, long, medium in bone; toes, straight, well-spread.

COLOUR OF MALE AND FEMALE

Comb, Face, and Wattles: Bright red.

Beak: Black, with a small protuberance of bright red flesh at juncture of beak and nostrils.

Eyes: Bright red.

Ear-Lobes: White.

Shanks and Toes: Dark slate.

Plumage: Black plumage with a beetle green sheen.

Sourced from: The American standard of perfection, illustrated. A complete description of recognized varieties of fowls, as revised by [the Association at its 62d-67th annual meetings, 1937-42.] https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/009169004