La Flèche
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fait Amusant
La Flèche was so prized at the French royal court that it was served at banquets for Louis XIV. The breed's unusual horn comb gave it the nickname 'Devil Bird' (Poule du Diable).
An ancient and imposing French meat breed from the town of La Flèche in the Sarthe department, once considered the finest table fowl in France and supplied to royal banquets. La Flèche is distinguished by its unusual V-shaped horn comb — two straight points rising like devil's horns — and its entirely jet-black plumage with a strong beetle-green iridescence. A large, active bird, it was the backbone of the famous Le Mans capons (castrated males raised for the French luxury table).
🏷️ Race
La Flèche
💭 Tempérament
Active, alert, robust, independent, can be flighty
📏 Taille
Large (3.6-4.5 kg)
⏳ Espérance de vie
5-8 years
🎨 Couleurs
Jet black with beetle-green iridescence
🌍 Origine
France — La Flèche, Sarthe; ancient breed, documented 16th century
🏠 Habitat
Free-range strongly preferred; large active bird needing space
🍽️ Alimentation
High-quality layer and grower pellets; excellent free-range forager
🎯 Usage
Meat
🥚 Couleur des œufs
White
👑 Type de crête
V-Shape
🏅 Classe EE
Large Fowl