Pavilly
Gallus gallus domesticus
✨ Fait Amusant
Pavilly is just a few kilometres from the Seine River's great meanders on its final approach to the English Channel. The black Pavilly chicken stood out starkly against the white chalk cliffs and pale stone farmhouses of the Caux plateau — a dark speck on a bright Norman landscape.
A rare French dual-purpose breed from the town of Pavilly in Seine-Maritime, Upper Normandy. The Pavilly is a medium-large bird developed in the early 20th century, characterised by solid black plumage, a single comb, clean legs, and white skin. It was bred as a farm chicken for the small mixed holdings of the Caux region, producing white eggs and decent meat. The breed's black colour was deliberately selected — black feathers were easier to keep clean-looking in the damp, muddy conditions of Norman farmyards, and black pinfeathers are less visible on a dressed carcass, making the Pavilly a practical market bird. After 1950, Normandy's farm structure changed dramatically, and the Pavilly nearly vanished. SCAF and the EE Europastandard recognise it, and a small group of Norman breeders keep the breed alive today.
🏷️ Race
Pavilly
💭 Tempérament
Calm, docile, good forager, hardy, quiet
📏 Taille
Large (2.7-3.6 kg)
⏳ Espérance de vie
5-8 years
🎨 Couleurs
Black
🌍 Origine
France — Pavilly, Seine-Maritime, Normandy; early 20th century
🏠 Habitat
Free-range or enclosed run; well-adapted to damp Normandy farm conditions
🍽️ Alimentation
Layer pellets; good forager on mixed Norman farmland
🎯 Usage
Dual Purpose
🥚 Couleur des œufs
White
👑 Type de crête
Single
🏅 Classe EE
Large Fowl