From the village of Faverolles in Northern France, the breed was developed from the Dorking (where it gets its fifth toe from), Houdan, Cochin, Brahma and several French breeds, to be a dual purpose bird. It was particiularly prized for its meat and first imported into Great Britain in 1886, where it was crossed with Sussex, Orpington and Indian Game.

The best known variety is the Salmon which appeared in 1893. Black came in 1896 followed by several more varieties: Buff, Cuckoo, Ermine, Blue Laced and White.

Faverolles are alert, active birds inclined to moments of apparent panic when, because of the beard and muffling below and behind the eyes, they lose their flock. They are placid and inquisitive becoming tame very quickly. The body is deep and thick with a broad, flat back, particularly across the shoulders and saddle. The breast is deep and the tail moderate and upright. Its head is distinctive: broad, and short with a smallish single comb and short beak. It has muffling from below the eyes and below the chin to form a striking 'beard'. Legs are short and stout,set wide apart and moderately feathered. They will lay up to 180 tinted eggs a year

We have the popular Salmon variety.

Salmon: The cock birds are very stately and handsome. The beard and muffling are black, the neck and hackles straw coloured over a mahogany back and shoulders. The rest of the body and tail are black. Hens are a complete contrast with a creamy white beard and cream front, thighs and lower body. the rest is a wheaten brown which is slightly darker on the neck.

Bantam versions do exist but we do not have any.