Mantes
The Mantes, or poule de Mantes, is a scarce French chicken associated with Mantes-la-Jolie and the lower Seine country west of Paris. It belongs to the group of regional French utility fowl that supplied eggs and table birds before commercial hybrids replaced many local breeds. Because numbers are low, published descriptions are less familiar to English-speaking keepers than those for Houdan, Gournay, or Faverolles.
Today the Mantes is mainly a conservation and specialist breeder's bird. Prospective keepers should ask which French standard or restoration line is being followed, since rare populations can show variation in size, comb, color, and productivity. Management is the same as for other active farm chickens: a secure night house, dry litter, outdoor space, and a balanced ration to support laying and growth. Small breeding groups benefit from careful pairing and records so the regional identity is not lost through accidental crossing.
Colors: Barred, Birchen, Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Columbian, Crele, Cuckoo, Duckwing, Gold, Gold Laced, Laced, Lavender, Mille Fleur, Mottled, Partridge, Penciled, Porcelain, Red, Silver, Silver Laced, Spangled, Splash, Wheaten, White
