Volailles de Houdan

Volailles de Houdan is a PGI-protected fresh poultry designation covering carcases of the Houdan breed, reared outdoors on a cereal-based diet and slaughtered at not less than 105 days old. The geographical area is defined by specific cantons in the districts of Mantes and Dreux, in the Yvelines and Eure-et-Loir departments.

About this designation

Registered as a PGI on 21 June 1996 under file number PGI-FR-0156 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000012939), Volailles de Houdan covers poultry carcases of the genus Gallus produced within a defined area comprising the cantons of Montfort-l'Amaury and Rambouillet in the district of Mantes, and the cantons of Maintenon and Pacy-sur-Eure in the district of Dreux. The specification requires exclusive use of the Houdan breed, described as a light poultry with a fine skeleton, marbled five-digit feet, a crested head, a double comb, black plumage flecked with white, and white skin. Birds must be reared outdoors, fed a cereal-based diet, and slaughtered at not less than 105 days old. Carcases are sold fresh and roped. Traceability is maintained across all links in the production chain, including hatcheries, feed manufacturers, farmers, and slaughterhouses; each batch is documented by placement declarations and delivery orders for day-old birds. The applicant group is the Syndicat interprofessionnel avicole de Houdan. The control body named in the specification is Qualinorm, based in Caen. Labelling must carry the designation Houdan poultry with the name of the species, together with the name and address of the certifying body.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 21 June 1996 under file number PGI-FR-0156, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000012939.
• The specification permits only the Houdan breed, characterised by five-digit feet, a crested head, a double comb, and black plumage flecked with white.
• Birds must be slaughtered at not less than 105 days old and are sold fresh and roped.
• The geographical area is limited to the cantons of Montfort-l'Amaury and Rambouillet (district of Mantes) and Maintenon and Pacy-sur-Eure (district of Dreux).

Tasting notes

Île-de-France region (Houdan area) free-range poultry from heritage Houdan breed.

HoReCa use

Heritage poultry for Parisian restaurants.

Packaging

• whole-bird-fresh-1.5-2kg