Bresse
a.k.a. Gauloise (and possibly the Blue-footed Chicken)
A Bresse hen
Photo courtesy of Jens Engelmann
This French breed was imported to England in 1895.
Originally a light laying breed, the Bresse can produce 250 white eggs per year. In France it also has a good reputation for its flesh. Males weigh 2.5-3 kg (6-7.5 lb) and females 2-2.5 kg (5-6 lb).
Bresse now appear in Black, Blue, Gray and White varieties. The original birds were white with some black ticking on the shoulders and grey wingbars. They can be a bit flighty and a tall fence is a good idea.
There is a bird that is becoming popular in fancy food restaurants and the like, which is known as the Blue-footed Chicken. As far as I have been able to figure out, it may be a derivation of the Bresse.
Breed clubs:
Bresse-Gauloise Club
Thomassin Denis
Les Mirabelliers
rue Saint Germain
54115 Battigny
France
Breda Links:
Bresse at Skyline Poultry
A trio of White Bresse
Photo courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
The famous blue feet
Photo courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
A flock of Bresse fowl
Photo courtesy of Tony Orpin
Blue Bresse
Photos courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
A Bresse rooster
Photo courtesy of Claudia Schmidt
A Black Bresse rooster
Photos courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
Another Bresse hen
Photo courtesy of Jens Engelmann
A White Bresse cockerel and his head
Photos courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
Two more Bresse, rooster on the right
Photos courtesy of Peta Morton
Here's a Gray Bresse hen
Photo courtesy of Claudia Schmidt
A White Bresse pullet
Photo courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
A two-day-old Bresse chick White and Gray Bresse chicks Two-week-old Bresse chicks Day-old Bresse chicks or
Direct questions and comments to Barry at FeatherSite -- questions and comments
Photo courtesy of Claudia Schmidt
Photo courtesy of Claudia Schmidt
Photo courtesy of Katrin Stricker
Photo courtesy of Tony Orpin
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