Data sheet Bresse chickens
Body weight (hen):
2.0 to 2.5kg
Body weight (rooster):
2.5 to 3.0 kg
eggs per year:
180 to 220 eggs
Weight of an egg:
60g
eggshell color:
light brown to white
Origin:
France
Flight Skills:
moderate
color shades:
white
Particularities:
- blue legs
- active and adventurous
- protected as a trademark in France
Number (recommended group size):
5 to 8 chickens
Life expectancy:
4 to 7 years
Difficulty level:
Beginner Volailles_Bresse.JPG: Alek’s derivative work: Myrabella (talk), Volailles Bresse crop, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Bresse chicken comes from France and can be traced back to 1601, when it was already held. This makes it one of the oldest breeds and is still extremely popular today.
It is not only as a laying chicken, but also as a slaughter product known. The chicken has a long tradition in its homeland and shows it national pride also in his appearance.
The «Bresse» brand is also legally protected and may only be awarded to appropriate chickens.
In Germany, almost exclusively white Bresse chickens buy. Hers are particularly striking here blue legs. Together with the red comb it stands for them National colors of France.
The chicken is also available in other colours, but then it is no longer an original Bresse chicken. Black or blue Bresse chickens are called «Bresse-Gauloise».
The chicken itself has one attentive and active character, likes to explore and therefore needs a lot of freewheeling. Yet it is less active in flight and prefers to walk on the ground.
A low fence is completely sufficient. It is curious towards other conspecifics and people, but peaceful.
The chicken should just in be kept in large enclosures, at least 10 square meters per chicken. Apart from the space requirement, the Bresse chicken is easy to keep and doesn’t have high standardswhen it comes to food.
gender differences
Because of their white and short feathers, a sex difference is obvious conspicuous red cockscomb to recognize. A hen should have a well developed chest and abdomen. A rooster is straighter and slimmer.
breed
The Bresse chicken is popular with breeders, as it not only lays large numbers of eggs, but is later also used as a meat product. Above all, breeding has a long tradition in France and is marked accordingly.
After just 20 weeks, many aim for a target weight that the Bresse chicken must reach in order to be slaughtered. But the chicken can also do without this ulterior motive simply bred become.
Hpfrei, Bresse chickens-3, CC BY-SA 3.0
rearing of the chicks
Rearing the chicks is easy and undemanding. The chicks themselves are robust and awake early. A Bresse chicken chick is able to lay eggs after 18 weeks.
socialization
The Bresse chicken needs a lot of free range and should in larger groups being held. Besides, it is no problem mixing it with other breeds to live in an enclosure.
But these should also peaceful be so that the Bresse chicken does not feel threatened. Otherwise, the Bresse chicken is undemanding and enjoys one big meadowwhere it can let off steam with other chickens and peck for food.