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AFAB926B-5BAA-409D-B211-0124250DDEC6.jpeg

American Bresse

The American Bresse originated in Bresse, France. They have been imported directly from France, but due to labeling legality concerns they are marketed as American Bresse.
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General Information

Breed Purpose
Meat or Eggs
Comb
Single
Broodiness
Non Setter
Climate Tolerance
Heat and Cold Tolerant
Egg Productivity
Excellent
Egg Size
Large
Egg Color
Cream
Breed Temperament
Can be Flighty
Breed Colors/Varieties
White, Blue, Black, or Splash
Breed Size
Large
Buy URL
http://www.greenfirefarms.com or http://www.bressefarms.com
These are the fast growing meat bird that produces the renowned French Bresse, which sells for top dollar among table fare. These birds are raised on pasture for 10 weeks and then caged and put on rations of organic feed and dairy for two weeks, which produces a large nicely marbled carcass of 4-6lbs dressed weight.

These birds are also an amazing layer of large to XL cream colored eggs, with estimates of 250-270epy in healthy well cared for flocks. The American Bresse is an excellent forager and free ranging bird. They are also very attentive to predator threats. If you’re looking for an all around excellent dual-purpose breed that still produces lots of eggs and fast meat production, this bird is hard to top.
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Latest reviews

bobhoke
Pros: They are chickens. Great mothers.
Cons: Not enough branches in their family tree.
The Bresse hen is a great mother from my experience. The bird taste like any other chicken unless you finish them like the French do, but then any breed would taste like that if you finished any breed the way the French do - surprise! Duh!
Since they are hoarded by the French their bloodline here is poor at best and GFF as the monopoly here in N America isn’t helping matters for this breed. The birds die quickly because they are genetically inferior, which is due to incapable suppliers.
If you want a good Bresse flock, go to Bresse France and get your own fertile eggs from a variety of farmers and fly home, stick them under a good broody hen or throw them in a detestable incubator and cross your fingers. Good luck.
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KellyKrider611
I got my chicks from Bresse Farms in Mississippi. On 9/21/2023. I also got a Roo and a Hen from a lady already grown that were born December 2023. Hen lays Medium to large cream eggs. Waiting to see how they all do. Any suggestions on feed and care?
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Comments

B
I have a small flock of the White Breese that I am still growing out. They are nice looking bird's, and are holding up to our hot Arizona summer heat ok so far. It got up to 116 degrees F. the other day.
 
ageranger361
BlueBaby said:
I have a small flock of the White Breese that I am still growing out. They are nice looking bird's, and are holding up to our hot Arizona summer heat ok so far. It got up to 116 degrees F. the other day.
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I’m reserving judgement or rating as well since my flock is just beginning. I’m looking forward to see how quickly they lay eggs. Supposedly they start at ~14wks. How old are your birds.

What I CAN rate them on now is growth, and baby they grow FAST. Maybe not quite as fast as the FrankenChickens (Cornish-Xrock), but they’re also not a diseased, drop dead at the drop of a hat, unhealthy hybridized commercial broiler breed.
 
B
BlueBaby said:
I have a small flock of the White Breese that I am still growing out. They are nice looking bird's, and are holding up to our hot Arizona summer heat ok so far. It got up to 116 degrees F. the other day.
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Mine hatched on April 1, 2018. Yes, they have been growing fast. I think they are starting to get close to lay, as the girl's combs and wattles are starting to get a darker pink. I'm keeping my girls from the hatch, and will have to pick what boy that I will keep. I don't have enough girls to be able to keep more than one boy.
 
ageranger361
BlueBaby said:
I have a small flock of the White Breese that I am still growing out. They are nice looking bird's, and are holding up to our hot Arizona summer heat ok so far. It got up to 116 degrees F. the other day.
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Mine were shipped 4/25 lol, GreenFire Farms. Did you get from them?
 
bobhoke
I’ve raised Bresse birds for three years. They predominately lay a medium sized egg 3-4 times weekly. They are also excellent mothers. Hatcheries are currently doing their best to breed this broody trait out of them so they can control the source, whereby they’ll FAIL. Mother Nature will always win. My Bresse hens will try to hatch rocks and I’ve hatched over 50 chicks with these hens in the past three years. Guess what their chicks did this last summer. You guessed it, they’re raising clutches too. BYC, you post a lot of incorrect data, but those who really know - don’t care!
 
B
bobhoke said:
I’ve raised Bresse birds for three years. They predominately lay a medium sized egg 3-4 times weekly. They are also excellent mothers. Hatcheries are currently doing their best to breed this broody trait out of them so they can control the source, whereby they’ll FAIL. Mother Nature will always win. My Bresse hens will try to hatch rocks and I’ve hatched over 50 chicks with these hens in the past three years. Guess what their chicks did this last summer. You guessed it, they’re raising clutches too. BYC, you post a lot of incorrect data, but those who really know - don’t care!
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Yes, I agree with you. They do go broody.
 
wizzardlevel9
bobhoke said:
I’ve raised Bresse birds for three years. They predominately lay a medium sized egg 3-4 times weekly. They are also excellent mothers. Hatcheries are currently doing their best to breed this broody trait out of them so they can control the source, whereby they’ll FAIL. Mother Nature will always win. My Bresse hens will try to hatch rocks and I’ve hatched over 50 chicks with these hens in the past three years. Guess what their chicks did this last summer. You guessed it, they’re raising clutches too. BYC, you post a lot of incorrect data, but those who really know - don’t care!
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Would you sell some hatchlings, juveniles or adults? I would prefer that over hatchery.
 
bobhoke
wizzardlevel9 said:
Would you sell some hatchlings, juveniles or adults? I would prefer that over hatchery.
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Sorry for the delay. I’m raising hybrid birds only. The Bresse gene pool in North America is poor quality overall so it’s not worth the “time” investment to me. I still have a few around, but the source pool is poor as they originate from France. If you can get to France and buy from several breeders you’ll be fine, but honestly I’ve already seen third & fourth generation Bresse here and it’s not good. Greenfire farm (GF) doesn’t have a diverse flock. EVERY other vendor bloodline in North America originated at GF. Don’t trust Bresse.com either. Poor quality. Sorry, but I’ll sell you hearty hybrid birds cheap. I mix White Jersey Giant roosters with Cochin, Brahma and Orpington hens. Huge birds that lay big eggs. They’ll be available in the spring as I’m in Michigan.
 
bobhoke
wizzardlevel9 said:
Anyone know a private breeder (not hatchery) that would sell some high quality birds of this breed?
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The entire Bresse bloodline in North America comes from Greenfire Farms (GF). Not very diverse. After years 3&4 birds become very frail. Not worth it unless you head to France or find someone else buying from Bresse farmers there. I’ll also be the first to tell you there is nothing special about the Bresse meat. You can finish any breed of chicken how a Bresse is raised and they’ll turn out the same. Bird is a bird is a bird.
 
wizzardlevel9
bobhoke said:
Sorry for the delay. I’m raising hybrid birds only. The Bresse gene pool in North America is poor quality overall so it’s not worth the “time” investment to me. I still have a few around, but the source pool is poor as they originate from France. If you can get to France and buy from several breeders you’ll be fine, but honestly I’ve already seen third & fourth generation Bresse here and it’s not good. Greenfire farm (GF) doesn’t have a diverse flock. EVERY other vendor bloodline in North America originated at GF. Don’t trust Bresse.com either. Poor quality. Sorry, but I’ll sell you hearty hybrid birds cheap. I mix White Jersey Giant roosters with Cochin, Brahma and Orpington hens. Huge birds that lay big eggs. They’ll be available in the spring as I’m in Michigan.
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Thanks for the info. I knew that the US stock came from the one source from GF, but I didn't know that they didn't practice gene diversity. I also did not know that they become weak after 3 or 4 years due to that lack of diversity. However; I have to disagree that their is nothing special about the Bresse meat. It is true that you can improve the meat of "any animal" by special diet regimen, but Breese have special a few unique genes that allow the the fat to disperse and marble within the meat like beef that don't happen in other chickens. They have even tried to cross Bresse to other chickens to get that gene in other breeds but with no success as the gene falls off anytime it is mixed with another breed. I have been to France in a dozen cities (I didn't visit any farm) in the country and have eating some of the delicacies. The Magrette duck I had in Chartres was unbelievable in flavor and the way it would melt in your mouth. The meat was like velvet.
 
misfitmorgan
GF has actually imported at least 3 different times birds from different gene pools. So if your stock is ordered direct from GF your gene diversity should be much improved from anything bought pre-2017 including buying chicks/pullets/etc from other hatcheries and breeders, if they have not gotten new chicks/pullets from GF since the 2017 import.

I like everyone else wish another company/hatchery would start doing imports as well but it doesnt seem anyone wants to invest the several thousands of dollars to do it. I can't say I blame them it would be a big chunk of money for unsure returns, just sucks for us consumers who need/want new genetics faster then GF is pulling them in.
 
misfitmorgan
From people who have them, they are all saying 4-4.5 months vs other chickens who lay at 5.5-6.5 months.
 
S
bobhoke said:
Sorry for the delay. I’m raising hybrid birds only. The Bresse gene pool in North America is poor quality overall so it’s not worth the “time” investment to me. I still have a few around, but the source pool is poor as they originate from France. If you can get to France and buy from several breeders you’ll be fine, but honestly I’ve already seen third & fourth generation Bresse here and it’s not good. Greenfire farm (GF) doesn’t have a diverse flock. EVERY other vendor bloodline in North America originated at GF. Don’t trust Bresse.com either. Poor quality. Sorry, but I’ll sell you hearty hybrid birds cheap. I mix White Jersey Giant roosters with Cochin, Brahma and Orpington hens. Huge birds that lay big eggs. They’ll be available in the spring as I’m in Michigan.
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I'm also in Michigan and in the market for some good quality meat birds. I was leaning towards Bresse but the info I'm seeing here has me reconsidering. Are you still selling any of your hybrids?
 

Item information

Category
Chicken Breeds
Added by
ageranger361
Views
25,538
Watchers
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Comments
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Reviews
1
Last update
Rating
4.00 star(s) 4 ratings

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