Bresse Chickens

[jcinadr]

Here is a link to the mother of all capon threads. The thread has gone through a number of tools, but there is a general agreement that the Chinese tools are currently the best. Post 1250 is how I got my tools, but there are probably easier suggestions within the next 20 posts after that.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/675898/graphic-pics-of-my-day-learning-to-caponize/1240

 

[LindaB220]

Where did either of you get your tools from?

Look on the thread " Graphic Pics on my day of learning to caponize". Start at p 100 and there is some ready good pictures and into. Poco Pollo orders them for us from China. Why? Because she's wonderful and wants to help everybody. They are the best tools.

 

[Arielle]

jc-- sorry you lost your senior rooster-- just the reason to keep a back up!!

 

[LindaB220]

Here is a link to the mother of all capon threads. The thread has gone through a number of tools, but there is a general agreement that the Chinese tools are currently the best. Post 1250 is how I got my tools, but there are probably easier suggestions within the next 20 posts after that.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/675898/graphic-pics-of-my-day-learning-to-caponize/1240

Page 109 has the newer way of performing the surgery.

 

[ChickenFox]

What age do you all recommend for processing your bresse? I only need one of my 2 cockerals and with their hormones starting to rage they're getting a bit cranky with some of the smaller hens in my flock. They're currently 15 weeks and almost as large as my 1.5 yr old EE Roo. Also they are not pure but half breed. Buckeye x Bresse. Impressive body build on them. Names are "BeerCan" and "Roasted".

 

[Arielle]

Original names!!

 

[ronott1]

What age do you all recommend for processing your bresse? I only need one of my 2 cockerals and with their hormones starting to rage they're getting a bit cranky with some of the smaller hens in my flock. They're currently 15 weeks and almost as large as my 1.5 yr old EE Roo. Also they are not pure but half breed. Buckeye x Bresse. Impressive body build on them. Names are "BeerCan" and "Roasted".

The French way is to finish them at about 12 weeks old with grains and milk. Cockerels are processed at 16 weeks and pullets at 20 weeks.

Truthfully though you can process any chicken any time you want to. It just takes more of them to feed the family.

Pen the ones that you want to process and if you can stand waiting a week, feed them something like milk soaked groats, wheat or even corn. They will gain up to a pound a week in weight.

 

[Pinkaboo]

My bresse gauloise are nearly five weeks now
They are outside full time and have suddenly gone very white

They are the most lively of my chicks( my marsh Daisy's were crazy at first but calmer now)
I hatched four bresse out of six eggs and have two hens and two cockerel
I'm not looking to eat them but would like to get an unrelated cockerel and
Hopefully hatch some more as I think they would sell well at auction.
I've never seen any bresse in our three local auctions

 

[ronott1]

My bresse gauloise are nearly five weeks now
They are outside full time and have suddenly gone very white

They are the most lively of my chicks( my marsh Daisy's were crazy at first but calmer now)
I hatched four bresse out of six eggs and have two hens and two cockerel
I'm not looking to eat them but would like to get an unrelated cockerel and
Hopefully hatch some more as I think they would sell well at auction.
I've never seen any bresse in our three local auctions

Yes, Bresse sell well at auctions here too.

You likely can make for selling them to individuals though, unless small animal auctions are a lot different in the UK.

Do you have new pictures?

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I am curious Ron if this growth is mostly muscle or is mostly fat . . . .or a good combo of both. We live in a country where the goerment is pushing for low fat diets but I cannot lose weight or maintain my weight on a low fat diet. As hard as it is to beleive, the high % fat in my diet but still under about 2000 calories, I loose weight. So fat sources that are clean fat are very important to me.

( Besides, IMO the government info is based on commerically produced animal fats and meats which are remarkably different than home grown depending on the feedstuffs.All the more reason to produce our own food. )