Bresse Chickens

[chant]

Thanks to everyone for sharing your taste experiences. I am going to forego my Bielefelder curiosity and keep this one around for eye candy.
I have a Legbar capon that I will test against a younger Breese capon so that will be our 1st Bresse but also so we can see if there is much of a difference between capon ages in terms of texture and or toughness.

We have a Bresse/partridge rock female that just started layin about 2wks ago (but we're already getting more eggs than we need). I'm wondering if that means she'll be tough now? We've not slaughtered layers before at any age. Are they like the roos in terms of toughness - is there a different cut off age?

 

[Anthony3232]

Blue legs and feet, Bresse

 

[Ulladh]

Recently got myself some La Bresse. Only a couple generations at most from original French stock. Boy are they flighty, catching the they go full squawk mode but the cock bird I have is a big fella so good indicator of size and I have seen chicks and they are markedly bigger and faster growing against the wyandottes and sussex they were in with.

Need to get some eggs hatching soon as though to really see the difference!

 

[speedy2020]

I will be raising meat chickens next year.  There is a-lot of information to soak up in this thread.  What breed is a good meat chicken to have?  I keep hearing talk of dorking.  Any particular reason why they are so much better?

It has sweeter flavor. The only thing that I didn'd like about dorking is take too long to growth.

 

[Ulladh]

Good to hear, people did tell me there was a taste difference which im after, I know rearing and finishing is a factor though too. Any tips to how you finish or just noral feeding? Always tempted to feed the diet the french do, though avoiding the cages more out of practicality

 

[bigshawn]

I have Breese, haven't tried Dorking yet but my Breese takes 14 18 weeks to reach 4-6lb on average for pullets and 5-8 lb for males when i process them faster than most Heritage Breeds and they lay much better than my Marans or Buckeyes. Love my Breese.

 

[Ulladh]

Yeah it seems they are very good layers, how do you find fertility? I heard they don't go broody, ive recently got 4 hens, 2 last year's and 2 this year's and 2 eggs a day at the moment, older hens egg seem very big! The Cockshutt I have is a solid 10lb as is of not more, so good stock, he s are heavier than they look!

 

[cutipatooti]

I have to say I'm impressed with this breed. They grow faster then any other breed I have had yet and you can tell the boys pretty. Early on. They are meaty for a breed that's not Cornish cross. The hens lay lots of eggs, were the first to start laying and eggs are large in size. Hens are also curious and friendly, but I have found the cocks get nasty with age. The meat seems to be on the lighter or white side which I like. If you are raising chickens for food this breed should be on your list to try.

 

[speedy2020]

Good to hear, people did tell me there was a taste difference which im after, I know rearing and finishing is a factor though too.  Any tips to how you finish or just noral feeding?  Always tempted to feed the diet the french do, though avoiding the cages more out of practicality

I finish with normal feed so not sure fatting up help. I have dark Cornish x light Sussex before and it is very good. The hen fat and heavy & taste very good even at 2.5 years.

 

[Boo Strange]

I have just got two young Bresset chooks. I saved them from the table! They are still young and have not developed their combs and wattle yet. I live in Jersey in the Channel Islands .....close to France. Sorry but I can't tell u what they taste like but I was assured they are delicious