Bresse Chickens

[Caitlin_VT]

Thanks everyone! I will keep up with this thread and contact people as spring nears.

 

[sonew123]

Mine just started laying and her eggs are massive!

 

[BCMaraniac]

Mine just started laying and her eggs are massive!

Congratulations!! Do you have a rooster?

 

[chrissyr]

I am pleasantly surprised how friendly this breed is. My Blue Copper Marans were so flighty, even after I tried socializing them. I thought I didn't do a good job at socialization. But one of those hens is raising my Bresse. In it is 1 Marans. All the Bresse are SO friendly and the marans chick is quite flighty. Must just be the breeds. The marans hen tries to teach them to run, but they can't resist my treats for them

 

[DCchicken]

I would have to agree that the Bresse are very friendly. However, I have a couple of mean pullets. One grabs on to the skin on my hand and won't let go. I get it that my skin color is close to the color of chick starter. But I am not a big walking piece of food. That pullet has an appointment with the processing lady.

 

[BCMaraniac]

I am pleasantly surprised how friendly this breed is. My Blue Copper Marans were so flighty, even after I tried socializing them. I thought I didn't do a good job at socialization. But one of those hens is raising my Bresse. In it is 1 Marans. All the Bresse are SO friendly and the marans chick is quite flighty. Must just be the breeds. The marans hen tries to teach them to run, but they can't resist my treats for them

My Bresse hens are quite friendly.....my rooster is a bit different. When I go into their pen, I take my plastic feed scoop, just to remind him that I am armed and dangerous. I used it on him a couple of times when he came after me, and when he sees it now he goes the opposite way.

My Copper Marans are not flighty in the least. All of mine come running when they see me. I also love the fact they are such good brooders. I am hoping to incubate Bresse eggs under my Marans next year.

 

[chrissyr]

My marans mother hen is a pullet. She's doing a good job, but isn't as aggressive towards other birds as I'd like. She doesn't really come running if one is lost and cheeping. It’s been a while since I had a broody, but I thought the other was more aggressive about her babies. I’m hoping she’ll get better as she ages. I’d like to find the best breed for being a protective mother

 

[BCMaraniac]

My marans mother hen is a pullet. She's doing a good job, but isn't as aggressive towards other birds as I'd like. She doesn't really come running if one is lost and cheeping. It’s been a while since I had a broody, but I thought the other was more aggressive about her babies. I’m hoping she’ll get better as she ages. I’d like to find the best breed for being a protective mother

I had two Marans broodies this past summer. One was so sweet. She would puff up, but I could pick her up and move her, she let me handle her babies, and brooded them for 8 weeks, when I finally had to separate them. I had another one that was a little devil, but she started laying nice jumbo eggs two weeks after her eggs hatched while she was brooding her chicks. My sweet one went broody again, hid her clutch and showed up with 4 new chicks. She raised them with the other mama, whose babies were a couple of weeks older, and we kept them separated from the rest of the flock until the younger ones were about 4 weeks old. Then I starting letting them out, and she gradually ventured out with them, and kept them close, but made sure nobody picked on them. When they were about 8 weeks old, she laid an egg one day, gathered her babies up and took them to roost with the rest of the flock, and the next day she was done with them. It was amazing to watch her raise them, and then turn them loose. I suspect that she will be helping me raise Bresse babies next spring.

 

[chrissyr]

I had two Marans broodies this past summer. One was so sweet. She would puff up, but I could pick her up and move her, she let me handle her babies, and brooded them for 8 weeks, when I finally had to separate them. I had another one that was a little devil, but she started laying nice jumbo eggs two weeks after her eggs hatched while she was brooding her chicks. My sweet one went broody again, hid her clutch and showed up with 4 new chicks. She raised them with the other mama, whose babies were a couple of weeks older, and we kept them separated from the rest of the flock until the younger ones were about 4 weeks old. Then I starting letting them out, and she gradually ventured out with them, and kept them close, but made sure nobody picked on them. When they were about 8 weeks old, she laid an egg one day, gathered her babies up and took them to roost with the rest of the flock, and the next day she was done with them. It was amazing to watch her raise them, and then turn them loose. I suspect that she will be helping me raise Bresse babies next spring.

love that story! thanks for sharing, gives me hope yet!

 

[Arielle]

Quote:

Hope you have a rooster . . ??