Bresse Chickens

[BCMaraniac]

I got the impression that she did house her hens with this Roo but never caught them in the act so believed they had only been mating with her Bresse roo. I do believe it was an honest mistake as she informed me she had been hatching out the same results.

I was under the impression that hens mated to a new roo may lay eggs fertilized by both for a short period. Not 1 egg sired by 2 roo's but she may lay 1 egg that is fathered by one and the next could be fathered by the other. A very interesting fact to me but I can see where it would be a pain to breeders.

As is hubby is wanting me to just sell off the 1/2 breeds but I'm actually very tempted to grow them out and give them a shot as a meat bird. Won't be breeding them as I had planned at any rate.

A buckeye is supposed to be a good DP bird, so I would grow them out. I know people who grow crosses with Buckeyes for meat.

 

[racinchickins]

I had a legbar roo in with my bresse because of the cold weather. I did a test hatch of eggs where I knew I would get some mixes. I've since removed him. I waited almost 4 weeks before I set any more bresse eggs. So I now have a batch of mixes and a batch of pure bresse.

All of my mixes show at least some off coloring in their feathering and have yellow/green/slate legs none show the same color legs as my bresse. I do have 2 from the test hatch that are completely white with blue legs. I'm pretty sure they are pure bresse, Both are roos and will not be used for breeding because I can't be sure. (But I'm sure they will make good roast chicken!)

My pure bresse have all feathered completely white. Their legs are yellow(ish) at hatch, but by 3 weeks all are obviously turning blue. Both the bresse and the mixes are noticeably larger than the other breed chicks they hatched with.

It was pretty easy to pick out the mixes, so if you see any non-white feathering or non-blue legs, you definitely got mixed eggs.

 

[EllyHood]

Speaking of mixed breeds....

I've got 12 Bresse eggs in the bator and 1 Bresse/Crested Cream Legbar egg (her hen jumped a fence) that was a packing peanut. I'm on day 7 and all but 2 seem to be doing great (I think 2 have a blood ring but I'm waiting till day 10 to pull them). I also have 10, 3 week old Cornish X chicks in a brooder. 1 of the Cornish X hens is pretty small, about half the size of the largest. I'm more than a little tempted to keep her as a layer and try to cross her with a Bresse. Is that crazy?

This gal kept her smallest Cornish x of the batch as a layer and she laid great so I know there is the possibility...
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/11/can-you-keep-cornish-x-chickens-as-laying-hens.html

(can anyone direct me to a cornish x thread where people are crossing them with other breeds?)

Any ideas on what the Bresse/CCL will look like? I'm assuming it will lay green eggs if it's a pullet?

Also, is there a way to find all the links in this thread that go over raising Bresse the traditional way without going back through all 101 pages?

 

[chiqita]

Speaking of mixed breeds....

I've got 12 Bresse eggs in the bator and 1 Bresse/Crested Cream Legbar egg (her hen jumped a fence) that was a packing peanut. I'm on day 7 and all but 2 seem to be doing great (I think 2 have a blood ring but I'm waiting till day 10 to pull them). I also have 10, 3 week old Cornish X chicks in a brooder. 1 of the Cornish X hens is pretty small, about half the size of the largest. I'm more than a little tempted to keep her as a layer and try to cross her with a Bresse. Is that crazy?

This gal kept her smallest Cornish x of the batch as a layer and she laid great so I know there is the possibility...
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/11/can-you-keep-cornish-x-chickens-as-laying-hens.html

(can anyone direct me to a cornish x thread where people are crossing them with other breeds?)

Any ideas on what the Bresse/CCL will look like? I'm assuming it will lay green eggs if it's a pullet?

Also, is there a way to find all the links in this thread that go over raising Bresse the traditional way without going back through all 101 pages?

NO, but I demand pictures!
GFF has a file somewhere on the site about "traditional " raising. They are supposed to have free range with food choice until before finishing, then be finished off with milk soaked grains is a dark box. Most people are not doing it exactly that way, but gff has more specific info.

But since I'm on the thread I have a question. I came across a guy who is claiming to have chickens from eggs "direct" from France and be "real" french bresse. Has anyone heard or seen anything about direct imports? I'm very curious as I cant find anything about it but him.

 

[ronott1]

NO, but I demand pictures!
GFF has a file somewhere on the site about "traditional " raising. They are supposed to have free range with food choice until before finishing, then be finished off with milk soaked grains is a dark box. Most people are not doing it exactly that way, but gff has more specific info.

But since I'm on the thread I have a question. I came across a guy who is claiming to have chickens from eggs "direct" from France and be "real" french bresse. Has anyone heard or seen anything about direct imports? I'm very curious as I cant find anything about it but him.

One of the Poultry groups has lsked for Freedom of Information Act information on legal imports. They do have a list so if it was "legal" then it would be on that list. I do not remember which group asked for the information though.

 

[Caitlin_VT]

So, my two chicks are 6 weeks old this weekend. I think their legs are starting to turn blue? From the start I was pretty sure I had two boys... Do you guys agree? And, if anyone in my area is looking for a roo, well, I am willing to part with one, or they will both be put in the freezer later on!




Chick #1






Chick #2

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Look like Roos to me!

 

[Caitlin_VT]

Look like Roos to me!

Thanks, that's what I thought!

 

[racinchickins]

Has anyone ever had a broody Bresse? I have one right now who has started showing all the signs. She pecked the crap out of my hand when I tried to reach under her for eggs.

If you did have one, did you let it brood? Was it successful?

And a more general question - is this a trait we want in our Bresse?

 

[BCMaraniac]

Has anyone ever had a broody Bresse? I have one right now who has started showing all the signs. She pecked the crap out of my hand when I tried to reach under her for eggs.

If you did have one, did you let it brood? Was it successful?

And a more general question - is this a trait we want in our Bresse?

@DCchicken has one the keeps trying to go broody, and I think has a sister who was using one for an Easter hatch-a-long, but I don't know how the hatch went.