Gauloise (Bresse) eggs due to hatch on 19-20th

[Rathbone]

Quote:
Yep, I feel exactly like that about mine.
Glad you got at least two of the Bresse hatching.

 

[VillageChicken]

Here are pictures at two weeks. Blue legs appeared at about 5 days.
The RIR cross is growing and feathering just as fast as the Bresse.
I think these two are roosters.

 

[poularde]

Thanks for posting pics! I love that you have a different breed to compare the growth rate. Please keep us updated.

 

[VillageChicken]

Three weeks

I set some more Bresse eggs from Germany yesterday. They seem to be in better internal shape than the previous batch, despite some being cracked on arrival.
I'm hoping to get a few more hens and another good roo from this batch, as well as compare the black and white Bresse in growth.
The black is smaller than the white, but is reported to lay monstrous 110 gram eggs. Your typical XL egg is 65 grams.

 

[poularde]

That is one huge egg. Do you have any photos of your new eggs?

I hope you have a better hatch this time. Good luck! I really like those blue legs. Do the blacks have blue legs also?

 

[VillageChicken]

Yes, I think you saw them already on the Marans thread here:

The black have the blue legs as well.

Here's a picture of one of the big eggs the seller has gotten:

 

[poularde]

Look at that egg!

 

[aveca]

I LOVE this breed..This is so exciting..Keep up the good work This has been so much fun to follow. I honestly dont think we will ever see them in US. I would be one of the first in line if they were, there is a farm in California but they keep them close and never sell.. they got them from Canada

 

[stoneunhenged]

The blue-footed chickens in California are not authentic Bresse. They reprensent an attempt to re-create the look of the breed on North American soil. Check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Foot_chicken

Greenfire Farms has authentic Bresse stock from Europe although they have not been released to the public.

 

[VillageChicken]

I think that's true. I have read somewhere that an epidemic wiped out the canadian Bresse population. It's not hard to breed a blue shanked white bird. I have a willow shanked white bird from an ISA brown/Barred rock cross.