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

[VillageChicken]

I find the existence of the Black Bresse something of an enigma. A white quilled bird dresses out more cleanly, and the blacks are not across the board better layers than the white. Both colors are supposed to be dual purpose, but I think the white has been selected more for broiler type than the black, and that is why it grows bigger faster. It's possible the black may be a more consistent layer. A Bresse White breeder told me that a day of bad weather will stop their laying for a day, and the next day they lay double yolkers.

It will be interesting to watch the black and white grow side by side, if any from this next batch successfully hatch.

 

[VillageChicken]

Here is a 4 week picture of the rooster and hen. Hen is in the foreground. She could just be a slower growing rooster, but the size/weight difference is significant

I have some weight data, and know the parentage of the crosses now that their shanks have their color.

Cockerels
Bresse 15 oz.
Buff Orp x ISA brown 14.1 oz. Buff Orp is English type. This is the cross shown in the 2 week and 3 week pics.
B.Rock x ISA brown 14.0 oz. Barred Rock rooster is ER/ewh S/s B/b bought as chick, probably a barred rock x ISA brown

Hens
Bresse 12.3 oz
Buff Orp x B.Rock 11.7 oz Hen is barred ER/ewh s/-, likely the same cross as the above roo.
B.Rock x B.Rock 12.7 oz Hen is production type barred rock

 

[stoneunhenged]

That's impressive growth when compared to other large breeds.

Thanks for collecting and sharing the data. Very helpful.

 

[VillageChicken]

New Weight Data

4 weeks 5 weeks
Cockerels oz. oz.
Bresse cockerel 15 24
Buff Orp/RIR cross 14.1 21.4
Barred Rock/RIR cross 14 21.5
Hens
Bresse 12.3 19.9
Buff Orp/Barred Rock 11.7 16.6
Barred Rock 12.7 18.7

 

[VillageChicken]

bresse cockerel 5 weeks

 

[Happy Chooks]

What an interesting thread. Congrats!

 

[VillageChicken]

His back looks nice and long already

 

[draye]

Congratulations, pretty birds.

 

[greatergraceoffbg]

I have enjoyed reading this thread and watching the weight and growth stats, it is very interesting, thank you!

Andy

 

[VillageChicken]

Several black and white Gauloise chicks hatched last night from the eggs shipped from Germany. Overall it was a good hatch, about 50%, and 65% if I don't count all the clears. I will be tracking the growth rates of these birds against their hatchmates, Black Copper, Wheaten and White Marans. The Black Copper are supposed to be from a line of big birds. I won't know how many of which breed I have until the shanks change to blue, since I noticed a couple of the Marans hatched without feathered shanks. I thought the feathered shanks would be my identifier. This is the first batch of shipped eggs I have hatched that gave me Marans with bare shanks. Oops. The black Bresse and BC Marans will be the hardest to determine early on. But their type is different enough and as they mature the Bresse will have white earlobes.

I will also see how they compare to the first batch of Bresse that are 6 weeks today. I'll try to post weights and pictures later today or tomorrow.