Has anyone eaten Bresse???

[OzarkChooks]

I've raised Bresse on pasture. They were very nice, docile, fast-growing (compared to my dual-purpose) birds. Easy to pluck, too. For a sustainable (meaning you can breed them, yourself, unlike Cornish X) breed, I think they're excellent, flavorful meat birds.

I don't think you'll be disappointed with properly-fed, quality bloodline Bresse.

I saw Murray McMurray hatchery is selling Bresse, would you consider them poor quality?

 

[Hamburg]

I saw Murray McMurray hatchery is selling Bresse, would you consider them poor quality?

This is where you should be careful. Make sure you talk to the people you buy from and look at reviews. True Bresse cannot be exported from France. When the European Union was established the French had to allow them to be exported to other European countries. These countries did not have export bans. Greenfire Farms was the first to import true Breese, but had to call them American Breese for some legal reason. There was very limited genetic diversity in the first imports because there were so few of them. As they became popular it appears inbreeding weakened many flocks. Also due to the popularity some folks I believe in Canada tried to develop their own version. I believed they called it the "blue foot" and in appearance I wouldn't be able to tell it apart from true Breese. most places I believe will tell you the inbreeding problem has been solved. whether it is due to more birds being imported or out breeding to the blue foot or other breeds. If you want the true Breese you are going to have to ferret out, what folks are truely offering. "Breese Farms" and "AZ Chickens" appear to specialize in the Breese breed, but since I have not purchased Breese I can not recommend a hatchery or a breeder. I expected there are breeders here on this site that have quality birds, maybe someone will part with a few birds to get you started.

Bresse Farms ​

Az Chickens ​

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

I saw Murray McMurray hatchery is selling Bresse, would you consider them poor quality?

I also can't recommend a hatchery because I acquired mine from a small breeder. Based on my own experience, though, I suspect that the inbreeding issues may be common: what I saw was poor feathering (despite protein-rich formulated feed) and severe fertility problems (eggs that developed but didn't hatch). They were nice birds that deserved more conscientious breeding and diversity in the bloodline.

BTW, I found the hens to be good layers, too.

 

[OzarkChooks]

I suspected getting quality Bresse from a hatchery was too good to be true. Thank you for your suggestions. I will have to do some research with breeders.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I like the ones i got from Dunlap. Not fast growers compared to other hatchery breeds the same age, but they're nice looking at about 6 months.

 

[StepphG]

We raise bresse. They are wonderful chickens. I have one rooster that is almost as large as our Delaware Broiler roo. He’s a big boy! I also have a couple of bresse hens. They are on the smaller size comparable to our Rhode Island Red hens or our regular Delaware hens. We have not eaten any bresse yet but they are just as easy to care for as the rest of our flock.

 

[WoodyM]

Thank you all. I was just so curious if there was something unique about them that made them taste better than other breeds. I think you are all right in that what they are fed plays a large part. They are very interesting to me so we will probably give them a go.

Interested in how your experiment went. I am considering getting a run to raise as meat birds and breeders as the supply chain for meat birds is getting busier...

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Interested in how your experiment went. I am considering getting a run to raise as meat birds and breeders as the supply chain for meat birds is getting busier...

Just know they won't grow as large or as fast as commercial meaties. My boy only ever reached about 6.5lbs

 

[WoodyM]

Just know they won't grow as large or as fast as commercial meaties. My boy only ever reached about 6.5lbs

Right - nothing compares to the Cx's but I'm looking for a replacement I can breed myself. I have Jersey Giants I would try and breed with...

 

[OzarkChooks]

Interested in how your experiment went. I am considering getting a run to raise as meat birds and breeders as the supply chain for meat birds is getting busier...

My husband actually decided against the Bresse. We went with Bielefelders instead. I am still very curious about Bresse though!