Bresse
a.k.a. Gauloise (and possibly the Blue-footed Chicken)
A Bresse hen
Photo courtesy of Jens Engelmann
This French breed was imported to England in 1895.
Originally a light laying breed, the Bresse can produce 250 white eggs per year. In France it also has a good reputation for its flesh. Males weigh 2.5-3 kg (6-7.5 lb) and females 2-2.5 kg (5-6 lb).
Bresse now appear in Black, Blue, Gray and White varieties. The original birds were white with some black ticking on the shoulders and grey wingbars. They can be a bit flighty and a tall fence is a good idea.
There is a bird in the US that is becoming popular in fancy food restaurants and the like, which is known as the Blue-footed Chicken. It was developed in Canada, as the Bresse was not able to pass the strict import regulations, and brought to the US in 2004. It is very similar to the Bresse.
Breed clubs:
Bresse-Gauloise Club
Thomassin Denis
Les Mirabelliers
rue Saint Germain
54115 Battigny
France
Bresse Links:
American Bresse Chickens on facebook
Bresse at Skyline Poultry
Bresse at Grade Eh Farms in Canada
Heaven Sent Ranch has Bresse
A White Bresse rooster
Photo courtesy of Debi Stuhr
A trio of White Bresse
Photo courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
The famous blue feet
Photo courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
A flock of Bresse fowl
Photo courtesy of Tony Orpin
Blue Bresse
Photos courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
Bresse on pasture
Photo courtesy of Debi Stuhr
A Bresse rooster
Photo courtesy of Claudia Schmidt
A Black Bresse rooster
Photos courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
Another Bresse hen
Photo courtesy of Jens Engelmann
A White Bresse cockerel and his head
Photos courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
Two more Bresse, rooster on the right
Photos courtesy of Peta Morton
Another White Bresse pullet
Photo courtesy of Debi Stuhr
Here's a Gray Bresse hen
Photo courtesy of Claudia Schmidt
A White Bresse pullet
Photo courtesy of Paul Bradshaw and Greenfire Farms
Some Bresse have nothing better to do
Photo courtesy of Debi Stuhr
A two-day-old Bresse chick
White and Gray Bresse chicks
Two-week-old Bresse chicks
Day-old Bresse chicks or
Direct questions and comments to Barry at FeatherSite -- questions and comments
Photo courtesy of Claudia Schmidt
Photo courtesy of Claudia Schmidt
Photo courtesy of Katrin Stricker
Photo courtesy of Tony Orpin