Bress Gali breed of chickens - description, photos and videos

The Bress-Gali breed of chickens was first mentioned in chronicles dating back to 1591. France at that time was not yet a unified state and clashes often broke out between feudal lords. Bress-Gali chickens were so valued that only 24 heads were considered sufficient gratitude for help in battles. The first mention of the Bresse-Gali breed of chickens is associated precisely with the conflict between feudal lords and the presentation of 2 dozen chickens to the Marquis de Treffault as gratitude.

The Gallic rooster was very highly prized in France. So much so that this breed has become a symbol of France. In 1825, the famous gourmet Brillat Savarin wrote in his book “The Physiology of Taste” that the Bresse chicken is the queen of chickens and birds.

The first association of breeders of the Bress-Gali breed was created in 1904. And in 1913, 82 specimens of this breed were presented at the Paris Poultry Exhibition. At the same exhibition, Bress-Gali chickens were noticed by poultry farmers from other countries. After the exhibition, the export of the Bress-Gali breed to America, Canada, Brazil and England began.

In 1914, the Bress-Gali breed standard was established and the acceptable colors were established: gray, white and black. Later in 1923, Count Gandele, the president of the Bress Club, introduced and added blue plumage to the standard.

Interesting! A recent attempt to add a couple more colors to the breed was met with a categorical refusal by the French club.

One of these colors (fawn) was obtained as a result of crossing the blue Bresse-Gali with the fawn Orpington. To obtain red, Rhode Island red was added to Bress-Gali.

Origin story

In the photo is the Bresse Gallic breed of chickens.
The first mention of the Bress Gallic chickens dates back to 1591, when the Burgundians saved the inhabitants of the city of Bourg-en-Bresse from an enemy attack and, as a token of gratitude, presented them with 24 Bresse chickens. Until now, this breed is raised only in this province, it is considered the queen of all chickens, and the meat is an elite delicacy.

Bresse Gali chickens are raised near the small town of Bourg-en-Bresse, on an area of ​​4000 square meters. km, where there are 3 incubators, in which 1.5 million chicks are hatched per year. At the age of 1 month they are sold to farmers for further cultivation. All other chickens of this breed, raised in other areas, are considered simply Gallic.

Since 1863, before Christmas, “Days of Bresse Glory” have been held in France, when the carcasses of Bresse Gali chickens are put up for competition and the best one is selected. The bird that takes 1st place goes to the table of the President of France, and the winner receives a vase made of Serves porcelain.

The carcass must be wrapped in a corset made of natural linen soaked in milk. The corset is laced so that the fat is evenly distributed throughout the carcass. The legs and head of the bird are not packaged so that the breed of the bird is visible. The cost of such a winner is very high, it is not for nothing that it is called “a chicken Royle Royce with feathers.”

Bress Gallic breed of chickens - description

Appearance and breed standards

The Bress Gal chicken has white feathers, a bright red comb, and most importantly, blue legs, thanks to which it cannot be confused with any other breed. The bird is very large, with muscular legs, a powerful torso and strong wings. There are chickens of other colors - gray, black and blue - but they are practically never found in Russia.

Blue Bresse Gallic cock

Standard for Bress Gali poultry:

• plumage: gray, black, white and blue;
• economic use: meat and eggs;
• egg weight – min. 60g;
• eggs for incubation: minimum weight – 60 g, shell color – white;
• ideal weight: cockerel 2.5 - 3 kg, chicken 2 - 2.5 kg;
• comb – single, bright red, well formed;
• earlobes are white, in chickens with gray and black plumage they can be white with a grayish tint;
• skin – white;
• eyes – black;
• paws and toes – blue or with a distinct bluish tint;
• ring diameter: for cockerels – 18 mm, for hens – 16 mm.

White Bresse Gallic rooster

The standard was approved on October 19, 1904 and supplemented in 1913. The Bresse Gali breed is the only chicken breed in the world that has its own standard and protected origin (AOC). Only chickens raised in a specific area (the city of Bourg-en-Bresse and its environs) in France have the right to be called Bresse Gales. All other chickens of the same breed, but raised in other places, are called Gali.

Origin and features

Bresse Gul breed chickens were known in France back in the Middle Ages. They were called "royal" and "queens among chickens." The first mention of them dates back to 1591.

By 1900, due to numerous crossings, the breed had practically disappeared. Thanks to local breeders, an official standard for the Bress Gali breed was created in 1904, and the population began to gradually grow.

The first to appear was the gray variety, then the white (also called Beni), the black (Luan) and lastly the blue.

Blue Bresse Gallic chicken

In 1957, the breed received the AOC (Appelation d'Origine Controllée) label. It means that Bresse chickens (Poule de Bresse) must be raised only in a small area (an area of ​​100 km by 40 km near the city of Bourg-en-Bresse) at the intersection of the departments of Ain, Jura and Son-et-Loire, fed in a certain way and meet standards for weight, appearance and taste.

In total, there are 3 incubators in this territory, in which about 1.5 million chickens are hatched per year. Upon reaching 2 weeks of age, they are sold to farmers, who grow them to marketable condition: up to 1 month. The chickens spend time indoors, then go out to range and finally to fatten.

Prices for egg incubators

Egg incubators

For Bress Gali chickens, in addition to the above standard, the following are required:

• street maintenance and free range for at least ¾ of life;
• minimum walking area – 10 sq.m;
• feeding mainly on corn.

Only if these conditions are met can you obtain high growth rates and a unique milky taste of meat with a nutty note.

Bresse Gallic chicken carcass

For a long time, after slaughter, the French plucked and gutted the Bresse Gali bird, after which they tightly wrapped it in canvas soaked in milk, like a mummy. This was done in order to prevent air from entering the bird and thus keep it fresh for as long as possible. In addition, milk enzymes penetrated the skin of the carcass and “marinated” it, which added additional tenderness and flavor to the meat during the cooking process.

additional characteristics

• Chickens of this breed are resilient, calm and hardy. They are not afraid of people and get along well with chickens of other crosses;
• chickens are characterized by good health and high survival rate. They practically do not get sick thanks to the extensive method of rearing, limited feeding on the range and free range;
• Birds with white plumage have white skin and subcutaneous fat. Fat is distributed evenly under the skin and throughout the body, without accumulations, like in broilers;
• chickens with white plumage are considered the best in terms of meat quality and ease of rearing. The most tender meat is from white chickens with a pale comb.

Bresse Gallic chicken carcasses for sale

Bress Galls have a high feed conversion rate - for 1 kg of weight gain they require only 7 kg of feed.

Video - Breeding Bress Gali meat chickens

Description of the breed

Reasons for culling poultry:

• Long and narrow body;
• Ponytail too high;
• Lobes with red spots;
• White coating on the face and earrings;
• Poorly developed ridge;
• Light eyes;
• The lodging comb of a rooster.

Culling for breeding birds must be carried out through analysis of the bird's comb. It is the shape and development of the comb that determines the level of the rooster as a producer, since the comb has a direct connection with the testicles of the bird.

Birds with the following comb defects are culled:

1. Comb with many teeth.
2. The teeth are different in height, which disrupts the ridge line.
3. The end of the comb is not triangular or small in size.
4. The teeth are thin.
5. Lots of small teeth.
6. Split or split teeth.

Roosters with these defects are not allowed to be bred.

Origin

In the eastern part of France, between Lyon and Switzerland there is a tiny province - Bresse. It is the birthplace of Bresgal chickens. Interestingly, in 1957 this breed received a special quality mark - AOC. What does this mean? In accordance with this privilege, only chickens that were raised directly in the province can be called Bresgal. But the breed itself has a much longer history, because the first recorded mention of it dates back to 1951. It is believed that the Burgundians somehow helped the residents of the town of Bug-en-Bresse withstand the enemy. The city was liberated, and its rescued citizens gave the Burgundians several dozen of these chickens as a sign of gratitude.

However, the versions about the spread of the Bresgal chicken breed throughout France do not end there. There is a legend that the French owe the opportunity to enjoy the exquisite meat of this poultry to King Henry the Fourth. They say that when he first tried it, he was so impressed that he wished that his subjects could eat this meat delicacy at least once a week. Of course, it took a lot of time to implement the plan, but Bresgal chickens very quickly turned into a real delicacy and received another name - “bird for kings.”

As for Russia, such a breed appeared here relatively recently. Nevertheless, farmers who knew a lot about chicken meat immediately became interested in it. Now this type of poultry is gradually spreading throughout the country, and it is actively grown both in poultry farms and on private farmlands. Gallic chickens are an ancient breed, and if you want to try the royal chicken meat, you should definitely buy several copies of the poultry.

Exterior of birds with different plumage colors

White

The bleached white is distinguished from the standard white by its pale, pink comb, wattles and face.

Blue

Black

Grey

Maintenance and care

In the homeland of the Bress Galls there is no such harsh and cold winter as in Russia, so they need to insulate the chicken coop - install heating, lay straw or sawdust on the floor. This chicken manure-soaked litter will moulder and generate heat, keeping your chickens warm during the winter months.

It is necessary to observe the light regime to maintain good egg production. To do this, the “daylight hours” (natural for the walking period and artificial if the lighting is lamp-based) should be from 14 to 16 hours a day. This is why chickens lay eggs better in the summer when daylight hours are long. In winter, the chicken coop needs to be illuminated so that the daylight hours total at least 10 hours.

During the warm season, Bress Galls spend a lot of time walking. The walking area must be fenced with a net, as these chickens fly well, despite their heavy weight.

Prices for mesh netting

Rabitz

Bress Gallic breed of chickens for walking in winter

In the southern regions of Russia, where the winter temperature rarely drops below -5, Bresse Gallic chickens can be free ranged all year round. This does not mean that they do not need a chicken coop - if the temperature drops below comfortable, they will happily hide in it from the frost. They prefer to spend the night in a place protected from predators and bad weather, so a chicken coop will come in handy in any case.

Chickens of this breed require extensive pastures: 0.5 hectares (5000 sq.m.) per flock, at least 10 sq.m. per head. The maximum number of heads in a flock is 500. It is recommended to castrate cockerels and hens at 6-8 weeks. Castrated birds (capons) are calmer, fatten better and have more tender meat.

In order for the meat to be of high quality, birds must spend at least ¾ of their lives free-grazing.

Bress Gallic gray rooster on the walk

Breeding Features

• since chickens are free-range, they can lay eggs in random places, and not in nests, and finding their eggs can be difficult;
• It is recommended to keep only 1 rooster to avoid conflicts and inbreeding;
• Mature (from 16 weeks) hens and adult roosters are allowed for breeding. Birds must be healthy, without external signs of disease: discharge from the nose and cloaca, ruffled feathers, abrasions and wounds on the skin. The rooster must be active, move quickly and a lot, and have a good appetite;
• on average, a rooster spends 118 kcal per 1 kg of body weight, which is 2 times more than that of capons. Increased energy expenditure is associated with semen production and high physical activity.

Black Bress Gali chickens

Exterior of a Bress Gali rooster

A hen looks just like a rooster, only smaller. Its comb is smaller, straight up to the first tooth, then inclined to the side. The earrings are round.

The following are not allowed for breeding:

• cockerels and hens with poorly developed combs;
• with a tail angle;
• with red or yellowish eyes;
• red earrings;
• those suffering from dermatolysis (white spots on the face);
• cockerels with a slanted or unstable comb;
• chickens with straight comb.

White chicken Bress Gali breed

Color options for Bresse Gallic chickens

Maturation of chickens

Bress Gali chickens from the first days of life outstrip chickens of other meat breeds in growth. At the age of 4 weeks, they are completely covered with feathers and weigh from 0.55 to 0.74 kg, and at 2-2.5 months they already have pronounced meat shapes - powerful chest and hips. Intensive growth continues until 4 months of age.

Despite their rapid growth and large weight, Bress Gali chickens retain a normal body structure, are not obese like broilers, and can fly and run like ordinary domestic chickens.

Bress Gallic chicks are gray at birth.

Egg production

Since this is a meat and egg breed, chickens not only have high meat quality, but also lay eggs well. With good feeding and keeping conditions, Bress Gallic hens lay their first clutch at the age of 16 weeks. They produce up to 240 – 260 eggs per year (0.7 eggs per chicken per day), which is very good for a breed of this type. The eggs are small, weighing 60-65 g, white, even in shape.

Comparative sizes of eggs from chickens of different French breeds

Bress Gali chickens lay eggs all year round; in summer they can produce up to 28-30 eggs per month. The level of egg production depends on the length of daylight hours and feeding. In order for chickens to continue to lay eggs well in winter, daylight hours should be at least 10-12 hours (optimally 14-16 hours). The duration of daylight hours can be increased with the help of lamps. Chickens must have at least one long period of darkness (9-10 hours) and one long period of light (8 hours) so that they can distinguish between conventional “day” and “night”. The remaining periods of light and darkness can be made shorter - 2-3 hours each. Then the chickens will lay eggs synchronously, during the so-called “night”.

Price

The cost of Bress Gali chickens is quite high; 1 kg of meat in Europe costs about 100 euros. It is in demand in elite restaurants, as the meat is extremely tasty and tender, with a taste of milk and a special nutty aftertaste, which makes it exclusive.

In Russia, in private farms you can buy hatching eggs for 150 rubles apiece, day-old chicks for 500 rubles, or an adult chicken for 2000 rubles. Real branded birds or hatching eggs must be ordered from France.

Why are these chickens infrequent guests on our farmsteads: disadvantages of the breed

Bress is a high-breed bird, so serious problems can arise with its breeding and maintenance:

1. Pure breed Bresse Gallic chickens are difficult to purchase in Russia: you need to contact breeding poultry farms from France.
2. It is difficult to preserve the characteristics of the breed when breeding on your own farm.
3. When raising chickens, you will have to purchase special feed created using a unique technology. At the same time, the price of feed is high.
4. Some poultry farmers note the difficulty of maintaining the marketable appearance of a carcass after slaughter. The thin skin of chickens and cockerels breaks easily during processing. But this does not affect the taste of the meat.

Bress Gallic chickens are an economically viable breed for keeping on a farm. If a breeder has the opportunity to purchase purebred individuals and pay maximum attention to them, the costs will pay off quickly.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed according to reviews from poultry farmers

Advantages of the Bress Gallic breed:

1. According to farmers, one of the most important advantages of poultry is rapid weight gain. Since the breed is raised as a meat breed, increasing the weight of the young animals is the main advantage.
2. Meat has a high cost, as it is considered a gourmet product, and this is also, according to reviews from poultry owners, one of the advantages of the breed.
3. The egg production of chickens is quite high, and this, according to reviews from poultry owners, is another advantage of the breed.
4. In addition, everyone speaks of the Bress Gal chicken as a strong, healthy bird that practically does not get sick, is hardy and has a strong immune system.
5. The character of the bird is also assessed positively; it is not afraid of humans, is friendly, and calm.

Flaws:

1. Farm owners cite the very high cost of poultry as the main disadvantage, since it can only be purchased in France, and, according to their reviews, it is quite expensive.
2. The second disadvantage, according to farmers, is the high cost of feed for rearing, since in order to raise breeding birds, one must follow a strict technological process of feeding and maintenance.
3. Farmers talk about another disadvantage they face when raising poultry: the difficulty of maintaining marketable appearance after slaughter. Due to the fact that the skin of chickens is very thin, feathering the bird can damage the appearance of the carcass.
4. And, of course, the main problem is the preservation of breed characteristics during home breeding. According to reviews from many owners, this is the most difficult thing when raising this breed.

Advantages and disadvantages

The description includes several important qualities for breeders and consumers:

• excellent and tender-tasting meat, considered a delicacy by the French;
• precocity of laying hens;
• versatility of breeding - chickens are kept both to produce meat and eggs in large quantities;
• Compared to broilers, it has stronger immunity against diseases, survival rate of both young animals (about 95%) and adults (up to 90%).

There are two disadvantages:

• It is not possible to breed a purebred breed through natural breeding, so they use the incubation method and material from breeding farms;
• If you adhere to all the rules for keeping this breed, the breeder will face large feed costs.

Breed productivity

Bresgal chickens belong to the meat and egg breed of poultry.

The meat productivity of chickens is quite high. Already one month old Bress chickens weigh about 600-700 grams and are completely covered with feathers; at 3 months they reach a weight of 1.5 kg.

As a result, by 4 months the chickens reach a weight of 3.5 kg, and the cockerels grow to 5 kg and are ready for slaughter. But the most profitable is considered to be slaughtering fowl at 5 months, and capons at 8 months.

Bresse Gallic chickens are one of the best for high-quality meat. Only another French breed of Barbezier chickens surpasses this breed in terms of mass and weight gain.

The productivity of chickens in eggs is also at a good level. Under good conditions, the chicken lays about 200-240 eggs per year. Chickens begin to lay eggs early - from 6 months, when they reach sexual maturity.

You should not stimulate early egg production, although many poultry farmers believe that this breed can begin laying eggs as early as 4 months. French breeders do not advise doing this and recommend separating cockerels and hens as early as 2 months of age before reaching the age of 5 months.

For 10-12 hens, 1 rooster is left, the rest are castrated at an early age for rapid weight gain. The level of egg production depends on the length of daylight hours; it should be at least 10-12 hours.

The eggs of chickens of this breed are large, white or cream, weighing up to 60-85 grams, round in shape. The maximum number of eggs lasts up to 2 years, then the chicken goes to slaughter. Experts advise replacing all individuals in the herd once every 5 years, and not using their own eggs, otherwise the breed may degenerate.

Keeping adult birds

These large birds love a lot of space; it is advisable to provide them with a good place to walk, good nutrition and exceptionally good living conditions.

Kurnik

The Bress Gallic bird is not adapted to harsh climatic conditions, therefore, when kept in northern and middle latitudes, you will need to carefully insulate the chicken coop and ensure a good microclimate inside it.

1. The room is cleared of debris, all surfaces are whitewashed, and dried.
2. For insulation, the floor is covered with boards or tin. It will protect the chickens from hypothermia and prevent the entry of any rodents.
3. Containers for food and water are installed at the bottom. There must be enough for everyone, otherwise the birds will begin to fight for food, showing aggression and cannibalism towards each other.
4. Place a basin with sand, clay or ash in a place convenient for the chickens. Dry baths are necessary to protect against various feather and skin parasites.
5. Additionally, they set up perches at a height of 40-50 cm; in secluded places they place boxes filled with straw or hay (nests) at the rate of one nest for five laying hens.

The optimal amount of space in a chicken coop per individual is at least 1 m². With greater crowding, birds begin to get sick and behave aggressively, which leads to fights, slower growth and decreased productivity.

Walking yard

One head requires less than 10 m² of area. The walking area is fenced with a net, slate or fence. They do not cover it from above, since birds of this breed have poor flying abilities and there is no need to be afraid that they will fly away.

The pasture for chickens is sown with cereals or clover. Feeders with gravel, shell rock and chalk are placed in the corners. They also install drinkers - preferably nipple or groove ones, because... they keep the water clean and fresh longer.

Feeding rules

The basis of feeding this breed is compound feed - a mixture of different grain crops and nutrients.

You can purchase it at a specialty store or prepare it yourself by mixing wheat (barley), corn, meat and bone (fish) meal, sunflower meal and minerals in a ratio of 4:3:1:1:1. Consumption per individual per day - 120 g.

The food during free range is more varied - in addition to the main food, the birds are given fresh greens, grass, mash of grated vegetables, fruits, and root vegetables.

In the winter season, grass meal, chopped pieces of cabbage, and beets serve as a substitute for succulent feed. They give boiled mashed potatoes, but in moderation. They also offer shells, chalk, and powdered eggshells mixed into the food.

To compensate for the lack of vitamins and minerals, premixes, sprouted wheat, barley, rye or oats are added to food.

Molting and break in egg production

Chickens molt in spring

Usually this process in laying hens begins in the spring - the loss of almost all feather cover occurs. During molting, Bresse Gallic chickens stop laying eggs.

The breeder should provide increased and proper feeding, keeping them in a place separate from other individuals, and clean, fresh drinking.

During the period of feather change, reduce foods with increased amounts of vitamins A, E and fish oil. Chickens are given corn, wheat, and other foods enriched with fiber and protein daily.

Molting lasts from 2.5 to 3.5 months, after which the bird returns to normal and restores its productivity.

Breeding

To breed birds of this breed, you need to know and fulfill a number of requirements: a properly equipped chicken coop and the availability of a run for the birds, since this breed of chickens must be free-range for 3/4 of their life.

Poultry stock is obtained by incubation from eggs taken from a laying hen. It is not recommended to use eggs from laying hens in the first 3 months of laying; they may have genetic defects or produce weak offspring. Eggs from laying hens that have reached the age of 9 months are laid in the incubator.

Chicken survival rate is 95%, but 10% of chickens die within the first 2 weeks even with ideal care.

Until the chickens are 5 weeks old, they are kept in chicken coops and then released to pasture, regardless of the weather (rain, heat, wind). At the age of hens and roosters they castrate

They are combined with adult chickens at 3 months.

Chicken coop

Keeping birds of this breed requires the following conditions:

1. The chicken coop must be insulated; if frost sets in or even the temperature drops to -2 degrees, the bird may die. The optimal temperature in winter is 12-14 degrees Celsius
2. The floor is covered with straw, sawdust or peat. The litter will serve as an antiseptic and release heat when mixed with droppings.
3. The chicken coop should be well ventilated; small windows are made for this.
4. Daylight should last 12-14 hours a day, in winter it can be reduced to 10 hours; to increase daylight, artificial lighting is used if necessary.
5. The chicken coop is equipped with perches made of round beams with a diameter of 5 cm so that the birds do not fall while sleeping. Nests are placed at a height of 0.5 m from the floor, in secluded places, without drafts. The diameter of the nest is about 30 cm, it should be dry and clean.
6. Basins with sand, shell rock and ash are placed in the chicken coop.
7. To fatten the birds, the chicken coop is equipped with cages 1.3 meters long and 0.6 meters wide, with a distance between the bars of 6 cm, where you can place: 10 hens, or 6 cockerels or 12 chickens. Before being placed in cages, the birds' claws are trimmed to prevent them from injuring each other.

Pasture for walking

The Bress Gal breed of chickens requires constant walking:

1. For 500 birds, a space of half a hectare is required, at the rate of 10 square meters. meters per individual.
2. The walking area is fenced with a fence of at least 2 meters, and a net on top, since the bird flies well.
3. It is not advisable to keep a larger number of birds; the breed does not tolerate crowding and does not like confined spaces.
4. Free-range chickens continue to lay eggs, so you will have to look for them.
5. While walking, there should be free access to clean water.
6. The pasture is left fallow after 2 growing cycles.
7. Roosters wear special glasses when walking to avoid fights.

Breeding Features

Females have a good brooding instinct, but to obtain a guaranteed result, it is better to give preference to the artificial method of reproduction.

Laying hens lay their first eggs at 5-6 months; males reach sexual maturity closer to a year. For full life activity and good egg production, distribution is carried out at the rate of 12 hens per rooster.

If you decide to breed these chickens naturally, you will need to carefully select two-year-old hens with high productivity rates. Any pathologies, defects on the body, the presence of diseases, parasites are the very first signs for rejection.

For the substrate, take medium-sized eggs, with a flat and smooth surface, without cracks. All specimens that are too blunt or pointed are put aside, since they are more likely to produce underdeveloped chicks.

You can put from 13 to 17 eggs under one chicken. They must be fresh - no older than 5-6 days. Hatching period is 20-21 days.

Incubation

For laying in an incubator, the material requirements are the same as for natural reproduction. Initially, you need to set the temperature at 40°C, then lower it by 1°C every week, and by 2°C in the last seven days.

Until hatching, the eggs are turned several times daily, so they warm up evenly, which eliminates the risk of developing pathologies in the chicks.

Care

After 20-21 days, the young offspring are placed in a small wooden or cardboard box, covered with a rag or sawdust.

A lamp is installed on top at a distance of 0.5 m for heating and full illumination. The optimal length of the day is 21-22 hours, the temperature on the first day is 31-32°C, and every day it is lowered by 2-3°C. Comfortable mode for week-old chickens is 19-20°C.

After 10 days of keeping the chicks at home, they can be taken out into the fresh air on sunny days. Walking outside promotes good growth and development.

Feeding and drinking

Birds need clean drinking water

Chicks of the Bresse Gallic breed are characterized by rapid growth and weight gain, but for this they need to be fed frequently and well:

• on the first day you can offer a finely chopped boiled egg;
• on the second day, add chopped green onions;
• starting from the 5th day of life, they are fed low-fat cottage cheese, small cereals, grated, boiled carrots, eggshells ground into powder are mixed into the food;
• at 1.5 weeks they need food with a high protein content - it helps build muscle mass (they give sour milk, vegetable, fruit mash, meat and bone and fish meal);
• at the age of 1.5 months they are transferred to the general diet of adults.

In the first days of life, they are fed with a glucose solution - 100 g of the substance is diluted in 2 liters of water. Then drink with plain water at room temperature. It is changed every day.

Feeding and maintenance

In order to achieve the taste of meat during fattening that Bresse Gali chicken is famous for, it is necessary to follow the rules of fattening, taking into account all the nuances and subtleties. In addition, feeding rules guarantee the health of the bird and its proper development.

Feeding the young

1. From the first days, chickens are fed a mixture of corn flour, boiled rice, bread crumb and skim milk.
2. At 10 days, protein and greens are added.
3. For up to 5 weeks, chicks are fed whole grain mixtures without the addition of bone meal.
4. For chicks from 5 weeks to 3 months, a diet with a large amount of protein is required: porridge with the addition of boiled meat, boiled fish, heart, dairy products, chopped carrots and beets, greens and vitamin B supplements. Feed 3 times a day, dividing the daily volume mixtures.
5. When walking, they give hard-cooked porridge made from wheat, legumes, millet and corn. Skimmed milk is added to porridge, but not cow's milk, but goat's or mare's. Chicks on the range get additional protein by eating worms, snails, and insects.
6. At 3-4 months, young animals are transferred to an adult diet.

Feeding an adult bird

1. An adult bird is fed 3 times a day.
2. The basis of the diet is corn and wheat, soaked in skim milk with the addition of vitamin and mineral complexes.
3. Feed proportions: 75% corn, 15% wheat, 10% milk, some add rice.
4. As an addition there are meat trimmings, vegetables and herbs.
5. During egg laying, shell rock and chalk are added to the menu as a source of calcium.
6. In the evening, the birds are given whole grains so that the chickens do not feel hungry.
7. When walking, food with a low protein content is given so that the bird eats worms, beetles, insects, finding them on its own (the scheme is the same as with young animals).
8. Particular attention is paid to the drinking regime of this breed. The bird constantly needs fresh water. In addition, they can be given curdled milk, glucose solution, black and herbal tea.
9. From the moment of castration, castrated capons are fed a special diet - maize and wheat crackers with milk.

Final fattening

A month before slaughter, the birds are transferred to a dark room and placed in cages. Final fattening lasts 4-5 weeks without walking. They feed 3 times a day strictly according to the clock.

The diet consists of corn and wheat soaked in milk. During this period, lettuce leaves, chopped corn shoots, and greens grown on clay soils are added.

In Russia, the strictness of the diet when feeding is not always observed.

Conditions for keeping

This breed is almost never bred on domestic farms. Therefore, in terms of breeding, they rely on the many years of experience of French breeders. As the practice of raising these individuals shows, they require territorial division based on gender. It is recommended that the breeder keep the cockerels and hens separately when sexing is established, which usually occurs around two months. This feature is due to such a property as the pugnacity of young males. In addition, in a calmer environment, birds gain weight faster, which is a compelling argument. For roosters, a separate menu for weight gain is allowed.

It is recommended that young flocks of French chickens be given as much space as possible for walking. There are a certain number of rules that should be followed when raising these birds.

Light mode. For laying hens, daylight hours must necessarily exceed 10 hours, regardless of the season. However, in preparation for slaughter, all artificial illumination must be removed so that the individuals exist in accordance with the natural daily regime. The period of darkness usually lasts from 8 to 9 hours.

Air temperature in the chicken coop. In winter, it may be necessary to provide additional heat sources for the Gallic birds to ensure that the room temperature does not drop below +12°C. Despite the presence of thick plumage and fluff, freezing will be detrimental for birds.

Walking. This breed can fly; in addition, it does not develop well in confined spaces. This feature will require the breeder to provide the livestock with a large area for walking, which must be covered with netting on the sides and top. The height of the enclosure must be at least one meter. Walking five hundred birds on 0.5 hectares of land is acceptable. This nuance will allow you to avoid possible health problems, as well as frequent prophylactic use of antibiotics in order to prevent the development of diseases in all birds.

Chicken coop. There should be no drafts or high humidity in the room where Bresse-Gali chickens will develop. Arranging perches is mandatory

But the breed can also be kept on the floor, but in this case you need to pay special attention to the quality and cleanliness of the bedding. As a rule, the floor is covered with straw or sawdust

The chicken coop should contain containers with sand or ash so that the birds clean their feathers from parasites.

Castration of roosters. In order for males to gain weight well and not bother the laying hens, some breeders deprive birds of the opportunity to procreate in early childhood. At the same time, only those roosters that are needed to continue the breed are retained. As a rule, there should be about 10 quotes per “gentleman”.

This is interesting: Broiler Hubbard - description of the breed

Diseases and treatment

This breed has increased immunity and high resistance to many diseases, including infectious ones. There are no specific diseases inherent to this breed.

But to prevent infection, vaccinations and vaccinations are mandatory for young animals.

Possible diseases:

• Adenoviral infections;
• Salmonella;
• Coccidiosis (parasitic infection, has the character of an epidemic - death of birds);
• Marek's disease (a viral infection that causes paralysis and blindness of an individual; the disease is fatal);
• Pullorosis (bird typhus, antibiotics are used for treatment);

The Bress Gali breed of chickens is quite interesting for commercial cultivation, so it may be of interest to Russian farmers.

Reviews

Elisa Cortelazzo, Montagnana

I keep the Bress-Gali breed of chickens to supply to restaurants. In fact, the Bress-Gali egg production is not very high, but if you use eggs only for incubation, then the hens produce enough eggs so that you can raise your young for meat.

Victor Vandebeek, Mons

I really like my gray Bresse Gali chickens. I have never seen such an interesting coloring on any other breed. It is not for nothing that Bresse-Gali chickens have become one of the symbols of France. In addition, they have very tasty meat.

Breeding and rearing

Chickens are excellently bred at home, which can become a promising business that brings good income. Hens begin to lay eggs at six months of age, and Bresse Gallic roosters mature only at one year. The fertilization of eggs will be high if there are no more than 12 females per male.

[adsp-pro-6]

During the selection process, hens of this breed have not lost their brooding instinct and cope well with the role of mother. However, to obtain a guaranteed result, it is better to resort to the help of an incubator.

The photo shows small chickens of the Bresse Gallic breed.

The survival rate of chickens is quite high - up to 98%. About 85% are able to survive to adulthood, which is typical for most old, time-tested breeds.

Planned herd replacement

The period of maximum egg production in Bresse Gallic chickens ends at approximately 2 years - it is at this time that fattened birds must be sent for slaughter. Once every five years, the chicken coop can be diluted with fresh representatives. To breed the younger generation, candidates for the parent herd should be looked at with special care.

Productivity

Bresse-Galle chickens produce a lot of eggs and a high volume of tasty meat. But due to the large mass of the carcass, the breed is classified as a meat line.

Under comfortable living conditions, a chicken lays about 200 eggs per year, and begins its work at 5 months. The egg has a soft beige or snow-white shell and weighs on average 75 g. In uncastrated chickens, the carcass size is smaller, but egg production increases - up to 250 per year.

If Bresse-Gallic chickens are slaughtered at 4 months, then the average carcass weight is 2.4-2.6 kg. Their tender meat is more expensive than broiler meat. 500 g sells for an average of 7,000 rubles. The French are sure that it is the most delicious in the world.

Health and illness

Bresse-Gallic chickens have strong immunity. With proper care and proper organization of feeding, they practically do not get sick. There are no problems that are unique to this breed.

However, owners may encounter parasite attacks:

• lice;
• lice eaters;
• feather eaters

They bite Bresse-Gallic chickens and ruin their wool. The result is nervousness of the birds and a decrease in their productivity.

Pet stores sell insecticides for treating chickens, barns, and all tools. If timely treatment is not started, the livestock will infect each other and die. It is important to buy a product without chlorine so as not to spoil the meat.

Prevention consists of disinfecting the premises every three months and keeping the chicken coop clean.

External characteristics

Uniqueness in appearance is also inherent in this variety. Thanks to breeders, the hen has acquired external characteristics that no other species has. Although, at first glance, the birds may seem ordinary, but if you look closely at the details, you can see what makes them unique. So, let's look at the external characteristics of the breed.

1. An inexperienced farmer may at first glance confuse the feathered beauties with representatives of broilers, because they have a very similar physique. Large, with a wide, powerful body, with well-developed muscles, they really look like representatives of the meat trend. Feathered ladies look lower and smaller than the leaders.
2. Powerful, muscular carcasses are well feathered. The feathers are thick, with a large layer of fluff, which protects them from hypothermia. Due to this plumage, chickens have a well-developed thermoregulation mechanism.
3. The most popular color variety is white. But, blue, gray and red are also known, but their numbers are very small.
4. The main feature is well-developed paws, which are colored blue. The beak is the same color.
5. The head is small, with a large, erect red crest. The comb has approximately 5-6 deep teeth. The earrings are also red, small, oval in shape. Expressive, round eyes with red-orange irises. The powerful beak is also colored in a bluish, even slightly gray tint, as are the paws.
6. In addition, we will describe the weight indicators. A mature cockerel gains weight up to 5 kg, and a feathered beauty - 3.5 kg.

Character

The Bresse-Gali cross is an unusually friendly breed of poultry with a wonderful character. Unlike most varieties of chickens, whose representatives are either characterized by a bad disposition or are aloof and distrustful, Bresses, on the contrary, are very friendly. They willingly make contact with humans, are able to get along with other types of chickens, and do not provoke conflicts.

Psychologically, the birds are very strong, not shy, resistant to stress, and quickly get used to a new place. All this makes their distribution and breeding in a new place quite simple.

Where are they sold and what are the analogues?

It is difficult to purchase chickens of the Bresse-Gallic breed. They are not yet common in Russia, so they are not kept in every poultry farm. These birds are sold in the village of Zeleninskie Dvoriki, Ryazan region, and in Moscow in the private farm "Bird Yard Marusya". Birds are offered on popular classifieds sites, but there is no guarantee of the purity of the breed.

An analogue of the Bresse-Gallic chicken is the Jersey giant, which is the most powerful and strong chicken variety. It is also meat-oriented and lays well. A chicken produces up to 230 eggs per year. After slaughter, the gutted carcass of a four-month-old rooster weighs at least 2 kg, and a six-month-old rooster weighs up to 4 kg.

If you liked the article, please like it. In the comments you can share your thoughts on breeding these French chickens.