Bress Gallic breed of chickens

This breed has been known since the Middle Ages. Bress Gallic chicken breed has delicious meat, which is mainly supplied to restaurants, and not to shops. These chickens can be raised almost throughout Russia. The article tells in more detail about this breed and the features of growing chickens.

general information

Bressgal chickens have appeared in Russia only in recent years. It started in 2013. Bress Gallic breed is a cross, bred in France. Such chickens are wildly popular there. The peculiarities of the breed are that the birds grow well, they have good egg production. At the same time, their meat has special advantages: it is very tender, with a well-distinguishable milky flavor.

It is curious to note that in layers and cockerels of the Bress Gallic breed, the colors repeat the colors of the French national flag.

These French chickens were known throughout the Middle Ages. The first mention dates back to 1592. In those days they were called “queens of chickens”. A large number of crosses were made on their basis. By 1900, the breed had almost completely ceased to exist. Through the efforts of breeders, its restoration was carried out by 1904.

Here are some of the requirements of the standard:

1. Chickens should have free range for at least three quarters of their lives.
2. According to the instructions, each bird must have a certain area for walking - it must be at least 10 square meters. m.
3. The main part of the chicken diet should be corn.

The description of the Bress Gallic chicken breed says that without observing these conditions it is impossible to obtain the famous delicious taste of meat.

Bress Gallic breed of chickens

Initially, birds of this breed were gray in color. White - appeared after some time. Then black appeared, and after that - blue.

Breed characteristics

Chickens of this breed have colors that make them difficult to confuse with other species:

• the scallop is bright red;
• the body is in most cases white (there are several more color options);
• legs are blue.

The description of the Bressgal chickens breed suggests that the bird is characterized by large size, powerful torso and muscular legs. In Russia, this breed is represented precisely by white birds. The rest of the options (mostly blue, black or gray birds) are practically not used in the Russian Federation.

The main directions for the use of Bress Gali chickens are meat and egg.

The egg usually weighs from 60 g. The color of the shell is white.

Eggs white

Birds of this species have a number of important characteristics:

1. They have high vitality, which is combined with a soft and cheerful character. At the same time, chickens have no fear of people. The fact that they get along well with birds of other breeds makes it permissible to keep them with them.
2. Chickens of the Bress Gallic breed have a high survival rate and at the same time good health. They get sick very rarely.
3. Fat in birds is distributed evenly under the skin. At the same time, there are no places where there are its accumulations.
4. It is believed that birds with white plumage have a better ratio between the complexity of care and the quality of the chicken obtained. At the same time, it will have a higher quality in chickens with a tender-colored comb.

The crest of this breed is well formed, its color is red. The earlobes of these birds are white. When the plumage is gray or black, the lobes may take on a gray tint.

Feet and toes have a distinct blue color. In rare cases, they are characterized by a blue tint.

The weight of a chicken is usually 2-2.5 kg, for a cockerel it ranges from 2.5 kg to 3 kg.

It is known that an average of 240-260 eggs can be expected from a chicken in one year.

Growing features

Bress Gallic chickens are known to have the highest feed conversion rates. At the same time, seven kilograms of feed will need to be spent for one kilogram of live weight gain.

Since there is no severe cold in the homeland of these chickens, they are accustomed to warm weather. Therefore, when growing them in Russia, you need to think about maintaining the right temperature in the poultry house.

To do this, it is necessary to provide heating in it and lay a layer of sawdust or straw on the floor. The litter will gradually rot and generate some extra heat.

When raising chickens, it is necessary to provide them with the necessary light regime. Daylight hours should be between 14 and 16 hours throughout the day.

This breed needs to be walked a lot. In this case, the site where they are located must be protected with a net. Bress Gallic chickens, despite their relatively large weight, are well physically developed and are easily able to fly over a fence.

Although here we are talking about heat-loving birds, in the southern regions of the Russian Federation they can be for walking throughout the year. The fact is that here the temperature almost never drops below -5 degrees.

Consider the temperature when walking

One herd will require an area of ​​at least 5000 sq. m. In this case, one individual needs at least 10 square meters. m. It is not recommended that the number of heads in one herd exceeds 500 hens. Good walking conditions are required to produce quality meat, which is one of the main strengths of this breed.

These birds have more than average egg production, but it must be remembered that they often lay eggs while walking, and in an arbitrary place. Collecting them sometimes requires a thorough search. Chickens fly throughout the year.

French chickens for sale are fattened for two weeks, castrated birds for four weeks. The main part of the feed is corn. Chickens are slaughtered after 30 weeks, capons - not earlier than eight months. Their meat is dense, marbled, the carcass has an elongated shape.

For breeding, certain requirements are imposed on Bress chickens:

1. For this, only sexually mature hens can be allowed. We can talk about birds, whose age exceeds 16 weeks.
2. They should have no external signs of any disease.
3. Birds with injuries are not allowed to breed.
4. The rooster must be an adult. Only a bird that is active and has a good appetite is suitable.
5. Exterior Bresgal signs are important. There is a description of the breed, and if the chickens do not correspond to it, they cannot be used to stain the purity of the breed.

A chicken or rooster cannot be breeding in the following cases:

1. The ridge is underdeveloped and not formed.
2. In cases where the tail is at an angle.
3. If the eyes are reddish or yellowish.
4. Those with red earrings.
5. If there are white spots on the face (dermatolysis).
6. With an unstable ridge. In particular, it should not be inclined.

These chickens, compared to most other breeds, grow quite quickly:

1. When they are 4 weeks old, their feathers will grow back completely. At this time, their weight is 550-740 g.
2. When 2 months have passed, the birds have a muscular body and strong legs.

During growth, although birds gain weight quickly, they, like broilers, are not obese.

Advantages and disadvantages of the breed

Its advantages:

1. Refined taste of meat with a distinct milky flavor.
2. High rates of weight gain.
3. Relatively high egg production.
4. Strong health and high disease resistance.

The disadvantages are:

1. It is quite difficult to obtain purebred birds of this breed, because this can be done only by contacting official producers.
2. Bird care and feeding are relatively expensive.

However, although the cost of growing is high, the result can live up to expectations.

Breeding Bress Gallic chickens requires careful adherence to the rules of care. However, as a result, you can get meat that has a special, refined taste. This breed has a relatively high egg production, although the eggs are of average size.