The Gauloise (Bresse) is a dual purpose breed known world wide as the blue footed chicken from France and is rumored to provide fat marbled meat and flavor not comparable to any other dual purpose breed available. We can say with our proven lines that the Bresse is a fast growing breed which outgrows any other breed we have and comes pretty close to outlaying most of our other breeds on the homestead. The breed can be traced back as far as 500 years ago in the Bresse region of France where this breed has long been treasured and protected for its rich fatty meat quality and great laying capabilities.

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White Bresse are easy to identify for the crisp white plumage and Slate coloured legs and feet.

 Chicks however hatch with yellow legs and feet which begin to turn blue around 2-3 weeks old, Some a little earlier depending on the line. The colour will gradually get darker as the weeks go by and will be set by the time they are 8 weeks old. 

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We carry both the White Bresse and a coloured variety which are Blue and Black recessive white carriers.​

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Age to Process

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14 - 16 Wks 3.5 - 4lbs Dressed (BBQ and Fry)

17 - 18 Wks 4 - 4.5lbs Dressed (Soup and Roasting)

18 - 20 Wks 5lbs Dressed (Slow roast/pressure canning)

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What we call our P1 line is large enough by 14 weeks to process for an average of 3.5 - 4lbs dressed and work well for parting and frying or barbecuing. We find that at 16 weeks for processing the breast meat is tender and can be fried or barbecued but the legs and thighs need to be cooked a little longer and a little slower to reach tender. We typically use the breast at this age for cutlets and pasta dishes and the thighs and legs for dishes like curry and jerk which require a longer stewing time.

We process hens around 21 weeks for the freezer and a dressed hen at this age will average 4lbs and is best for slow roasting giving you a succulent, moist and tender bird, soup/stew or pressure canning to have that ready to eat sweet and tender quick chicken meal on your pantry shelf.

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We often plan out a "special finish" for the cockerels we plan on processing. By specially finishing our Bresse cockerels we find it improves the fat quality (more fat) and we find it is more evenly distributed over the entire bird in larger amounts making for a very juicy, tender, succulent meal. We special finish anywhere from 7 - 14 days depending on what we are doing with our finished birds and how many we are finishing. Our finishing feed consists of Whole powdered Milk, Corn, barley, oats and Red wheat berries. 

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We follow a strict breeding program for our dual purpose breeds as they excel in growth compared to our layers and more often than not are a part of our homesteads and farms for the purpose of their egg laying capabilities and an antibiotic, hormone free pasture raised meal on the table.

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Our program requires a hands on weekly check in from week one up to week 16 where we physically assess our birds and track their weight gain and overall proportions as they grow. By processing age we are able to cull for slower growth and smaller size and selectively breed for quicker growth rate and larger size on both pullets and cockerels. In our selection process we are also assessing for overall proportions to meet the proposed American "draft standard". Some of the things we select for are white ear lobes, straight toes, dark slate legs and feet, long backs a wide body and deep chest. 

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Eggs and Point of Lay

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19 Weeks point of lay (on average) 

250-280 large eggs annually (great winter layers)

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Our hens lay a cream sometimes pink toned egg to a light tan egg depending on the line. Our hens are very good layers as we do push to breed our largest and best layers forward. 

Our one line of white Bresse goes through a double yolk phase when they begin to lay around 19 weeks old and will give large double yolked eggs during their early laying cycle. We typically see consistent single yolked eggs once they reach 8 months of age. 

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Keeping Bresse on the Stead

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Canadian Bresse are curious and friendly as chicks and are easy to work with and handle as juveniles and adults. The roosters are even tempered and protective of their hens but respectful of their handlers.

Hens are both kid and toddler friendly, breeding age cockerels and roosters are not good with toddlers in our experience. 

Bresse free range well and enjoy being out on pasture.

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Bresse Genetics (Dominant White)

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The White Gauloise (Bresse) is based on Dominant White for pure white plumage with a chance of yellowing in adult males. We select for white feathering with the least amount of yellowing. We have two lines which are Dominant White based and a third line which is carrying Recessive White.  Recessive White carriers in a Dominant White line will hatch with yellow chick down and show blue or black spots throughout the down and can mature with a "muddy" appearance. Recessive white carriers are also slower to grow. Our recessive white carrying line has been added into our coloured line for diversity. It is possible to hatch and receive white Bresse out of this line, We do not recommend using recessive carriers over the dominant white carriers for the reasons mentioned above. 

If you have any specific questions or just questions that we haven't answered above please contact us and we will be happy to answer any questions you have.