Embedded Files
Top Left: Black Bresse Pair from Bungartz, J. (1893). Top Centre: White Bresse pair from Bungartz, J. (1919).
Top Left: Black Bresse Pair from Bungartz, J. (1893). Top Centre: White Bresse pair from Bungartz, J. (1919).
Top Right: Le Comte Gandelet preconisait ces mensuration (Recommended measurements). (1895, Paris, Garnier frères) AB 52-55cm, CD 32-35cm, EF 25cm, GH 47cm, IK 25-38cm, LM 15-20cm.
Top Right: Le Comte Gandelet preconisait ces mensuration (Recommended measurements). (1895, Paris, Garnier frères) AB 52-55cm, CD 32-35cm, EF 25cm, GH 47cm, IK 25-38cm, LM 15-20cm.
Left Black pair also from Bungartz, J. (1919).
Left Black pair also from Bungartz, J. (1919).
Origin: France
Category: Softfeather Light
Egg Colour: White
Sitter: Rarely
La Bresse-Gauloise is one of the oldest French breeds. Bresse (or La Bresse) were named for the county of La Bresse in the south east of France, and are considered the finest French table fowl. They are no larger than any sturdy country chicken, yet they are incredibly meaty and easy to fatten. Their meat is said to be most tender and flavourful, having excellent fat distribution through the muscle. Bresse-Gauloise do best with good free-range and are also a supplier of eggs of a good size (60-70g). Note that, since 1904, outside of their area of origin (Rhon-Aples, Franche-Comte and Burgundy, in Bresse) the breed must be named Gauloise according to protection law.
Male Characteristics
Male Characteristics
Type and Carriage: Upright carriage. Medium sized, robust body. Cylindrical, fleshy and strong with a full, broad and firm breast, and a broad, well-rounded back that is moderately long, sloping somewhat toward the tail. Abdomen well developed.
Wings: Long and strong and held well up to the sides of the body.
Tail & Saddle: Large tail well developed and held upright at approximately 45 degrees. Sickle feathers to be large, strong and well rounded.
Neck: Medium and proportionate with ample hackle.
Head: Medium sized, strong yet fine.
Face: Red and smooth-skinned.
Beak: Medium length but strong and slightly curved. Dark horn coloured in the black variety, blue white or fully white in the white variety.
Eyes: Dark (black or dark brown) and alert.
Comb: Single, medium sized, erect and deeply and evenly serrated. Folded to one side of the face in the female.
Wattles: Bright red and well rounded.
Earlobes: Smooth and elongated or oblong, giving the appearance of drooping. White or bluish white, sometimes a little red around the edges.
Legs & Feet: Medium long, slender, free from feathers. Thighs visible. Four straight toes, well spread. Dark or light bluish grey.
Plumage: Lying smoothly against the body, glossy and firm in texture.
Female Characteristics
Female Characteristics
General characteristics similar to those of the male, allowing for the natural sexual differences. Comb single, straight at the beginning and falling gracefully over either side of the face.
Colours
Colours
In Australia the Black and White are recognised, although in older German texts a 'Grey' is also mentioned.
Black
Black
Feathering fully black with green sheen throughout. Black undercolour. Beak dark horn.
White
White
Feathering fully white throughout without discolouration. White undercolour.
Points
Points
In Australian the points are heavily weighted on type which receives 25, following by the head with 20. The other characteristics received fairly even lower allocations. See the APS for detail.
Weights
Weights
The following weights are given by the Bresse-Gauloise et Gauloise official standard from France. (Note that the weights given by the Australian Poultry Standards are significantly lighter. For example the upper weight for the standard male is 2kg and for the female 1.6kg.)
French weights - Male: 2-5 to 3kg. Female: 2 to 2.5kg. Egg weight: 60g
In Australian both standard and bantam sizes are recognised. The bantams are approximately one third the size of the standard.
General Disqualifications
General Disqualifications
See Disqualification page.
Serious Faults to be Avoided
Serious Faults to be Avoided
Squirrel tail, body too narrow, male comb poorly developed or lacking structure, female comb erect, light eyes.
White or red plumage in the black variety. Straw tinge in the white variety. White in face. Faulty colour in legs or feet.
Sources
Sources
Australian Poultry Standards
Bréchemin, Louis Jean Victor, 1860-. Élevage Moderne Des Animaux De Basse-cour: Poules Et Poulaillers: Élevage Naturel Et Artificiel; Monographie De Toutes Les Races. Paris: E. Dentu, 1894.
Bungartz, J. (1893). Huenerrassen: Illustrirtes Handbuch zur Beurtheilung der Rassen des Haushuhnes ... 2. ed., rev. & enl. Leipzig: C. Twietmeyer.
Bresse-Gaulouse et Gauloise https://bresse-gauloise-club-de-france.e-monsite.com/en/
White Bresse from Bungartz, J. (1919)
Dürigen, B. (192127). Die Geflügelzucht. 4. und 5. neubearb. Aufl. Berlin: P. Parey.
Pfennigstorf, F. (Ed.). (n.d.). Unser Hausgeflügel: I. Teil: Das Großgeflügel. Erster Band: Rassenkunde. Fritz Pfennigstorf.
Gandelet, La Volaille de Bresse. Courrier de l’Ain, 1913.
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