American Bresse. The Meat Bird for Sustainability.
This last month, our one of American Bresse hens started laying consistently again!
I shared on Instagram when they first started laying but we had a bit of an imbalance of hens and Roos so eggs decreased. We also did a fertility run in April and we weren’t quite successful yet. I’m excited to retest things in June for fertility!
You might be thinking, “you have laying hens all over the place…why is this so exciting??”
These eggs the start of a cycle of sustainability.
American Bresse are a premium dual purpose breed that are incredible meat birds AND layers. We have other “dual purpose” breeds but these are a bit different – they are truly great for meat and eggs.
We have done two rounds of Cornish Cross. They grow mighty fast but you cannot reproduce them. They are bred specifically for growing rapidly for quick processing are meant to have SHORT lives. 8-12 weeks (like literally, longer than that and you’ll deal with broken legs and heart attacks). Due to genetics they also do *best* on corn and soy, which we don’t feed here on the farm. So slowww growth and small birds happen. Our first batch tasted great but we had to grow them out longer and they ended up smaller than most.
American Bresse are heritage breed that are fantastic meat, thrive on a pasture raised, corn-free, soy-free diet AND can lay eggs + live for years! Roosters are typically used for meat birds (minus those you hold back for your flock for fertility) and the hens are used for eggs and continuing the life cycle!
The Bresse breed has been around for over 400 years in the eastern French providences why these eggs are so exciting around here when we get them. Due to their unique genetics, they are able to metabolize their food differently than other dual purpose birds giving a beautiful balance of meat and fat as they grow.
We are so excited for what the American Bresse breed has to offer here on our farm, as well as, other farms once we are able to grow our flock more efficiently! Once better established we’ll be offering processed chicken from this flock and baby chicks.
